OBJECTIVE: This observational study was undertaken to explore the influence of medication on the occurrence of complications following endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. METHODS: Clinical data concerning 70 consecutive patients undergoing elective EVAR in two vascular surgical centres over a 3 year period were analysed retrospectively. Complications were graded according to the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee on Reporting Standards. A distinction was made between device-related and non-related complications. An adjusted regression analysis was used to assess the association between 12 different medication groups and EVAR outcome. RESULTS: During 70 person years of follow-up 14 mild (20%), 23 moderate (33%) and 7 severe (10%) complications were recorded. Thirty patients (43%) who used coumarin derivates showed significantly less non-device-related complications (OR 0.21; 95%CI 0.05-0.90) compared to non-users. Twenty patients (29%) on anti-emetic drugs during hospital stay showed a fourfold more non-device-related complications (OR 4.37; 95%CI 1.10-17.3) and in-hospital use of analgesics in 25 patients was associated with more device-related complications (OR 3.81; 95%CI 1.32-11.0). CONCLUSION: Medication seems to be associated with the occurrence of complications following endovascular therapy of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Patients who used coumarin-derivatives experienced fewer non-device-related complications. Patients who used anti-emetic drugs during hospital-stay showed a fourfold number of non-device-related complications. Patients using analgesics during hospital stay were associated with significantly more device-related complications
Aortic aneurysm; abdominal; complications; Vascular surgical procedures; Stents; complications
