Clinical Information
Endovascular vs Open Aortic Repair in the UK
EVAAR-UK
Registration Number
ISRCTN84567219
Lead Investigator
Professor Robert Sheridan
Funding Source
NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme
Sponsor
University of Leeds
Primary Outcome
All-cause mortality at 5 years post-randomisation
Secondary Outcomes
30-day operative mortality; re-intervention rate; aneurysm-related mortality; health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L); cost-effectiveness (QALY); length of hospital stay
Inclusion Criteria
Adults aged 55-85 with infrarenal AAA ≥5.5 cm on CT angiography; anatomically suitable for both EVAR and open repair; ASA grade I-III; able to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
Ruptured or symptomatic aneurysm requiring emergency repair; previous aortic surgery; suprarenal or thoracoabdominal aneurysm; severe cardiac, respiratory or renal disease precluding general anaesthesia; life expectancy <2 years from comorbidity
Equipoise
EVAR offers shorter hospital stays and lower 30-day mortality but may require more re-interventions long-term. Previous trials (EVAR-1, DREAM) showed converging survival at 8-15 years. Modern stent-graft technology may alter this balance, but we genuinely do not know which approach gives better long-term outcomes with current devices.
Visit Schedule
Post-op day 1; 1 month; 6 months; 12 months; then annually to 5 years. CT angiography at 1 month, 12 months and annually for EVAR arm; duplex ultrasound at 6 months and annually for open arm.
Procedures
EVAR: percutaneous or femoral cut-down insertion of aortic stent-graft under general or regional anaesthesia. Open repair: midline laparotomy, aortic cross-clamping and Dacron graft interposition under general anaesthesia.
Participating Sites
EVAAR-UK 5-Year Results — Presentation at the Vascular Society Annual Meeting 2026
Results Available
This trial has published results