THE ANEURYSM INFORMATION PROJECT

Papers of the Month - July 99

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    #1.  The influence of screening on the incidence of ruptured abdominal aortic 
    aneurysms.  TBM Wilmink et al.  J Vasc Surg 1999; 30:203-8.
    
    
    Comment by mdt:  I hope this paper is widely quoted, because now that endovascular
    stenting is maturing as a technology, we have a low risk treatment that can be
    offered.  Indeed, stents are particularly suitable for small AAA's discoverable by
    screening.
    
    #2.  Mid-term results of a second generation bifurcated endovascular graft for
    AAA repair: The French Vanguard trial.  J Vasc Surg  1999; 30: 209-18.
    
    
    Comment by mdt: In brief, 75 patients were entered into the trial.  100% of implants were
    successful, and there was no operative mortality.  However, over the next two years, one
    patient died of a ruptured aneurysm; and 26 patients required additional procedures: 17 to
    treat graft stenosis or occlusion, and 9 to treat endoleaks.  Thus, longer term follow-up 
    continues to fit the theme previously discussed here; namely that the procedure can now
    be done with relatively low risk in many patients, but the results are not nearly so durable
    as the conventional repair.