# Early Mortality and Mid-Term Durability of Open Surgical Repair for Complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Octogenarians: A Retrospective Analysis from Two Tertiary Referral Centers

## TL;DR

This study found that older patients (80+) who undergo open surgery for complex abdominal aortic aneurysms have higher early risks but similar long-term outcomes compared to younger patients.

## Contribution

The study provides evidence that age alone should not prevent octogenarians from undergoing open surgical repair for complex aneurysms when appropriately selected.

## Key findings

- Octogenarians had significantly higher 30-day mortality (9.5% vs. 0.7%) and cardiovascular events compared to younger patients.
- Mid-term survival and freedom from reintervention were similar between octogenarians and younger patients after 42.7 months of follow-up.
- Propensity score matching confirmed higher early mortality in older patients but no significant difference in mid-term outcomes.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Complex endovascular solutions have expanded treatment options for complex abdominal aortic aneurysms (cAAA), particularly in elderly high-risk patients. However, these techniques are limited by anatomical constraints and costs, while the superiority over open repair (OSR) remains debatable. This study aimed to compare short- and mid-term outcomes of OSR for cAAA in patients aged ≥80 versus <80 years. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed for patients who underwent OSR for cAAA between 2017 and 2022 at two tertiary vascular centers. A total of 226 patients (median age 71 years [IQR 66–80]; 89% male) were included, of whom 74 were aged ≥80 years. Primary endpoints were 30-day mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and early reintervention. Secondary endpoints included length of stay (LOS), acute kidney injury, new renal dysfunction, mid-term survival (≤5 years), and procedure-related reintervention. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to adjust for baseline differences. Results: Out of 1087 screened patients, 226 met the inclusion criteria: 74 octogenarians and 152 younger patients. Thirty-day mortality was significantly higher in octogenarians (9.5% vs. 0.7%; p < 0.001), as was the incidence of MACE (8.2% vs. 1.9%; p = 0.026). Rates of kidney impairment LOS and other major complications were comparable. During a median follow-up of 42.7 months, mid-term survival and freedom from reintervention did not differ significantly between groups. PSM analysis confirmed higher early mortality and cardiovascular events in octogenarians but similar mid-term outcomes. Conclusions: Although octogenarians undergoing OSR for cAAA face increased early mortality and cardiovascular complications, their mid-term survival and freedom from reintervention are comparable to younger patients. These results suggest that age alone should not represent a contraindication to open repair in appropriately selected individuals.