Current status of endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms in the context of 50 years of conventional repair

The operative risk for conventional open repair of nonruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) has steadily declined during the past several decades to the point that open procedures now can be done with a mortality rate of approximately 2% at tertiary referral centers. Nevertheless, population-based studies suggest that the mortality rate for open AAA repair remains nearly 7% in many communities, a finding that undoubtedly is influenced by a substantial risk for unfavorable outcomes in patients who represent less than ideal candidates for major abdominal operations on the basis of advanced age and the medical comorbidities that so often accompany it. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a landmark contribution to the management of such patients and has been associated with significant overall reductions in the operative mortality rate in statewide and national audits. This early advantage of EVAR comes at the price of a unique set of complications, secondary interventions, and related expenses, however, and randomized clinical trials of EVAR versus open repair have not yet demonstrated differences in survival or quality of life within 4 years of follow-up. Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample and other sources indicate that the mortality rate for open AAA repair appears to be less than 2% in patients who are 65 years of age or younger. This low operative risk may not justify exposure to whatever incidence of late complications the current generation of endografts may prove to have during the relatively long survival times that can be anticipated for these patients.