Functional outcome after thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair.

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Surgical Outcomes Research
• Quality of Life Assessment

Background:

• Open repair of thoracoabdominal aorta (TAA) aneurysms is associated with significant perioperative risks.
• Long-term functional outcomes after TAA repair are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document long-term functional outcomes after open TAA repair.
• To assess factors influencing quality of life (QOL) post-TAA repair.

Main Methods:

• The Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36-Item Survey (SF-36) was administered to 134 TAA repair survivors.
• Outcomes were compared to age-adjusted reference populations and adjusted for comorbidities.
• The influence of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors on QOL was evaluated.

Main Results:

• TAA survivors reported lower SF-36 scores compared to the general population.
• Female gender, age >75, and pre-existing systemic vascular disease negatively impacted QOL.
• Postoperative complications like paraplegia and cerebrovascular events significantly lowered functional and mental health scores.
• Neither TAA extent nor operation type (elective vs. urgent) affected long-term QOL.

Conclusions:

• Permanent loss of functional capacity is rare in TAA repair survivors at a mean of 5 years postoperatively.
• Further studies are needed to compare long-term functional outcomes of open TAA repair with hybrid or endovascular strategies.