Emergency open conversion after failed endovascular aortic aneurysm repair shows significantly higher mortality and morbidity, compared with elective conversion, according to the results of a retrospective, observational study of 31 patients at a single institution.
The primary endpoints of the study were 30-day and in-hospital mortality. Secondary endpoints included moderate to severe complications, secondary interventions, length of ICU stay, and length of hospital stay (LOS), according to I. Ben Abdallah, MD, of the Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou and his colleagues.
During the study period, a total of 338 patients received EVAR at the institution. Of these, 31 patients underwent open conversion (19 elective, 12 emergent) after EVAR between August 2008 and September 2016. The median time from the index EVAR to the open conversion was 35 months, with the most common indications for intervention being endoleaks (24 patients, 77%), stent graft infection (3, 10%), thrombosis (3, 10%) and kinking (1, 3%). Stents removed were manufactured by various device makers, according to the report (Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2017;53:831-6).
The patient population had a mean age of 73 years and comprised 84% men. The two groups, elective and emergent, were highly similar in numerous comorbidities, with the only significant difference between them being a greater incidence of chronic renal disease among the emergent group, as compared with the elective (42% vs. 5%).
Overall in-hospital mortality was 10%, and significantly greater in emergent vs. elective conversion (25% vs. 0%). Renal and pulmonary complications were significantly higher in the emergency group (42% vs. 5% and 42% vs. 0%, respectively). There was no significant difference between elective and emergent hospital stay (14 days vs. 20 days), but ICU stay was significantly shorter for elective conversion (2 days vs. 7 days).
There were no late complications or death seen in either group after a mean follow-up of 18 months.
“In this series, open conversion seems to be significantly safer and more effective when performed electively with no mortality, a lower incidence of morbidity (renal and pulmonary), and shorter ICU stay. These results underline that close surveillance, allowing planned elective open conversion, is the key to better outcomes after failed EVAR,” the researchers concluded.
The authors reported that they had no conflicts of interest, and the study received no outside funding.