These results support the hypothesis that patients with DM are more likely to have atherosclerotic disease in the tibial vessels than NDM. There is however limited information on how individual vessels are affected. Further information on this and a greater understanding of why the distal vessels are more affected are avenues for future research.

These population-based data show that, following EVAR, women have a longer LoS and higher readmission and mortality than men. This reflects the same disparity in outcomes that is found in open AAA repair. Further work to clarify the cause of this is needed.

While it is not possible to draw firm conclusions from the evidence currently available there are clear areas that warrant research. Good microcirculation unsurprisingly appears to associate with better wound healing. The influence of DM is not clear, and neither is the degree of improvement required to achieve healing. Studies that examine a clearly defined cohort both with and without DM are urgently required. Accurate quantitative assessment of microcirculation will aid prediction of wound healing identifying those at greatest risk of amputation.