Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported data on mortality rates following emergency EVAR for ruptured AAA, irrespective of operative techniques or stent design. Studies of acute but not ruptured AAA were excluded. Studies of only one patient group, studies with less than five patients, case reports, review articles and letters were excluded.
Included studies were of EVAR for ruptured AAA on patients with a mean preoperative AAA size of 7.28cm. Most patients were male. Average age was 74.1 years. For the purpose of the review, mortality was defined as in-hospital or 30-day mortality. Other outcomes reported in the review were: morbidity; length of hospital stay; length of intensive care unit stay; blood loss; and intra-operative time. All of the included studies were conducted in Europe or USA.
The study selection appears to have been carried out by one reviewer.