system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Aged, Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal, Aortic Rupture, Aortography, Belgium, Blood Vessel Prosthesis, Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Male, Middle Aged, Prosthesis Design, Prosthesis Failure, Reoperation, Retrospective Studies, Stents, Time Factors, Tomography, X-Ray Computed.
user
Is long-term surveillance paramount after implantation of the Vanguard stent-graft for abdominal aortic aneurysms? Context: The aim of this study was to describe the results and long-term follow-up of the Vanguard endovascular graft for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Between February 1997 and October 1999, 76 patients were treated with a median aneurysm diameter of 52 mm (39-90 mm). All were followed up according to the Eurostar criteria. The primary technical success rate was 100%. Perioperative mortality was 1.3%. During follow-up (median 75 months, 6-112 months) 9 aneurysm related deaths occurred. A total of 79 late complications occurred in 45 patients (64%). Complications were noticed more frequently in the group of aneurysms larger than 5.5 cm (P=0.014). Patients who ultimately developed aneurysm rupture after endovascular repair had more postoperative complications compared to the majority who did not rupture their aneurysm. (P=0.001) Secondary interventions were mandatory in 23 patients, surgical conversion in 9. At 72 months this has resulted in an overall survival rate of 57%, an aneurysm rupture free survival of 88%, a conversion free survival of 95%, an endoleak free survival of 83% and a secondary intervention free survival of 82% (Kaplan Maier).
assistant
The importance of life-long strict surveillance of patients treated with a Vanguard endograft was confirmed. Patients with graft-related complications should be treated accordingly. Final Decision: yes