Factors Associated with Increased Fluoroscopy Time During Elective Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair and Its Utilization as an Indicator of Intraoperative and Postoperative Outcomes

Objectives

This study explores the impact of prolonged fluoroscopy time (FT) on outcomes in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). While total operative time includes multiple variables, FT precisely captures the technical precision of the EVAR procedure. By examining the factors that extend FT, we aim to establish FT as a critical quality metric for evaluating surgical performance and predicting postoperative outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective review of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) was conducted (2003–2021). The FT was studied based on a median dichotomy of ≤18 mins (Group I) and >18 mins (Group II). Primary outcomes of in-hospital mortality and discharge status were studied, along with numerous secondary outcomes pertaining to systemic complications. Factors associated with more extended FT were also measured. All the variables examined in multivariate analyses were estimated in odds ratios, and a P-value of <0.05 was deemed significant for all the analyses performed.

Results

41,841 patients were studied, of which 20,339 were categorized in Group I and 21,502 in Group II. The average fluoroscopy time in the selected patients was reported to be 23.2 minutes. Patients in Group II generally had overall poorer health status with multiple comorbidities and on various medications. Aortic aneurysm parameters can influence the FT, including the greater aorta-neck angle, neck angle, neck diameter, and neck length. Patients treated by high-volume surgeons were observed to have less likelihood of prolonged FT. On trends analysis, it was observed that the FT has been consistent over the study period.

Conclusions

Various factors can influence the FT in patients undergoing EVAR, including the patient characteristics and the complexity of the aneurysm. Identifying the risk factors associated with prolonged FT can help prepare the surgeons and devise ways to ensure a high quality of care, better risk stratification, and enhanced safety, especially for more prolonged exposure to radiation and contrast volumes.