OBJECTIVEto assess the the mid-term renal function of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients following supra-renal endovascular repair.

METHODSfrom March 2005 to December 2009, 290 AAA patients were included and grouped depending upon whether they had received infra-renal (IR) or supra-renal (SR) EVAR. SR was performed in 173 patients, with a mean age of (72 ± 8) years and 85.0% for male. IR was performed in 117 patients, with a mean age of (71 ± 9) years and 90.6% for male. Preoperative and 1 week, 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-month postoperative serum creatinine (Cr) and cystatin C (Cys-C) were detected. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were calculated by Cystatin-based formula and Cr-based Cockcroft formula. T test were used to determine statistical difference between or within groups.

RESULTSall Patients received Talent or Zenith endograft. The ratio of device-used were 67/106 in SR group and 25/92 in IR group (P < 0.05). The other characteristics and operative files in two groups were well matched. Preoperative Cr and Cys-C were (82 ± 8) µmol/L and (0.89 ± 0.11) mg/L for SR group, (81 ± 11) µmol/L and (0.87 ± 0.15) mg/L for IR group, no difference between groups. Compared to preoperative renal markers within each group, Cr, Cys-C and eGFR worsening were found at 1 week and 12 months postoperative (P < 0.05). At 1 week postoperative, Cr in SR group and IR group were (98 ± 11) µmol/L and (95 ± 13) µmol/L, Cys-C were (1.01 ± 0.10) mg/L or (0.99 ± 0.10) mg/L. At 12 months postoperative, Cr in SR group and IR group were (91 ± 15) µmol/L or (90 ± 12) µmol/L, Cys-C were (1.03 ± 0.20) or (1.02 ± 0.21) mg/L. Also, Cys-C [SR: (0.93 ± 0.17) mg/L, IR: (0.92 ± 0.31) mg/L] and eGFR by Cys-C worsening were found at 6 months postoperative. There was no difference between groups in patients Cr, Cys-C and eGFR at each follow-up time interval.

CONCLUSIONthe use of SR fixation was not significantly associated with mid-term postoperative renal injury.