The EVAR Trial 1: Has it led to a change in practice?

Objectives: To assess whether the publication of the EVAR Trial 1 (June 2005) had an impact on practice in our centre. Methods: A retrospective study of all patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in Leicester, from the year before publication of EVAR Trial 1 data to the year after (July 2004 – June 2006). Data from the study period was then compared with practice over the last six years (January 2000 – December 2006). Results: The proportion of endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVARs) did not change significantly in the year following publication of EVAR Trial 1 data (52% vs 57%, p=0.64). The mean age of patients offered open repair (OR) fell in the year following publication (69 years +/− 6.68 vs 72 years +/− 5.71, p