Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) has emerged as a less invasive approach to aneurysm repair. However, the optimal anesthesia modality for elective cases—general or local-regional—remains uncertain. This meta-analysis compares the outcomes of local-regional versus general anesthesia (GA) for abdominal EVAR.
Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies comparing local-regional and general anesthesia for EVAR up to May 2024. Following the PRISMA protocol, 1,796 articles were screened. Endpoints included 30-day mortality, type I endoleaks, length of hospital stay (LHS), and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions. A random-effects model with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used for binary endpoints and mean difference (MD) for continuous endpoints. Heterogeneity was assessed using Q and I2 statistics. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) approach evaluated the quality of evidence.
Results: Sixteen cohort studies, encompassing 70,654 patients treated with EVAR after excluding overlapping populations, were included. All groups had similar demographics, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status, and aneurysm type. The mean age was 73.6 years, and 88.1% were male. Local-regional anesthesia was associated with significantly lower 30-day all-cause mortality (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.55 to 0.99; p=0.049; I2=0, Figure A), shorter LHS (MD -0.72 days; 95% CI -1.29 to -0.15; p=0.01; I2=87%), and less ICU admissions (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.93; p=0.027; I2=98%). There was no increase in endoleaks in the local-regional group (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.55 to 1.09; p=0.143; I2=29%, Figure B). The GRADE rated this evidence as moderate certainty and high importance.
Conclusion: Local-regional anesthesia may be preferable to general anesthesia for EVAR, as it reduces 30-day mortality, ICU admissions, and hospital stay length without increasing the risk of type I endoleaks.