Key result
Among 892 endovascular repairs of abdominal aortic aneurysms, late conversion to open repair was required in 0.7% of cases, with no early or in-hospital mortality following conversion.
Why the study?
What is the incidence, indication, and safety of late conversion to open repair following endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms?
Observational (n=892)
No
What is the incidence, indication, and safety of late conversion to open repair following endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms?
Late conversion to open repair after EVAR is rare (0.7%) and, although technically challenging, can be performed safely without early mortality, underscoring the importance of ongoing surveillance.
Late conversion after EVAR remains rare with no perioperative deaths in this series; leaves open optimal surveillance intensity for preventing failure.
BACKGROUND: Failure of endovascular repair (EVAR) of an abdominal aortic aneurysm can result in significant risk of morbidity and mortality. We review our experience with late conversions to open repair. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective database review to identify all EVAR procedures performed between 1997 and 2010 and the number converted to open repair at our university-affiliated medical centre. Late conversion was defined as those occurring at least 30 days after initial EVAR. RESULTS: In all, 892 EVARs took place during the study period. Six patients (0.7%) required late conversion to open repair. Their mean age was 71 (range 58-83) years, and half were women. Half of the initial EVARs were for ruptured aneurysms. The median time to conversion was 15.6 (range 1.7-61.3) months. Indications for secondary conversion (50% urgent, 50% elective) included persistent type I endoleak (n = 3), combined type II and III endoleak (n = 1), graft thrombosis (n = 1) and aneurysm rupture (n = 1). Supraceliac clamping was required in most patients (67%), and the mean transfusion requirement was 2.6 units. Total endograft explantation occurred in 2 patients (33%), whereas partial or total endograft preservation occurred in 4 (67%). Median length of stay in hospital after conversion was 7 (range 6-73) days. There were no instances of early or in-hospital mortality following conversion. CONCLUSION: Our EVAR experience includes a low rate of late conversion to open repair, with most conversions being a result of persistent aneurysm perfusion. Although technically challenging, late conversion can be safe. Our experience supports ongoing surveillance after EVAR.
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Forbes et al. (2012) conducted an observational in Abdominal aortic aneurysm (n=892). Endovascular repair (EVAR) was evaluated on Late conversion to open repair (≥30 days after initial EVAR). Among 892 endovascular repairs of abdominal aortic aneurysms, late conversion to open repair was required in 0.7% of cases, with no early or in-hospital mortality following conversion.
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