ObjectiveAn association between pre-operative markers of systemic inflammation and inferior mortality following AAA repair has been observed. The prognostic value of the post-operative inflammatory response remains unreported in patients with AAA. The present study aimed to describe the association between the peri-operative inflammatory response & mortality in patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and open surgical repair (OSR) for infrarenal AAA. Materials & MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing either emergency (EVAR or OSR) or elective (OSR) intervention for infrarenal AAA were retrospectively recruited from 3 centres. Pre-operative systemic inflammation was assessed using the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS). Post-operative day 3 CRP (≤ 300mg/L, > 300mg/L) was chosen as the covariate of interest. The primary outcome was thirty-day mortality in the emergency cohort and twelve-month mortality in the elective cohort. ResultsThere were 167 emergency cases (120 (72%) OSR) and 207 elective (207 (100%) OSR) cases, with a median (IQR) follow-up of 85 (52) months in the emergency cohort and 63 (57) months in the elective cohort. There were 56% vs. 44% of patients in the emergency cohort day 3 CRP ≤300mg/l vs. >300mg/L compared with 82% vs. 18% of patients in the elective cohort (p < 0.001). On univariate binary logistic regression analyses in the emergency cohort, open repair (p < 0.05), pre-operative mGPS 2 (p < 0.05), post-operative mesenteric ischaemia (p < 0.01), and day 3 post-operative CRP > 300mg/L (p < 0.05) were associated with increased odds of thirty-day mortality. On multivariate binary logistic regression analyses, only pre-operative mGPS 2 (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.12 – 3.98, p < 0.05) retained independent association with thirty-day mortality. In the elective cohort, mean (95% CI) survival in the day 3 CRP ≤300mg/l vs. >300mg/L was 112.0 (101.8 – 122.2) months vs. 67.2 (54.1 – 80.2) months (p < 0.001). On univariate binary logistic regression analyses in the elective cohort, age ≥ 75 (p < 0.05), ischaemic heart disease (p < 0.05), and day 3 post-operative CRP > 300mg/L (p < 0.001) were associated with increased odds of twelve-month mortality. On multivariate binary logistic regression analyses, both age ≥ 75 (OR 5.15, 95% CI 1.25 – 21.30, p < 0.05) and day 3 post-operative CRP > 300mg/L (OR 15.68, 95% CI 3.61 – 68.15, p < 0.001) retained independent association with twelve-month mortality. ConclusionsPre- and post-operative markers of systemic inflammation were independently associated with inferior survival following emergency and elective repair of AAA respectively. Further investigation of the peri-operative systemic inflammatory response is warranted in this patient group, with a particular focus on identifying targets for intervention.