Editor's Choice – Endovascular vs. Open Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Updated Peri-operative and Long Term Data of Randomised Controlled Trials

Objective

The objective was to investigate whether endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has better peri-operative and late clinical outcomes than open repair for non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Methods

Electronic bibliographic sources (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL) were searched up to July 2019 using a combination of thesaurus and free text terms to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the outcomes of EVAR and open repair. The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Pooled estimates of dichotomous outcomes were calculated using odds ratio (OR) or risk difference (RD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). A time to event data meta-analysis was performed using the inverse variance method and the results were reported as summary hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI.

Results

Seven RCTs reporting a total of 2 983 patients were included in quantitative synthesis. Three of the trials reported long term follow up that extended to 15.8 years, 14.2 years, and 12.5 years. Meta-analysis found significantly lower odds of 30 day (OR, 0.36; 95% CI 0.20–0.66) and in hospital mortality with EVAR (RD –0.03; 95% CI –0.04 to −0.02). Meta-analysis of the three trials reporting long term follow up found no significant difference in all cause mortality at any time between EVAR and open repair (HR 1.02; 95% CI 0.93–1.13; p = .62). The hazard of all cause (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.42–0.91) and aneurysm related death within six months (HR 0.42; 95% CI 0.24–0.75) was significantly lower in patients who underwent EVAR, but with further follow up, the pooled hazard estimate moved in favour of open surgery; in the long term (>8 years) the hazard of aneurysm related mortality was significantly higher after EVAR (HR 5.12; 95% CI 1.59–16.44). The risk of secondary intervention (HR 2.13; 95% CI 1.69–2.68), aneurysm rupture (OR, 5.08; 95% CI 1.11–23.31), and death due to rupture (OR, 3.57; 95% CI 1.87–6.80) was significantly higher after EVAR, but the risk of death due to cancer was not significantly different between EVAR and open repair (OR, 1.03; 95% CI 0.84–1.25).

Conclusion

Compared with open surgery, EVAR results in a better outcome during the first six months but carries an increased risk of aneurysm related mortality after eight years.