Objective
Risk of open conversion after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair(EVAR-c) is poorly defined. The purpose of this analysis was to determine outcomes of elective EVAR-c compared to elective primary open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair(PAR) in the Vascular Quality Initiative(VQI).
Methods
VQI patients undergoing elective EVAR-c and PAR(2002–2014) were reviewed. Candidate predictors of major adverse cardiac events(MACE) and/or 30-day mortality were entered into a multivariable model, and stepwise elimination was used to reduce the number of covariates to a best subset of predictors. To estimate the additive risk of EVAR-c for MACE or 30-day mortality over PAR, this variable was added along with the best subset of predictors into generalized estimating equations logistic regression models.
Results
159 EVAR-c and 3,741 PAR patients were identified. EVAR-c patients were older (73.5±8.1 vs. 69.5±8.4 years;P<.0001), more likely to have diabetes(21% vs. 15%;P=.03) and prior history of lower extremity bypass(9% vs. 4%;P=.0006). EVAR-c was associated with a higher incidence of retroperitoneal aortic exposure(41%;N=64 vs. PAR, 26%, N=976;P<.0001), use of a bifurcated graft(65%;N=101 vs. PAR, 52%;N=1923;P=.001), greater blood loss (median, IQR: 2000mL[1010,3500] vs. PAR, 1200mL[750,2000];P<.0001) and longer procedure times (EVAR-c, 275±122min vs. PAR, 232±9min;P<.0001). However, PAR more frequently was completed with a suprarenal/mesenteric cross-clamp(74%, N=2749 vs. EVAR-c, 53%, N=83;P<.0001) and had a higher incidence of concomitant procedures(26%;N=972 vs. EVAR-c, 18%, N=28;P=.03).
Non-risk adjusted 30-day mortality was higher after EVAR-c: EVAR-c, 8%(N=10) vs. PAR, 3%(N=105);P=.009. There was no difference in complication rates: EVAR-c, 33%(N=52) vs. PAR, 28%(N=1056);P=.3. Preoperative 30-day mortality predictors included age(OR 1.06/year, 95% C.I: 1.04–1.1;P<.0001), COPD (OR 2.4, 1.6–3.5;P<.0001), history of prior leg bypass (OR 2.3, 1.2–4.4;P=.01), suprarenal cross-clamp (OR 2.2, 1.2–4.1;P=.01), prior carotid revascularization (OR 2.2, 1.3–3.8;P=.0004), congestive heart failure (OR 1.8, .9–3.5;P=.08) and female gender (OR 1.6, 1.1–2.3;P=.02) (AUC=.75). When controlling for covariates, EVAR-c was not significantly associated with MACE (OR 1.2 95% CI 0.7–2.0;P=.4) or 30-day mortality (OR 2.0, .9–4.2;P=.08).
Conclusions
EVAR-c patients are typically older, have more comorbidities and experience greater blood loss and longer procedure times compared to PAR patients. However, postoperative morbidity and mortality are primarily driven by patient covariates and intraoperative factors, rather than the need for endograft explantation. Several preoperative variables were identified as predictors of 30-day mortality after elective EVAR-c and should be considered during the decision making process for remedial treatment of failed EVAR.