肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术42例分析

目的 探讨肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术的价值。方法 中山大学附属第一医院自2001年12月至2005年4月．共手术治疗42例肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤病人。采用单侧或双侧股动脉入路植入带膜支架对肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤进行腔内修复。结果42例肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤病人接受了血管腔内修复术，手术全部成功。围手术期死亡2例，其中1例为术前腹主动脉瘤破裂休克时间较长，已经合并急性肾功能不全；另1例为术后出现脑血管意外，2例均在术后3d死亡。其余40例随访1-40个月，全部存活。结论 肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术是一种安全、有效的治疗方法，长期疗效仍有待进一步观察。     

复杂腹主动脉瘤腔内修复65例经验

目的探讨复杂肾下腹主动脉瘤腔内治疗的结果。方法回顾性分析2006年1月~2013年3月65例复杂肾下腹主动脉瘤腔内治疗的资料。其中腹主动脉瘤颈过短(2 cm)15例(23.1%),参照肾动脉将支架向腹主动脉近侧释放;瘤颈严重成角(≥60°)28例(43.1%),将腹主动脉拉直再释放支架;同时具有短瘤颈和严重成角10例(15.4%);涉及双髂总动脉瘤的保留髂内动脉的处理5例(7.7%),尽量保留一侧髂内动脉以防盆腔脏器缺血,2例分期行髂内动脉覆盖;入路动脉狭窄或者闭塞导致腔内覆膜支架的输送器到达预定位置困难5例(7.7%);合并其他特殊病变2例(3.1%)。均采用腔内覆膜支架修复,其中进口血管支架29例(44.6%),国产血管支架36例(55.4%)。结果手术均成功。23例(35.4%)即时内漏,其中Ⅰ型6例,Ⅱ型14例,Ⅲ型3例。无手术死亡。术后住院时间7~15 d,平均8.2 d。随访60例(92.3%),随访时间1~8年,平均3.5年。死亡5例(8.3%),死亡原因均与该病无关。1例半年后支架移位,内漏,再次行腔内修复,置延长段支架后内漏消失,继续随访22个月,支架形态和位置良好,无支架移位和内漏发生。其他内漏均消失。左下肢缺血3例,原因为1例左侧髂分支支架移位导致闭塞,行股-股动脉耻骨上人工血管旁路移植后下肢缺血症状缓解,2例髂动脉打折,再次腔内治疗放置裸支架后缺血症状缓解。结论随着腔内技术的发展和腔内治疗器材的不断完善,过去认为不能采用腔内治疗的复杂腹主动脉瘤也可以采用腔内治疗,对于复杂肾下腹主动脉瘤,腔内治疗可以获得较为满意的中远期疗效。     

肾下型腹主动脉瘤腔内修复治疗的并发症分析

目的：总结腔内修复治疗腹主动脉瘤的经验,探讨并发症的及防治策略。方法：回顾分析及随访已接受腔内修复治疗的43例肾下型腹主动脉瘤患者的临床资料,分析腔内修复手术并发症的病因和防治。结果：本组发生了内漏、支架移位、移植物综合征、手术入路损伤等支架相关并发症。最常见的是内漏,发生原发性内漏11例,Ⅰ型8例,Ⅱ型1例,Ⅲ型2例。Ⅱ型内漏术中未处理,Ⅰ、Ⅲ型内漏经过球囊扩张、植入支架型血管或裸支架等处理后仍残留2例J型内漏。4例手术入路损伤经内膜剥脱治愈。随访发现迟发性内漏4例,继续随访1～2年,未见瘤体明显增大;手术结束时残留的3例原发性内漏自愈,但其中1例出现内漏复发及支架移位,导致动脉瘤复发破裂而再次接受腔内治疗。结论：支架相关并发症与动脉瘤血管解剖条件、移植物缺陷和操作技术有关,其防治需要良好把握手术适应证、合理选择支架及成熟的操作经验。     

