Device-specific outcomes after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Over the last decade, endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has been used extensively for the elective treatment of infra-renal abdominal aneurysms. However, it remains unclear how specific devices perform and how they compare to others. We provide an overview of currently used endografts, and discuss the current evidence regarding device-specific outcomes. Published literature confirms differences in results according to endograft selection. These differences were more pronounced with older generations of devices, in comparison to newer models. Contemporary results are generally good and one should remember that no randomized data exist regarding individual device performance. Moreover, by the time there is enough follow-up to draw conclusions, the data is relatively obsolete due to constant improvements in endograft technology and design. Results from EVAR have been steadily improving and individualized device selection has shown to be valuable. It appears that patients with favorable anatomy do well with most modern endografts. Those with challenging anatomies may benefit more from a particular design, delivery and deployment feature requiring greater knowledge and experience for adequate device selection

Treatment of post-implantation aneurysm growth by laparoscopic sac fenestration: Long-term results

Objectives: Sac growth after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is an important finding, which may influence prognosis. In case of a type II endoleak or endotension, clipping of side branches and subsequent sac fenestration has been presented as a therapeutic alternative. The long-term clinical efficacy of this procedure is unknown. Methods: The study included eight patients who underwent laparoscopic aortic collateral clipping and sac fenestration for enlarging aneurysms following EVAR. Secondary interventions and clinical outcome were retrieved from hospital records. Sac behaviour was evaluated measuring volumes on periodical computed tomography angiography (CTA) imaging using dedicated software. Results: Follow-up had a median length of 6.6 (range 0.6-8.6) years. During this time, only three pati

Outcomes of endovascular repair of ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysms

Background-: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair offers a less invasive approach for the treatment of ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (rDTAA). Due to the low incidence of this life-threatening condition, little is known about the outcomes of endovascular repair of rDTAA and the factors that affect these outcomes. Methods and Results-: We retrospectively investigated the outcomes of 87 patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair for rDTAA at 7 referral centers between 2002 and 2009. The mean age was 69.8±12 years and 69.0% of the patients were men. Hypovolemic shock was present in 21.8% of patients, and 40.2% were hemodynamically unstable. The 30-day mortality rate was 18.4%, and hypovolemic shock (odds ratio 4.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.37 to 16.5; P=0.014) and hemothorax at admission (odds ratio 6.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.64 to 27.1; P=0.008) were associated with increased 30-day mortality after adjusting for age. Stroke and paraplegia occurred each in 8.0%, and endoleak was diagnosed in 18.4% of patients within the first 30 days after thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Four additional patients died as a result of procedure-related complications during a median follow-up of 13 months; the estimated aneurysm-related mortality at 4 years was 25.4%. Conclusion-: Endovascular repair of rDTAA is associated with encouraging results. The endovascular approach was associated with considerable rates of neurological complications and procedure-related complications such as endoleak

Aortic Curvature Is a Predictor of Late Type Ia Endoleak and Migration after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

Purpose: To evaluate the association between aortic curvature and other preoperative anatomical characteristics and late (>1 year) type Ia endoleak and endograft migration in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) patients. Methods: Eight high-volume EVAR centers contributed 116 EVAR patients (mean age 81±7 years; 103 men) to the study: 36 patients (mean age 82±7 years; 31 men) with endograft migration and/or type Ia endoleak diagnosed >1 year after the initial EVAR and 80 controls without early or late complications. Aortic curvature was calculated from the preoperative computed tomography scan as the maximum and average curvature over 5 predefined aortic segments: the entire infrarenal aortic neck, aneurysm sac, and the suprarenal, juxtarenal, and infrarenal aorta. Other morphological characteristics included neck length, neck diameter, mural neck calcification and thrombus, suprarenal and infrarenal angulation, and largest aneurysm sac diameter. Independent risk factors were identified using backward stepwise logistic regression. Relevant cutoff values for each of the variables in the final regression model were determined with the receiver operator characteristic curve. Results: Logistic regression identified maximum curvature over the length of the aneurysm sac (>47 m-1; p=0.023), largest aneurysm sac diameter (>56 mm; p=0.028), and mural neck thrombus (>11° circumference; p<0.001) as independent predictors of late migration and type Ia endoleak. Conclusion: Aortic curvature is a predictor for late type Ia endoleak and endograft migration after EVAR. These findings suggest that aortic curvature is a better parameter than angulation to predict post-EVAR failure and should be included as a hostile neck parameter