PURPOSE: To describe the incidence and management of the intraoperative, perioperative and late complications of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. METHODS: Endovascular aneurysm repair was attempted in 130 patients between October, 1995 and January, 2000. Follow-up including computed tomography (CT) was performed in the immediate postoperative period and then at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months and biannually thereafter. The median follow-up period was 20 months. RESULTS: Intra- and perioperative problems occurred in 26 patients (20%). Conversion to open surgery was required in five cases (4%). The primary technical success rate was 86%. Three patients (2%) died within the first 30 postoperative days. Late problems occurred in 28 patients (26%). These included: endoleaks (type I: 5%; type II: 10%; type III: 1%) and limb occlusion (3%). The cumulative rate of freedom from secondary intervention was in the first 65 patients treated: 86% and 65% after 1 and 3 years, respectively, and in the last 65 patients: 90% at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular aneurysm repair is associated with a higher complication rate than open surgery.
PURPOSE: To describe the incidence and management of the intraoperative, perioperative and late complications of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. METHODS:Endovascular aneurysm repair was attempted in 130 patients between October, 1995 and January, 2000. Follow-up including computed tomography (CT) was performed in the immediate postoperative period and then at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months and biannually thereafter. The median follow-up period was 20 months. RESULTS: Intra- and perioperative problems occurred in 26 patients (20%). Conversion to open surgery was required in five cases (4%). The primary technical success rate was 86%. Three patients (2%) died within the first 30 postoperative days. Late problems occurred in 28 patients (26%). These included: endoleaks (type I: 5%; type II: 10%; type III: 1%) and limb occlusion (3%). The cumulative rate of freedom from secondary intervention was in the first 65 patients treated: 86% and 65% after 1 and 3 years, respectively, and in the last 65 patients: 90% at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS:Endovascular aneurysm repair is associated with a higher complication rate than open surgery.