Repair of pararenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. An analysis of operative management
T. J. Nypaver, A. D. Shepard, D. J. Reddy, J. P. Elliott Jr, R. F. Smith and C. B. Ernst
Division of Vascular Surgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Mich.
OBJECTIVE: To analyze different operative approaches for repair of
pararenal abdominal aortic aneurysm, to define factors associated with
perioperative morbidity, particularly renal insufficiency, and to compare
the results of pararenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with standard
infrarenal repair. DESIGN: Case series review of all patients undergoing
repair of nonruptured pararenal abdominal aortic aneurysms over 7
consecutive years at a tertiary care teaching hospital. PATIENTS:
Fifty-three consecutive patients with nonruptured atherosclerotic pararenal
abdominal aortic aneurysms undergoing operative repair. A comparison group
of 65 patients randomly selected from a pool of 384 patients undergoing
concurrent infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. MAIN OUTCOME
MEASURES: Operative morbidity and mortality, postoperative renal
insufficiency, estimated blood loss, perioperative blood and fluid
requirements, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: Postoperative renal
insufficiency was more likely when concomitant renal revascularization was
performed (P = .007) or when any major intraoperative complication occurred
(P = .008). Retroperitoneal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair was associated
with lower estimated blood loss (P = .05) and less fluid requirement within
the first 24 hours following operation than transperitoneal repair (P =
.03). No differences in outcome measures were identified with regard to
site of proximal aortic clamping (supraceliac vs suprarenal). Pararenal
abdominal aortic aneurysms were larger and their repair was associated with
greater estimated blood loss (P = .007), intraoperative blood replacement
(P < .001), and a longer hospital stay (P = .02) than infrarenal
abdominal aortic aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: Pararenal abdominal aortic
aneurysm repair is a technically challenging operation associated with
significant morbidity. A retroperitoneal approach facilitates repair. The
site of proximal aortic cross-clamping should be dictated by technical
factors and not by any perceived outcome advantages.