Introduction: We aimed to investigate whether the use of aortic occlusion balloon (AOB) has an impact on mortality of patients undergoing endovascular repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs).
Methods: A meta-analysis of the English-language literature was undertaken through February 2013. Articles reporting data on outcome after endovascular repair of RAAAs were identified and information regarding the use of AOB was sought.
Results: Included in this meta-analysis were 39 eligible studies reporting 1277 patients. The pooled perioperative mortality was 21.6% (95% CI 18.1-25.1%). There was significant within-study heterogeneity (I(2) 50.2%, P < 0.001). A total of 200 patients required AOB with an estimated pooled proportion of 14.1% (8.9-19.3%). Individual random-effects meta-regression investigating the effect of AOB and other risk factors on mortality revealed a significant linear association of hemodynamic instability, bifurcated endograft approach, and primary conversion to open repair with mortality and a nonlinear (second degree polynomial) association of AOB with mortality. On multivariable meta-regression models, both hemodynamic instability and AOB were found to be statistically significant, independent predictors of mortality. In particular, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between AOB and mortality and a positive effect of hemodynamic instability on mortality. In practical terms, mortality was significantly higher in studies with a higher proportion of hemodynamically unstable patients and lower in studies with a higher rate of AOB use.
Conclusion: This study provides meta-analytical evidence that the use of an AOB in unstable RAAA patients undergoing endovascular repair may improve the results.
Keywords: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA); Acute aortic syndrome; Aorta; Arterial intervention; Endovascular aneurysm; Repair/endovascular aortic repair (EVAR).