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Objective: With an increasing life expectancy, more octogenarian patients are referred with complex aortic aneurysms (cAAA). The aim of this study was to evaluate short and mid-term outcomes following fenestrated aortic repair (FEVAR) in octogenarians.

Methods: Retrospective, multicentre cohort study including 8 centres across Europe and New Zealand. Consecutive patients undergoing elective FEVAR for the treatment of juxta/pararenal or type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms between 2013 and 2021 were included. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included 1, 2 and 5-year survival rates and mid-to-long term reintervention rates.

Results: A total of 729 patients were included, of which 169 were octogenarians. Octogenarian patients were more frequently male and had larger (61mm vs. 58mm) aneurysms. No differences in 30-day mortality (4.7% vs. 3.9%) or 30-day complication rates (29% vs 28.4%) were found. Median follow-up was 23.56 months. The 1, 2 and 5-year survival rates for octogenarian vs nonoctogenarian patients were 90.7%, 80.1% and 40.1% vs. 90.2%, 85.5% and 68.1%, respectively (p=.001). Cox regression analysis found a BMI ≥ 30 (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.28-0.88), chronic heart failure (HR 2.14, 95% CI 1.04 – 4.39) and AAA diameter between 60-70mm (HR 2.35, 95% CI 1.31 – 4.23) to be predictors of longterm mortality.

Conclusions: Thirty-day outcomes after FEVAR were similar in octogenarians and younger patients. However, mid to long term survival rates, especially after 3 years, are considerably low in both groups. Whilst FEVAR in octogenarians can be performed safely and with good early outcomes, methods to improve case selection and ensure patient benefit in the long term are highly of interest.