OBJECTIVETo review the prevention and treatment strategies in the complications after endovascular repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms, retrospectively in a single medical center.

METHODSFrom January 2003 to December 2010, clinical data of 344 EVAR cases were analyzed retrospectively, including postoperative period and long-term results. There were 302 male and 42 female patients, with a mean age of (69 ± 8) years. Patients were followed up at 3 months, 6 months, and then every year with abdominal x-ray and spiral CT angiography.

RESULTSThe surgical success rate was 99.7% (343/344). The mortality with elective and emergency surgery was 0.30% (1/334) and 1/10 respectively. The average follow-up time was 3 to 84 months with a mean of 32.9 months. The follow-up rate was 81.8% (279/341). The mortality was 1.1% (3/279), the re-intervention rate was 10.4% (29/279) and the overall complication rate was 12.9% (36/279), including endoleak 5.7% (16/279), stent-graft migration 1.1% (3/279), aneurysm expansion or rupture 5.4% (15/279), limb occlusion 2.5% (7/279) and stent-graft infection 1.4% (4/279).

CONCLUSIONEVAR has allowed a minimally invasive approach to aortic pathology. A careful preoperative assessment is the key for EVAR. Endoleak continues to be the major long-term complication of the endoluminal grafting technique, and the major cause for re-intervention. Life-long follow-up is an integral part of EVAR.