肾下腹主动脉瘤105例腔内修复的早中期疗效

目的 评估肾下腹主动脉瘤腔内修复治疗的早中期疗效.方法 回顾分析2001年1月至2007年2月105例肾下腹主动脉瘤行腔内修复治疗的经过、结果和并发症.结果 所有患者均获技术成功,82例(78.09%)获随访,随访时间1～73个月,平均(8.9 4±5.8)个月.围手术期死亡3例(2.86%),分别死于急性心肌梗死、多系统器官功能衰竭和上消化道大出血.1例(1.21%)术后30个月死于肝癌.原发性内漏21例:Ⅰ型18例,其中10例行球囊扩张(9例)或延伸段植入(1例)后治愈,8例自愈;2例Ⅱ型内漏自愈;1例Ⅲ型内漏支架植入后治愈.1例于术后2周支架的一侧髂支血栓形成,急诊行股-股动脉人工血管旁路术.4例迟发性Ⅰ型内漏.随访观察.1例于术后6年支架向远心端移位,无明显内漏而随访观察.2例支架感染发生于术后1和3个月,行清创引流和抗感染治疗后痊愈.随访期间,9例股-股或髂-股动脉旁路和3例髂内动脉旁路通畅.结论 腔内修复治疗肾下腹主动脉瘤安全、有效,早、中期疗效较好.     

复杂腹主动脉瘤腔内修复65例经验北大核心CSCD

目的探讨复杂肾下腹主动脉瘤腔内治疗的结果。方法回顾性分析2006年1月~2013年3月65例复杂肾下腹主动脉瘤腔内治疗的资料。其中腹主动脉瘤颈过短（〈2 cm）15例（23.1%）,参照肾动脉将支架向腹主动脉近侧释放;瘤颈严重成角（≥60°）28例（43.1%）,将腹主动脉拉直再释放支架;同时具有短瘤颈和严重成角10例（15.4%）;涉及双髂总动脉瘤的保留髂内动脉的处理5例（7.7%）,尽量保留一侧髂内动脉以防盆腔脏器缺血,2例分期行髂内动脉覆盖;入路动脉狭窄或者闭塞导致腔内覆膜支架的输送器到达预定位置困难5例（7.7%）;合并其他特殊病变2例（3.1%）。均采用腔内覆膜支架修复,其中进口血管支架29例（44.6%）,国产血管支架36例（55.4%）。结果手术均成功。23例（35.4%）即时内漏,其中Ⅰ型6例,Ⅱ型14例,Ⅲ型3例。无手术死亡。术后住院时间7~15 d,平均8.2 d。随访60例（92.3%）,随访时间1~8年,平均3.5年。死亡5例（8.3%）,死亡原因均与该病无关。1例半年后支架移位,内漏,再次行腔内修复,置延长段支架后内漏消失,继续随访22个月,支架形态和位置良好,无支架移位和内漏发生。其他内漏均消失。左下肢缺血3例,原因为1例左侧髂分支支架移位导致闭塞,行股-股动脉耻骨上人工血管旁路移植后下肢缺血症状缓解,2例髂动脉打折,再次腔内治疗放置裸支架后缺血症状缓解。结论随着腔内技术的发展和腔内治疗器材的不断完善,过去认为不能采用腔内治疗的复杂腹主动脉瘤也可以采用腔内治疗,对于复杂肾下腹主动脉瘤,腔内治疗可以获得较为满意的中远期疗效。     

粘合剂联合腔内修补治疗复杂瘤颈腹主动脉瘤9例报告

目的探讨纤维蛋白粘合剂瘤腔内注射联合腔内修补术治疗复杂瘤颈腹主动脉瘤的疗效。方法回顾性分析2017年7月～2018年3月应用纤维蛋白粘合剂瘤腔内注射联合腔内修补术治疗9例复杂瘤颈腹主动脉瘤的临床资料。其中短瘤颈(≤1 cm) 2例,瘤颈扭曲(角度 60°) 8例,桶状瘤颈2例,严重钙化2例,附壁血栓1例。结果 9例均完成手术,其中1例术中出现Ⅰ型内漏,密切随访2个月,内漏消失,无需手术干预;其他8例随访3～12个月,平均7. 2月,未见内漏、支架移位、感染及异位栓塞等并发症。结论纤维蛋白粘合剂瘤腔内注射联合腔内修补术治疗复杂瘤颈腹主动脉瘤是安全、有效的。     

肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术10例治疗体会

目的总结肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤腔内修复术的初步经验。方法对我院2006年8月至2009年3月期间收治的10例肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤患者在全麻下采用单侧或双侧股动脉入路置入带膜支架行腔内修复术。结果10例肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤采用腔内修复治疗,带膜支架置入顺利,立即DSA7例动脉瘤体消失,Ⅰ型内瘘2例,经支架附着点球囊扩张后内瘘即刻消失。随访3～30个月(平均10个月),2例术后切口淋巴瘘,经换药痊愈。全部患者肢体血运正常。1例发生Ⅱ型内瘘,未经治疗,随访2个月后消失。结论腔内修复术对肾动脉下腹主动脉瘤是一种创伤小、恢复快及效果好的治疗方法。     

复杂瘤颈的近肾腹主动脉瘤腔内修复中烟囱技术的应用

目的探讨瘤颈解剖复杂的近肾腹主动脉瘤(juxtarenal aortic aneurysms,JAA)腔内修复(endovascular aneurysmrepair,EVAR)中应用烟囱技术的价值。方法 2007年1月～2011年10月,对7例瘤颈复杂的JAA采用EVAR治疗。由于瘤颈解剖结构不适于标准的腔内修复方案,术中自肱动脉穿刺预先于可能被覆膜支架主体覆盖的肾动脉置入导丝,置入修复腹主动脉瘤的覆膜支架主体后造影明确肾动脉覆盖情况,于相应肾动脉置入自膨支架或球囊扩张支架,以延长瘤颈长度使之符合EVAR要求,并有效保护肾动脉(即烟囱技术),然后再完成标准EVAR操作。结果 7例手术全部获成功。7例使用9枚肾动脉支架,其中5枚球扩支架,4枚自膨支架。腔内治疗最后的造影显示:腹主动脉瘤(abdominal aortic aneurysm,AAA)瘤腔隔绝良好,肾动脉血流良好。术中1例近端Ⅰ型内漏,近端增加Cuff后内漏消失;1例造影显示少量的Ⅱ型内漏,无须处理。7例随访1～52个月,平均11.6月:1例术后2个月因心功能衰竭死亡;1例Ⅱ型内漏术后3个月随访内漏消失;肾动脉烟囱支架均保持通畅。结论对于不适宜行开腹手术治疗的瘤颈解剖不佳的JAA,烟囱技术是传统EVAR技术的有效补充,远期效果及肾动脉支架长期通畅性尚需要进一步观察。     

腹主动脉瘤腔内治疗并发症内漏的诊治

目的 探讨血管内技术治疗腹主动脉瘤时特有并发症内漏的诊断与处理方法。方法 对已施行腔内治疗37例腹主动脉瘤患者进行回顾性分析,讨论部分患者并发内漏的原因、诊断、处理、结果及预后。结果 37例支架型血管放置完成后,13例发现存在不同程度的内漏,其中I型6例,Ⅱ型3例,Ⅲ型2例,Ⅳ型1例,不明原因1例,1期经相关技术处理后I型、Ⅲ型内漏完全消失。手术结束时原发性内漏发生率13．5％（5／37）。随诊发现原发性内漏3例自愈,2例转化为持续性内漏;另发现2例继发性内漏发生率13．5％（5／37）。随诊发现原发性内漏3例自愈,2例转化为持续性内漏;另发现2例继发发现人漏。本组患者晚期内漏发生率10．8％（4／37）。结论 引起漏血的原因可能与瘤颈形态、长度、成角、钙化、移植物选择、分支血管血液倒流等因素有关。强调术中发现并一期处理,术后应密切随访。增强CT、血管超声和MRA检查是术检后检测内漏的主要手段。对漏血量及瘤体有增大趋势的内漏应积极处理。     

腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术中Ⅰ型内漏的纤维蛋白胶栓塞治疗

目的 总结单中心应用纤维蛋白胶栓塞治疗腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术中Ⅰ型内漏的经验,研究其可行性及长期有效性.方法 2002年8月至2010年6月953例接受腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术的患者中,51例(5.4％)使用纤维蛋白胶栓塞术治疗术中Ⅰ型内漏.其中男性45例,女性6例,年龄49～88岁,平均年龄(72±8)岁.在栓塞术前后监测瘤腔内压力,在术后3、6和12个月及此后每年采用CT血管造影对患者进行随访.结果 经过栓塞治疗之后,50例(98.0％)Ⅰ型内漏消失,瘤腔内收缩压、舒张压、平均压、脉压差和平均压力指数均有明显降低.围手术期3例死亡(5.9％),其中1例高龄患者是由于Ⅰ型内漏无法消除,转开放手术后死于多器官功能衰竭;另2例死因与主动脉疾病无关.48例获得长期随访,中位随访时间45个月,腹主动脉瘤最大径从术前的(62±15)mm减至(49±10)mm(P =0.000).随访过程中3例患者死亡,其中1例死于瘤体持续增大压迫肾动脉造成的肾功能衰竭,另2例死因与主动脉无关;这3例患者随访期CT血管造影均未发现内漏.结论 纤维蛋白胶栓塞能有效治疗腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术中的Ⅰ型内漏,未见与栓塞治疗相关的并发症.在栓塞术前阻断内漏入口近端血流能增强该操作的安全性和有效性.     

Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Complicated by Persistent Endotension After Endovascular Repair: Report of a Case

Endoleak and endotension may prevent the successful exclusion of an aneurysm after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). The pressurization in the excluded aneurysm sac caused by endotension may lead to rupture of the aneurysm; however, the cause of endotension and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We report a case of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) complicated by persistent endotension after EVAR. Although no endoleaks were found on conventional double-phase computed tomographic scans, a thrombosed endoleak existed in the side branch and attachment site of the endograft. After treating the undetectable thrombosed endoleaks, physical examination revealed that the pressure of the excluded aneurysm had diminished, with shrinkage of the aneurysm. This case report suggests that a high-pressure undetectable type I or type II endoleak could be a major cause of endotension. Thus, postoperative evaluation of the attachment site of an endograft is important after EVAR.     

Management of endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair: cuffs,coils, and conversion

OBJECTIVE: The effectiveness of endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) may be limited by persistent perfusion of the aneurysm sac (endoleak). Endoleak that results in persistent systemic pressurization of the aneurysm or in continued AAA expansion is believed to require treatment to prevent rupture. This report describes the results of three techniques used to treat endoleak. METHODS: Endovascular repair of AAA was performed in 597 patients between January 1996 and September 2002. Seventy-three endoleaks that required treatment developed in 70 patients (11.7%). These involved the graft attachment site (type I) or the graft junction site (type III) or originated from collateral side-branch vessels (type II) and were associated with an increase in aneurysm size. Endoleak type was confirmed at angiography in all cases. Average time between the initial endovascular procedure and endoleak treatment was 14.5 +/- 5.7 months. The techniques used for endoleak treatment were deployment of an endovascular extension graft or cuff (n = 44), coil embolization (n = 24,) and conversion to conventional open repair (n = 5). Configurations of endovascular grafts in which endoleak developed were bifurcated (n = 44), aortouniiliac (n = 15), and aortoaortic-tube (n = 11). Mean follow-up after endoleak treatment was 24.5 +/- 12.2 months (range, 1-60 months). RESULTS: Endovascular extension grafts or cuffs were used to treat 41 attachment site endoleaks and 3 graft junction endoleaks, with overall technical success rate of 97%. Embolic coils were used to treat 16 retrograde side-branch endoleaks and 8 attachment site endoleaks, with overall technical success rate of 87%. Conversion to open surgery was performed in 4 patients with attachment site endoleaks and 1 patient with a graft junction site endoleak, and was successful in all cases. After endoleak treatment, aneurysm size decreased (>5 mm) in 38% of patients, stabilized in 58% of patients, and increased (>5 mm) in 4% of patients. Major morbidity occurred in 7.0%, with no perioperative deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular extension grafts, coil embolization, and conversion to open surgery each may be used to effectively repair endoleak. Selection of the treatment method used is determined by the anatomic characteristics of the endoleak and the patient's ability to tolerate conventional repair. Conversion to open repair was uniformly successful. Deployment of an extension cuff was successful when complete closure of the endoleak was achieved. Embolic coils were effective for retrograde endoleaks and provided stabilization of AAA size in selected patients with attachment site endoleaks in limited follow-up.     

Relationship between preoperative patency of the inferior mesenteric artery and subsequent occurrence of type II endoleak in patients undergoing endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was (1) to find out whether preoperative inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) patency (on radiographic imaging) predicts IMA-related endoleaks after endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms, (2) to determine feasibility of measuring aneurysm sac pressures in patients with endoleaks, and (3) to report early evidence of effective endovascular obliteration of IMA endoleaks. METHODS: We studied 76 consecutive cases of infrarenal aortic aneurysms that were repaired with an endovascular approach (March 1998-April 1999). RESULTS: There were 13 (17%) endoleaks persistent 30 days after the procedure. Eleven (85%) of these 13 were IMA-related endoleaks, which were documented with selective superior mesenteric artery angiography. The preoperative finding (on computed tomographic scan) of a patent IMA does not always predict an IMA-related endoleak, but results in a statistically and clinically significant higher ratio of patients with IMA-related endoleaks in the immediate postoperative period (24% versus 3%, P <.035). In eight of the 11 patients with persistent IMA-related endoleaks, measurement of intra-aneurysm sac pressures was possible, and six of these patients had systemic pressures within the excluded aneurysm sac. Nine (82%) of 11 IMA-related endoleaks were successfully obliterated by means of selective IMA embolization. CONCLUSIONS: Many endoleaks are caused by a patent IMA, and this can result in persistence of systemic pressure within the aneurysm sac. The preoperative finding (on computed tomographic scan) of a patent IMA is a predictor of increased rates of IMA endoleaks, and IMA endoleaks can be successfully obliterated through endovascular procedures, after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.     

