BACKGROUND: Physician modified endografts (PMEGs) have been widely used in the treatment of complex abdominal aortic aneurysm and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, however, previous data are limited to small single center studies and robust data on safety and effectiveness of PMEGs are lacking. We aimed to perform an international multicenter study analyzing the outcomes of PMEGs in complex abdominal aortic aneurysms and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. METHODS: An international multicenter single-arm cohort study was performed analyzing the outcomes of PMEGs in the treatment of elective, symptomatic, and ruptured complex abdominal aortic aneurysms and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. Variables and outcomes were defined according to the Society for Vascular Surgery reporting standards. Device modification and procedure details were collected and analyzed. Efficacy outcomes included technical success and safety outcomes included major adverse events and 30-day mortality. Follow-up outcomes included reinterventions, endoleaks, target vessel patency rates and overall and aortic-related mortality. Multivariable analysis was performed aiming at identifying predictors of technical success, 30-day mortality, and major adverse events. RESULTS: Overall, 1274 patients were included in the study from 19 centers. Median age was 74 (IQR, 68–79), and 75.7% were men; 45.7% were complex abdominal aortic aneurysms, and 54.3% were thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms; 65.5% patients presented electively, 24.6% were symptomatic, and 9.9% were ruptured. Most patients (83.1%) were submitted to a fenestrated repair, 3.6% to branched repair, and 13.4% to a combined fenestrated and branched repair. Most patients (85.8%) had ≥3 target vessels included. The overall technical success was 94% (94% in elective, 93.4% in symptomatic, and 95.1% in ruptured cases). Thirty-day mortality was 5.8% (4.1% in elective, 7.6% in symptomatic, and 12.7% in ruptured aneurysms). Major adverse events occurred in 25.2% of cases (23.1% in elective, 27.8% in symptomatic, and 30.3% in ruptured aneurysms). Median follow-up was 21 months (5.6–50.6). Freedom from reintervention was 73.8%, 61.8%, and 51.4% at 1, 3, and 5 years; primary target vessel patency was 96.9%, 93.6%, and 90.3%. Overall survival and freedom from aortic-related mortality was 82.4%/92.9%, 69.9%/91.6%, and 55.0%/89.1% at 1, 3, and 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: PMEGs were a safe and effective treatment option for elective, symptomatic, and ruptured complex aortic aneurysms. Long-term data and future prospective studies are needed for more robust and detailed analysis.

Endovascular treatment (ER) of renal artery aneurysms (RAA) has been widely used recently due to its assumed lower morbidity and mortality compared with open surgery (OS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcomes of OS and ER, and compare long-term renal function. Data from 2000 to 2012 were retrospectively collected to identify patients who were treated for RAA in a single institution. Morbidity, mortality, freedom from reinterventions, and renal function were compared between OS and ER for RAA. Forty-four RAA repairs were identified in 40 patients (28 women, mean age ± SD 54 ± 13 years). Twenty RAA were repaired with OS (45%) and 24 RAA (55%) with ER. Mean aneurysm sizes were 2.5 ± 1.5 cm (OS) and 2.2 ± 2.2 cm (ER; p = 0.66). Endovascular repair included coil embolization with or without stent placement in 19 patients (79%) and stent grafts in 4 (17%). Open surgery included excision or aneurysmorrhaphy of the aneurysm in 11 kidneys (55%), graft interposition or bypass in 4 (20%), and 4 nephrectomies (20%). There was 1 technical failure in each group. Comorbidities were similar between the 2 groups (American Society of Anesthesiologists III-IV: OS, 40%; ER, 58%; p = 0.44). Endovascular repair and OR had equivalent perioperative morbidity (any complication OS, 15%, ER, 17%, p = 1.0) and no mortality (OS, 0%, ER, 0%). Endovascular repair was associated with shorter hospitalization (OS, 6.3 ± 2.5; ER, 2 ± 3.4 days, p < 0.001). Mean follow-ups were 21 ± 32 months (OS) and 27 ± 36 months (ER). A 30% reduction in glomerular filtration rate occurred in 12.5% of OS patients and 9.1% of ER patients (p = 1.00). Freedom from reintervention at 12 and 24 months were OS, 82%/82% and ER, 82%/74%, respectively (log-rank-test = 0.23). Endovascular repair of RAA is as safe and effective as open repair in selected patients with appropriate anatomy. There was no difference in decline in renal function between OS and ER.