The impact of abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter on the outcome of endovascular aortic repair

Introduction. Abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter is one of the most important parameters in the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm for aneurysm follow-up. Currently, two therapeutic modalities are used: open surgery and endovascular aortic repair. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of the maximum transverse diameter of the abdominal aortic aneurysm on the incidence of general and specific complications. Material and Methods. The retrospective study included 75 patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm who underwent endovascular aortic repair in the period from July 2008 to January 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: group A with an abdominal aortic aneurysm size ? 5.9 cm, and group B with an abdominal aortic aneurysm size ? 6.0 cm. Results. A total of 41.3% of patients presented with a maximum transverse aneurysm diameter of ? 5.9 cm, and 58.7% of patients had ? 6.0 cm. Of comorbid diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was more prevalent in patients with a large abdominal aortic aneurysm (group A 25.8%; group B 59.1%). None of the other comorbidities showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups of patients. Early complications were present in a total of 14.7% of patients, of which 12.9% of patients with a small and 15.9% with a large abdominal aortic aneurysm. Late complications occurred in a total of 18.7% of patients, in 9.7% of patients with a small and 25% of patients with a large abdominal aortic aneurysm. Conclusion. Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms with a maximum transverse diameter of 6 cm and larger, present with a higher rate of late postoperative complications, increase in aneurysmal sac on control multislice computed tomography angiography, and have a worse prognosis compared to patients with smaller abdominal aortic aneurysms.