Background/Objectives: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is a prophylactic intervention aimed at preventing rupture. As the population ages, surgical decision-making becomes increasingly complex, especially in older and frailer patients. Imaging biomarkers, such as psoas muscle area (PMA) and density (PMD), have been proposed as surrogates for frailty and potential predictors of surgical outcomes. However, their clinical utility remains uncertain. Methods: In this retrospective, single-center study, we evaluated 199 patients who underwent elective AAA repair between 2015 and 2019. Preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) was used to measure PMA and PMD at the level of the third lumbar vertebra. Lean psoas muscle area (LPMA) was calculated as the product of PMA and PMD. Sarcopenia was defined as the lowest tertile of each measurement. Outcomes were assessed using Fisher’s exact test, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and logistic regression. Results: No significant associations were found between PMA, PMD, or LPMA and early or late postoperative complications or mortality. Conclusions: Psoas muscle indices, measured on routine CTA scans, do not reliably predict postoperative outcomes in AAA patients. These findings suggest that further studies integrating broader clinical and functional assessments are needed to improve risk stratification and inform preoperative decision-making in this patient population.

Background/Objective: Sarcopenia is a predictor of poor surgical outcomes in older adults. The Psoas Muscle Index (PMI), calculated from routine preoperative CT scans, has been proposed as an imaging-based marker of physiological reserve, but its diagnostic utility in vascular surgery remains unclear. We aimed to assess the predictive value of PMI for early complications following elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in two European centers. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 245 patients who underwent open or endovascular AAA repair between 2018 and 2022 in Poland and The Netherlands. PMI was measured at the level of third lumbar vertebrae (L3) level, normalized to height, and stratified into center-specific tertiles. Early complications were compared across tertiles, procedures, and centers. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for age, comorbidities, and procedure type. Results: Low PMI was significantly associated with early complications in EVAR patients at the Polish center (p = 0.004). No associations were found in open repair or at the Dutch center. Mean PMI values did not differ significantly between centers. Conclusions: PMI may serve as a context-dependent imaging biomarker for early risk stratification following AAA repair, particularly in endovascular cases. Its predictive value is influenced by institutional and procedural factors, highlighting the need for prospective validation and standardization before clinical adoption.

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) is a critical surgical emergency. Thromboelastography (TEG) is a viscoelastic, point-of-care test that provides a comprehensive real-time assessment of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Although TEG has been successfully adopted in trauma and cardiac surgery for individualised transfusion guidance, its role in rAAA has not been sufficiently explored. We conducted a review of studies published between 2009 and 2024 to assess the utility of TEG or rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) in rAAA management. Evidence from vascular surgery suggests reduced blood-product transfusions and postoperative bleeding. Additional data from cardiac surgery and emergency/trauma demonstrated improved survival, fewer reoperations and cost efficiency. Although there are few direct studies on the utility of TEG in rAAA and these are mostly descriptive, the results presented in this review suggest its potential role in vascular emergencies. To confirm this, well-designed prospective studies are essential to determine when and how TEG should guide decision-making in this critical setting.