Endovascular vs. Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is an attractive, but still experimental, alternative to conventional surgical repair. In the recent randomized EVAR-1 trial from . . .

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is an attractive, but still experimental, alternative to conventional surgical repair. In the recent randomized EVAR-1 trial from the U.K., the endovascular procedure was associated with significantly lower postoperative all-cause mortality than open repair in patients with AAA diameters of at least 5.5 cm who were eligible for either procedure, but the absolute difference between the groups was only 3% (Journal Watch Cardiology Nov 19 2004). Now, in a multicenter randomized trial from the Netherlands known as DREAM, researchers compared the two procedures in 345 patients (mean age, 70; 92% men) with AAA diameters of at least 5.0 cm; again, subjects were eligible for either procedure.…

Reviewing Author

Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM