Endovascularly Placed Grafts for Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A211 Systematic Review of Published Studies of Effectiveness. Technology Assessment 211 Program

摘要

A systematic review of published research was performed to assess the211u001eeffectiveness of endovascularly placed grafts for the repair of aortic disease. 211u001eThis report is confined to infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), the 211u001econdition for which there is the most literature. An infrarenal AAA is an 211u001eabnormal widening of the wall of the aorta, the main artery that carries blood 211u001efrom the heart through the abdominal cavity, situated or occurring below the 211u001ekidneys. Risk of rupture increases with the size of the aneurysm. For AAAs with 211u001ediameters over 5 cm, the standard treatment is open abdominal surgery with 211u001eplacement of a synthetic graft in the involved area. Endovascular treatment of 211u001eAAAs, accomplished by inserting the graft through the artery and attaching it to 211u001ethe involved segment from inside the vessel, is a less invasive and potentially 211u001elower risk and less costly alternative to open surgical repair. All endovascular 211u001egraft devices for this purpose are considered investigational and have not been 211u001eapproved for marketing in the United States. This systematic review found the 211u001ebest available evidence is predominantly from case series that are 211u001emethodologically inadequate to answer critical assessment questions. Studies 211u001evaried in the manufacture and design of the graft used, and in reporting patient 211u001eseverity of illness and study outcomes.