Quality of Life After Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Retrospective Comparison of Endovascular Versus Open Repair

Purpose: To compare the postoperative quality of life (QOL) of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (EVR), open AAA repair, and hernia repair patients, as well as to assess the impact of age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, complications, and re-interventions on QOL. Methods: Sixty EVR, 48 open repair and 50 hernia repair patients who had undergone surgery with AS or DS between March 1996 and September 2001 were studied retrospectively using the Medical Outcomes Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey. KB conducted all interviews; none were conducted over the phone. Results: No significant differences between the EVR and open repair groups were demonstrated (P >.05). Significant differences between these groups and the hernia repair group were found. Patients aged less than 70 years scored better than their older counterparts, men scored better than women, and patients graded as ASA I to III scored better than those graded ASA IV in various domains of the SF-36 (P 0.05). Conclusions: Patient QOL is similar after open repair and EVR; however, the QOL of these groups differs significantly with that of hernia repair patients. The patient's age, gender, and ASA grade impact upon QOL more than the type of surgery or aneurysm repair. Complications and re-interventions do not significantly impact upon patient QOL.