Gender differences in endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with the AneuRx stent graft

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate gender differences in the selection, procedure, and outcome of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). Patients: Between October 1996 and January 2001, 378 patients were evaluated for EVAR and 189 patients underwent EVAR with the Medtronic AneuRx stent graft at a single center. Results: Women constituted 17% of patients considered for EVAR. Their eligibility rate (49%) did not differ significantly from that of men (57%), and they constituted 14% of patients who underwent EVAR (26/189). Women who underwent EVAR were older (77.9 ± 6.3 years versus 73.1 ± 8.1 years; P < .005) with a higher rate of chronic obstructive lung disease (50% versus 28%; P < .05). Maximal aneurysm diameter (57.2 ± 10.9 mm versus 57.8 ± 9.4 mm; not significant) did not differ between men and women. Mean diameters of the proximal neck (20.4 ± 2.3 mm versus 22.3 ± 2.0 mm; P < .01), common iliac arteries (11.4 ± 1.2 mm versus 13.5 ± 3.6 mm; P < .001), and external iliac arteries (7.9 ± 0.7 mm versus 9.4 ± 1.4 mm; P < .05). The length of the proximal aortic neck was shorter in women (20.7 ± 8.2 mm versus 24.5 ± 11.8 mm; P < .05). Women had significantly more intraoperative complications (31% versus 13%; P < .05), primarily related to arterial access, and needed more frequent arterial reconstruction (42% versus 21%; P