Endovascular Versus Open Repair for Ruptured Complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Propensity Weighted Analysis

This study evaluates 30-day mortality after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) versus open repair for ruptured complex abdominal aortic aneurysms (cAAAs), including juxtarenal, pararenal, suprarenal, and extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) in a real-world setting.

The Targeted Vascular Module from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was queried to identify patients undergoing repair for ruptured cAAA from 2011 to 2017. Primary endpoint was 30-day mortality. Secondary endpoints included renal failure, pulmonary complications, ischemic colitis, cardiac complications, lower extremity ischemia, post-operative rupture, and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS). EVAR and open repair were compared using inverse probability weights.

Four hundred forty-six patients had a ruptured cAAA repair during the study years; 105 (23.7%) were repaired via EVAR and 338 (76.3%) received open repair. The distribution by aneurysm type was as follows: 253 juxtarenal (57.1%), 59 pararenal (13.3%), and 100 suprarenal (22.6%) AAA with 31 type IV TAAA (7.0%). Juxtarenal aneurysms were more likely to be performed open than EVAR (P < 0.001) and pararenal were more likely to be performed endovascularly (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in the proportion of EVAR versus open repair in the years evaluated (P = 0.16). Hemodynamic stability was nearly identical between the 2 groups, with 49.5% of the EVAR cohort suffering from preoperative hypotension or requiring vasopressors compared to 49.1% in the open surgical cohort (P = 1.0). No significant difference in death existed based on proximal aneurysmal extent (P = 0.42). Death within 30 days occurred in 135 (30.5%) of the total cohort with 25 (23.8%) deaths in the EVAR cohort and 110 (32.5%) deaths in the open cohort. The EVAR group suffered a 20.0% rate of postoperative renal failure requiring dialysis compared to 18.6% of the open cohort (P = 0.78). Pulmonary complications were more common after open repair (40.5% vs. 25.0%, P = 0.004). After propensity weighting and weighted logistic regression, the open cohort had 1.75 times the odds of death compared to the EVAR cohort (AOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 0.9-2.8; P = 0.06). There was no association between repair type and postoperative renal failure. Open repair was associated with greater odds of pulmonary complications, ischemic colitis, and longer ICU stays in survivors.

Mortality after repair for ruptured cAAA is high; and treatment with EVAR may trend toward early survival advantage. Rates of renal failure were similar between each cohort. Open repair is associated with higher rates of pulmonary complications, ischemic colitis, and longer ICU stays.