肾动脉水平以下腹主动脉瘤外科治疗的若干问题(附461例报告)

提高肾动脉水平以下腹主动脉瘤手术的安全性。方法：总结１９６０年１月～２００１年３月４６１例腹主动脉瘤切除、人造血管移植及腹主动脉瘤腔内隔绝术的经验。结果：随着腹膜后途径和小切口等技术的应用,动脉瘤近端血流控制、动脉瘤切除以及缝合修补和腔内隔绝术等方法的更新,使手术危险性明显降低,手术死亡率４．８％,５年存活率达７４．４％。结论：手术技术和麻醉监护的进步,使腹主动脉瘤的外科治疗变得更安全、迅速和方便。     

Endoleak after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm.

PURPOSE: We sought to assess the role of endovascular techniques in the management of perigraft flow (endoleak) after endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. METHOD: We performed endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm in 114 patients, using a variety of Gianturco Z-stent-based prostheses. Results were evaluated with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) at 3 days, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and every year after the operation. An endoleak that occurred 3 days after operation led to repeat CT scanning at 2 weeks, followed by angiography and attempted endovascular treatment. RESULTS: Endoleak was seen on the first postoperative CT scan in 21 (18%) patients and was still present at 2 weeks in 14 (12%). On the basis of angiographic localization of the inflow, the endoleak was pure type I in 3 cases, pure type II in 9, and mixed-pattern in 2. Of the 5 type I endoleaks, 3 were proximal and 2 were distal. All five resolved after endovascular implantation of additional stent-grafts, stents, and embolization coils. Although inferior mesenteric artery embolization was successful in 6 of 7 cases and lumbar embolization was successful in 4 of 7, only 1 of 11 primary type II endoleaks was shown to be resolved on CT scanning. There were no type III or type IV endoleaks (through the stent-graft). Endoleak was associated with aneurysm dilation two cases. In both cases, the aneurysm diameter stabilized after coil embolization of the inferior mesenteric artery. There were two secondary (delayed) endoleaks; one type I and one type II. The secondary type I endoleak and the associated aneurysm rupture were treated by use of an additional stent-graft. The secondary type II endoleak was not treated. CONCLUSIONS: Type I endoleaks represent a persistent risk of aneurysm rupture and should be treated promptly by endovascular means. Type II leaks are less dangerous and more difficult to treat, but coil embolization of feeding arteries may be warranted when leakage is associated with aneurysm enlargement.     

The impact of endovascular treatment on in-hospital mortality following non-ruptured AAA repair over a decade: a population based study of 16,446 patients.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesised that over the past decade, the nation-wide outcome of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair has improved with the introduction of endovascular treatment. The aim of the study was to identify endovascularly-treated patients in a national registry and to assess the impact on in-hospital mortality of non-ruptured AAA repair, if any, after the introduction of endovascular repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied the nation-wide outcome of non-ruptured AAA repair over the past decade. Variables studied were age and gender of the patients, hospital size and type and the year in which treatment was performed and the outcome on in-hospital mortality. The in-hospital mortality of non-ruptured AAA repair in 16,446 patients in the 10-year period from 1991 to 2000 was 7.3% (6.2-8.2%). In the 15,589 (95%) patients that underwent conventional treatment, in-hospital mortality was 7.6% (7.0-8.1%), whereas in the endovascular group it was 1.9% (0.6-3.5%). In the multivariate analysis, age and endovascular repair were the most important independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: With the limitations of a national registry aside, the introduction of endovascular aneurysm repair seems to have had a small but significant impact on in-hospital mortality following infrarenal AAA repair.     

