Outcomes of EVAR surveillance: a population based approach to the ongoing dilemma

Abstract

Objective: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is the predominant treatment modality for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Despite the large advances, complications after EVAR are not uncommon and occur in up to one in five patients in the first five years after EVAR. Guidelines by various societies recommend lifelong surveillance to prevent complications and late rupture. Frequently patients are not compliant to EVAR surveillance and there is a paucity of evidence as to whether EVAR surveillance is preventing EVAR complications and AAA rupture. The primary aim of this study was to determine the compliance rate of EVAR surveillance in the Maltese population. The secondary aim was to determine all cause mortality (ACM) and re-intervention rates among compliant, non-compliant and lost to follow up patients in this population.