Pulmonary complications and survival after elective infrarenal endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair in patients with documented chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Background Elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is advocated in patients where risk of rupture exceeds the risks of peri-procedural morbidity and mortality. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a known risk factor for AAA and increased operative morbidity in general. Since literature on the correlation between the clinical classification of COPD and morbidity following endovascular infrarenal AAA repair (EVAR) is scarce, assessment per individual remains a challenge. Objective To analyse the pulmonary and all-cause morbidity and mortality in patients with documented COPD and relate this to their GOLD classification. Methods Sixty-eight patients with COPD, documented by a lung function test, who underwent elective EVAR between July 2002 and July 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The primary endpoint was the incidence of 30-day pulmonary adverse events. Procedural characteristics, length of hospital stay, pulmonary and all-cause morbidity including major adverse events (MAEs) during follow-up and five-year survival divided per GOLD classification were the secondary endpoints. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of pulmonary adverse events between GOLD I/II and GOLD III/IV patients. There was neither procedural nor 30-day mortality in either group. Through 30 days and 1 year, there was no difference in pulmonary and all-cause morbidity between groups. Three MAEs occurred in the GOLD I/II group versus 2 MAE in the GOLD III/IV group during the first postoperative year. The five-year survival was 66.0%, 60.9% and 61.9% for patients with GOLD I, GOLD II and GOLD III, respectively. Three of four GOLD IV died within the first year after EVAR. Conclusion EVAR can be safely performed in patients with COPD, with low 30-day morbidity and mortality rates. Although severe co-morbidity should be taken into account, EVAR seems to be justified in patients with COPD with a GOLD classification I, II or III. Further research should focus on optimising the pulmonary condition in patients selected for EVAR.