Endovascular Treatment of Failed Prior Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Failure of endovascular or conventional abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair may occur as a result of attachment site endoleak (type I) or paraanastomotic aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm formation. This study examined the results of the use of secondary endovascular grafts for the treatment of failed prior infrarenal AAA repair procedures. Forty-seven patients were treated with endovascular grafts. These included 14 patients with type I endoleaks (5 proximal, 8 distal, 1 proximal and distal) and 33 patients with paraanastomotic aneurysms after standard open surgical AAA repair (3 proximal aorta, 5 distal aorta, 21 iliac, 4 proximal and distal). The interval between the primary aortic procedure and the endovascular repair was significantly shorter for failed endovascular procedures (mean, 18.2 months; range, 1-42 months) than for failed conventional procedures (mean, 108.9 months; range, 12-216 months) (p <0.01). The endovascular devices used for correction of the failed AAA repairs were Talent (23), physician-made (19), AneuRx (2), Vanguard (2), and Excluder (1). Transrenal fixation was used for repair of all proximal anastomotic failures. Mean follow-up after reintervention was 12.2 months in patients with failed endovascular grafts and 10.6 months in patients with failed conventional grafts. Patient demographics were as follows: average age, 78 years; 36 male and 11 female; and 4.1 comorbid medical conditions per patient. The endovascular graft was successfully deployed in all 47 cases; 1 patient experienced a persistent proximal attachment site endoleak after endograft deployment. Endovascular grafts may be used to treat previously failed endovascular and conventional AAA repair procedures with good short- and intermediate-term results. Endovascular treatments in these cases may avoid the difficulties of aortic reoperation or AAA repair in the setting of prior endovascular aortic grafting.     

Life-table Analysis of Primary and Assisted Success Following Endoluminal Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: the Role of Supplementary Endovascular Intervention in Improving Outcome

AIM: the aim of this study was to analyse the effect of supplementary endovascular intervention on the outcome of primary endoluminal repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS: between May 1992 and December 1998, 266 patients underwent endoluminal repair of AAA. Minimum period of follow-up was 6 months. Those patients in whom the endoprosthesis could not be deployed were converted to open repair at the primary operation. Patients developing an early endoleak, within 31 days, were treated by a period of observation and secondary endovascular intervention in persistent cases. Patients developing a late endoleak were treated similarly, without a period of observation. Outcome was analysed by the life-table method. Primary success was defined as exclusion of the aneurysm from the circulation resulting from the original operation. Assisted success occurred when aneurysms with endoleaks became excluded from the circulation as a result of supplementary endovascular intervention. RESULTS: endoluminal repair failed in 17 patients requiring conversion to open repair at the original operation. Supplementary endovascular intervention was undertaken in 26 patients, with early endoleaks (n=6) and late endoleaks (n=20). Interventions involved deployment of secondary endoluminal grafts within the primary grafts (n=22), and coil embolisation (n=4). Successful exclusion of the aneurysm sac was achieved in 22 of 26 (85%) patients undergoing supplementary endovascular procedures. Conditional cumulative incidence of primary graft failure and secondary graft failure in the presence of all-cause mortality at 6 years was 47% and 25% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: supplementary endovascular intervention is an important adjunct to endoluminal AAA repair with the potential to improve outcome and avoid conversion to open repair. Successful supplementary endovascular intervention was achieved in 85% of patients in whom it was attempted. Life-table analysis showed these supplementary procedures to be durable in the long term.     

Conformational changes associated with proximal seal zone failure in abdominal aortic endografts

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become a popular treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This study examines conformational changes in the infrarenal aortas of patients in whom proximal seal zone failures (PSF) developed after EVAR. METHODS: All 189 patients with aortic endograft underwent routine post-EVAR computed tomographic scan surveillance. Patients identified with proximal type I endoleaks, type III endoleaks, or proximal component separation without demonstrable endoleak underwent three-dimensional reconstruction of the computed tomographic scans from which measurements of the migration, length, volume, and angulation of the infrarenal aorta were made. RESULTS: Five patients (3%) had PSF develop, four of whom had aortic extender cuffs. Although changes in the AAA volume and aortic neck angle were slight or variable, the mean AAA length increased 34 mm and the mean aortic body angulation increased 17 degrees (P =.03 and.01, respectively). Lengthening and migration caused proximal component separation in four patients, with concomitant migration in two patients. Two patients underwent endovascular repair, two patients needed explantation of the endograft, and one patient awaits endovascular repair. Proximal component separation and type III endoleak recurred in one patient and were repaired with a custom-fitted graft. CONCLUSION: PSF of aortic endografts is associated with proximal angulation and lengthening of the infrarenal aorta. These findings reinforce the importance of proper initial deployment to minimize the need for aortic extender cuffs, which pose a risk of late endoleak development.