Long-Term Outcomes of Open and Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Repair in Younger Patients

Abstract

Aim of this study is to evaluate long-term results in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery by either open aortic repair (OAR) or endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) in patients under 70years of age. A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of patients with age under 70years old undergoing elective infrarenal AAA surgery between 2010 and 2018 was performed. The study population was divided into 2 groups: OAR and EVAR. Primary end points were overall survival and aneurysm-related death, while secondary outcomes were need for reintervention and development of minor and major complications. One hundred ninety-one patients younger than 70years old treated with elective AAA surgery were enrolled: 157 OAR (98% males, mean age 65±4years) and 34 EVAR (94% males, mean age 66±4years). Hospital stay, 30-day mortality, and need for reintervention were similar; OAR population presented higher incidence of postoperative major complications (18% vs. 2.9%; P = 0.01) while minor complications were 32% in the OAR versus 21% in the EVAR group (P = 0.08). Median follow-up was 69months for OAR (interquartile range [IQR] 53months) vs. 79months (IQR 51months) for EVAR (P = 0.9): long-term AAA-related reinterventions were more frequent after EVAR (1.9% OAR vs. 17% EVAR; P = 0.01) while AAA-related long-term mortality was similar in both subgroups (1.3% OAR and 3% EVAR; P = 0.8). At univariate analysis higher risk of reintervention was reported for conical necks in the EVAR group (P = 0.03) and for the concomitant presence of iliac aneurysms in both groups (P = 0.01). According to our data, EVAR in young patients is presenting an excessive rate of reintervention compared to OAR. The presence of conical neck is an independent predictor of EVAR failure and late reintervention, while it does not play a significant role in the OAR group. Open surgery should be considered the first option in younger patients with a long-life expectancy.