Predicting risk of rupture and rupture-preventing re-interventions utilising repeated measures on aneurysm sac diameter following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair


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Authors
Grootes, I 
Barrett, Jessica K 
Ulug, Pinar 
Rohlffs, Fiona 
Laukontaus, Sani 
Abstract

Clinical and imaging surveillance practices following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for intact abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) vary considerably and compliance with recommended lifelong surveillance is poor. This study developed a dynamic prognostic model to enable stratification of patients at risk of future secondary rupture or rupture preventing re-intervention (RPR) to enable the development of personalised surveillance intervals. Baseline data and repeat measurements of post-operative aneurysm sac diameter from the EVAR-1 and EVAR-2 trials were used to develop the model with external validation in a cohort from Helsinki. Longitudinal mixed-effects models were fitted to trajectories of sac diameter and model-predicted sac diameter and rate of growth were used in prognostic Cox proportional hazards models. 785 patients from the EVAR trials were included of which 155 (20%) suffered at least one rupture or RPR during follow-up. An increased risk was associated with pre-operative AAA size, rate of sac growth, and the number of previously detected complications. A prognostic model using only predicted sac growth had good discrimination at 2-years (C-index = 0.68), 3-years (C-index= 0.72) and 5-years (C-index= 0.75) post-operation and had excellent external validation (C-indices 0.76 to 0.79). After 5-years post-operation, growth rates above 1mm/year had a sensitivity of over 80% and specificity over 50% in identifying events occurring within 2 years. Secondary sac growth is an important predictor of rupture or RPR. A dynamic prognostic model has the potential to tailor surveillance by identifying a large proportion of patients who may require less intensive follow-up.

Description
Keywords
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal, Aortic Rupture, Endovascular Procedures, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Statistical, Postoperative Complications, Prognosis, Proportional Hazards Models, Reoperation, Retrospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Sensitivity and Specificity, Treatment Outcome
Journal Title
British Journal of Surgery
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
1365-2168
1365-2168
Volume Title
105
Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MR/K014811/1)
MRC (MR/L501566/1)
MRC (unknown)
Medical Research Council (MR/L003120/1)
Medical Research Council (G0701619)
British Heart Foundation (None)