Endovascular or Open Repair Strategy for Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abstract This chapter provides a summary of a landmark study in vascular surgery assessing whether an endovascular strategy improved outcomes compared to an open strategy in patients undergoing surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. The Immediate Management of Patients with Rupture: Open Versus Endovascular Repair (IMPROVE) trial demonstrated that a strategy of endovascular repair was not associated with significant reduction in either 30-day mortality or cost. This chapter describes the basics of the study, including funding, study location, inclusion and exclusion criteria, how many patients were recruited, study design, follow-up, endpoints, results, and criticism and limitations. The chapter briefly reviews other relevant studies and information, gives a summary, and concludes with a relevant clinical case.