Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in nonagenarians--beyond limits?

Herein, we report a single institution's experience with endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in nonagenarians, over a 4-year period of time. We performed a retrospective study of cases, in which we documented patient demographics, symptoms, physical findings, surgical interventions, complications, and deaths. The survivors answered a questionnaire. Endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair was performed in 4 male nonagenarians (age range, 90-92 yr): 2 underwent repair of asymptomatic aneurysm and 2 underwent repair of symptomatic aneurysm. There was no in-hospital death, and patients were discharged after a median time of 11 days. Both patients with symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm died within 30 days, 1 of an occluded left femoral artery and the other of unknown cause. After follow-ups of 6 and 54 months, both survivors were in good physical condition and patient satisfaction appeared to be very high. We have shown that elective endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair in a small, selected group of nonagenarians was feasible and afforded acceptable short-term survival. In patients with symptomatic disease, however, the early postprocedural mortality rate appears to be high. Decision-making should focus chiefly on comorbidities, on subjective issues such as fear of rupture, and on ethical and financial considerations.