Simultaneous radical nephrectomy and repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Objectives. The combination of abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with other intra-abdominal surgery is controversial. Most studies have shown that a variety of procedures can be performed at the same time as an aneurysm repair with little change in mortality or complication rates. We conducted a retrospective study to determine if aneurysm repair could be safely and effectively combined with radical nephrectomy. Methods. We studied 10 patients who underwent combined abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and radical nephrectomy during a 4-year period. Results from this group were compared to a separate control group of 10 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy alone and another of 12 patients who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm repair alone, during the same time period. Results. The overall mortality was 10% and significant complications occurred in an additional 10% of patients. Minor, self-limiting complications occurred in 30% of patients. There were no aortic graft infections that occurred in the entire series of patients at 18 months of mean follow-up. There were no remarkable differences in length of stay, age, operating time, blood loss, morbidity, and mortality between this series of patients and the combined values in a separate group of control patients who had undergone either procedure alone. Conclusions. Simultaneous radical nephrectomy for presumed renal cell carcinoma can be safely combined with repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm in selected patients.