Comparison of Outcomes of Complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treatment

Background: Open repair remains the gold standard for fit patients with complex AAA. In the past decade, an evolution of devices, design, components, and delivery systems expanded the application of EVAR in these challenging anatomies. Fenestrated stent-grafts are now commercially available for the repair of complex AAA in the United States and Europe. Initial reports have demonstrated a high technical success rate, low renal dysfunction rate, and low morbidity and mortality, with promising short- and long-term results. Other reports have shown excessive morbidity and mortality with fenestrated EVAR (FEVAR). Studies comparing endovascular and open repair are sparse, especially when it concerns long-term outcomes. There are till nowadays only two propensity score-matched studies, one showing worse short-term and another long-term clinical outcome for fenestrated-branched EVAR (F/BEVAR) over open surgical repair (OSR). Aim: The aim of this study will be to compare F/BEVAR versus open AAA repair on short- and long-term clinical outcomes for the treatment of juxta- and pararenal AAA. Methodology: This is a prospective cohort study from the four high-volume AAA repair centers: Belgrade/Serbia, Bologna/Italy, Milan/Italy, Dijklander/Netherland, Amsterdam/Netherland, and Helsinki/Finland. Data will be collected on demographics, baseline comorbidities, AAA parameters (diameter and localization), laboratory values, intra-, and postoperative data. Follow-up examinations (clinical visits and color duplex ultrasonography, CT scans) will be performed 1, 6, and 12 months after the intervention, and annually thereafter. Propensity score analysis will be performed by matching open repair patients to endovascularly treated controlling for demographics and baseline comorbidities. Endpoints: Primary endpoints are all-cause mortality and the freedom from aortic-related reintervention. The secondary endpoint is the 30-day complication rate, especially acute kidney injury according to the RIFLE criteria.