ABSTRACT
Successful and safe endolumenal repair (ER) of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and other aneurysms is routinely undertaken, but remains a controversial therapeutic choice in the context of standard open repair (OR). Until the results of properly conducted randomized controlled trials of these 2 types of surgery are known, only anecdotal and case series data are available for guidance to assist in selecting patients for each operation. The balance of evidence to date is that the < 30 day mortality is comparable in each case, but there are few hard data to judge which treatment is associated with lower morbidity. It is probable that the length of inpatient stay and speed of recovery is more favorable with ER (1).
