Reduced access aortic exposure (RAAE) technique for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair

A reduced access aortic exposure (RAAE) technique for repair of infrarenal AAA repair has been evaluated and the short-term surgical outcomes are compared with conventional open repair (OPEN).

All consecutive patients having repair of infrarenal AAA over a period of 3 years were included in this study. A group of these patients had AAA repair using the RAAE technique with a small midline incision (<8 cm). Patient characteristics and peri-operative outcomes were compared with the other group treated with the traditional full-length midline incision (OPEN).

Sixty patients underwent AAA repair in this study (38 in the RAAE group and 22 in the OPEN group). The age, sex distribution and co-morbidities were similar across the two groups (median age 76 and 75 years respectively). The RAAE group had a significantly shorter Intensive care stay (2 vs. 4 days, p=0.041) and a shorter total hospital stay (9 vs. 14 days, p=0.004). Significant postoperative chest infection was recorded in 13% (5/38) in the RAAE group as compared to 41% (9/21) in the OPEN group (p=0.025).

The RAAE technique for infra renal AAA repair is feasible and safe, and allows quicker postoperative recovery with comparable morbidity and mortality to the conventional technique.