Open aneurysm repair in patients with concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm and aorto-iliac occlusive disease is associated with a high mortality and surgical complication rate.

Aim of the study To evaluate whether the outcome after open aneurysm repair combined with aorto-femoral bypass in patients with concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD) is inferior to open aneurysm repair for isolated AAA or aorto-femoral bypass for isolated AIOD. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 30-day mortality, 1-year mortality and surgical complications of consecutive patients undergoing elective aneurysm repair, aorto-femoral bypass or a combination of these at two vascular surgery departments from 2003 to 2013. Potential risk factors were investigated by multivariable analysis. Results Overall, 511 patients underwent open repair for isolated AAA, 104 aorto-femoral bypass for isolated AIOD and 46 open AAA repair combined with aorto-femoral bypass for concomitant AAA and AIOD. Surgical complications occurred in 17% of AAA, 23% of AIOD and 37% of combined patients (odds ratio [OR] combined vs AAA 2.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-5.34; p = 0.003). Colon ischaemia occurred in 3.7% of AAA, 2.9% of AIOD and 13% of combined patients (incicidence rate ratio [IRR] combined vs AAA 3.27, 95% CI 1.37-7.81; p = 0.01). The 30-day mortality was 3.1% in AAA, 4.8% in AIOD, and 11% in combined patients (IRR combined vs AAA 3.17, 95% CI 1.26-7.96; p = 0.01). One-year mortality was 5.7% in AAA, 5.8% in AIOD and 15% in combined patients (IRR combined vs AAA 2.50, 95% CI 1.17-5.35; p = 0.02). Conclusions Combined AAA repair and aorto-femoral bypass has a significantly higher 30-day mortality and postoperative complication rate than isolated AAA repair. Patients with concomitant AAA and AIOD thus represent a high-risk population, which should be considered when deciding on the indication for AAA treatment.