Local vs. General Anesthesia for Elective Endovascular AAA Repair

In older patients with asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms, outcomes were slightly better with local anesthesia.

Patients undergo elective repair of large asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) to prevent death from AAA rupture. However, decision-making can be complicated, especially for older patients: They have higher rates of postoperative complications and often have other conditions that limit life expectancy.

In this retrospective study, researchers used a prospectively maintained North American vascular surgery database to examine whether type of anesthesia is another factor that affects the balance of benefits and harms of AAA repair for older patients (age, ≥80). During an 18-year period, ≈16,000 octogenarians underwent elective endovascular AAA repair at 800 U.S. and Canadian institutions. Seven percent of patients had local anesthesi…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Local vs. General Anesthesia for Elective Endovascular AAA Repair

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Reviewing Author