Use of a bifurcated endovascular graft for treatment of endograft migration with major endoleak

The purpose of this study was to describe the use of a bifurcated endovascular graft to treat endograft migration with major endoleaks. We present four patients who presented at a mean of 72.0 months after their initial endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Three patients had type I endoleaks resulting from proximal attachment failure and graft migration. A fourth patient had separation of a proximal aortic cuff from a migrated main body device resulting in a type III endoleak. All were treated with a bifurcated Zenith (Cook Medical Incorporated, Bloomington, IN, USA) endovascular graft. There was 100% technical success with no perioperative complications. On follow-up, one patient died of unrelated causes at five months. The mean survival for the remaining three patients was 37 months. In conclusion, treatment with a bifurcated Zenith endograft has advantages over the use of an aortic cuff or aortouniiliac reconstruction. To perform this technique, there must be a sufficient distance between the proximal landing zone and the flow divider of the migrated endograft to allow for deployment of the Zenith device. While there remain limitations in its applicability, the use of a bifurcated endovascular graft is a viable alternative for endovascular salvage in treatment of endograft migration with major endoleaks.     

Use of Zenith TX2 endografts in endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair for large-diameter aortic necks

The purpose of this case report is to describe the use of thoracic endografts in endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) with large-diameter aortic necks. We present four patients who underwent elective repair of AAAs. Preoperative imaging demonstrated all to have large aortic necks (35-37 mm) precluding treatment with standard abdominal aortic devices. All underwent endovascular treatment, which included the use of a Zenith TX2 endograft (Cook Medical Incorporated, Bloomington, IN, USA) as a proximal aortic cuff. There was 100% technical success. One patient developed gastrointestinal bleeding and a myocardial infarction. All were subsequently discharged home. On follow-up, there was one aneurysm-related death at three months. The remaining three patients are alive at a mean of 25.7 months after their operation. In conclusion, large proximal aortic necks preclude endovascular treatment with standard abdominal endograft components. The use of a thoracic endograft as a proximal aortic cuff is a feasible technique for patients unable to tolerate open aortic reconstruction.     

Endovascular conversion with femorofemoral bypass as a treatment of endotension and aneurysm sac enlargement

We report a case of a patient treated with a Gore Excluder endograft for AAA in November 2003 with subsequent aneurysm sac enlargement in the absence of an identified endoleak. The patient had a Type I endoleak treated with a Palmaz stent at the neck and later developed a Type II endoleak treated with translumbar coil embolization. This was successful with absence of pressure in the sac after the procedure and stable aneurysm size over the next nine months. Surveillance of the patient with both CT and ultrasound then revealed an increase in the aortic sac diameter in the absence of endoleak. A Cook Zenith converter was used to reline this PTFE endograft. Subsequently, imaging showed aneurysm sac shrinkage. This is a report of endotension with aneurysm expansion following Gore Excluder placement which was treated successfully with a dacron endograft.     

Mid-term fixation stability of the EndoVascular Technologies endograft. EVT Investigators.

AIM OF THE STUDY: to determine the positional stability of the EndoVascular Technologies (EVT) endograft after endovascular aneurysm repair during morphologic changes of the abdominal aorta during follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: all patients treated worldwide with an EVT endograft with an adequate postoperative and at least 12 months postoperative CT scan were included (n=125). Endograft migration was investigated by recording the position of the endograft attachment systems relative to the renal arteries and the aortic or iliac bifurcations. The vertical body axis served as a scale to quantify migration. Aortic cross-sectional areas were measured in the suprarenal aorta and in the proximal and distal aneurysm necks. Length changes of the infrarenal aorta during follow-up were measured, comparing the distance between the left renal artery and the aortic bifurcation. RESULTS: the median follow-up was 24 months (range 12-48 months). Graft migration was identified in 4 out of 125 patients (3%). Significant infrarenal aortic dilation was observed at the proximal and distal aneurysm neck during follow-up. However, aortic neck dilation was not associated with endograft migration. The length of the infrarenal aorta did not change significantly after endovascular repair. CONCLUSION: fixation by stents containing hooks of the EVT design appear to be effective in preventing migration of endografts with an unsupported trunk for up to four years. A stable position was maintained in spite of changes in cross-sectional areas of the aneurysm neck.     

Iliorenal artery bypass grafting to facilitate endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Effective endovascular repair of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) requires adequate proximal and distal landing zones to allow secure endograft attachment. We report a patient with an infrarenal AAA originating 3 mm below the left renal artery with cardiac morbidity that precluded open AAA repair. Left renal artery relocation with retroperitoneal iliorenal bypass grafting was performed to lengthen the proximal landing zone, which facilitated successful endovascular AAA repair. Postoperative surveillance after 3 years showed aneurysm reduction with a patent iliorenal bypass graft. This case underscores the utility of a combined open and endovascular approach in treatment of a challenging aortic aneurysm.     

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.     

Mid- and long-term device migration after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: a comparison of AneuRx and Zenith endografts

BACKGROUND: Freedom from migration is key to the durability of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). This study evaluates the mid- and long-term incidence of migration with two different endografts. METHODS: Between September 1997 and June 2004, 235 patients were scheduled for EVAR with an AneuRx (Medtronic/AVE Inc.) or Zenith (Cook) endograft. Patients with fusiform, infrarenal aneurysms and a minimum 12 months of follow-up were analyzed, for a final cohort of 130 patients. Migration was assessed on axial computed tomography (CT) (2.5 to 3 mm cuts) as the distance from the most caudal renal artery to the first slice containing endograft (AneuRx) or to the top of the bare suprarenal stent (Zenith). Aortic neck diameters were measured at the most caudal renal artery. The initial postoperative CT scan was the baseline. Migration was defined by caudal movement of the endograft at two thresholds, > or =5 mm and > or =10 mm, or any migration with a related clinical event. RESULTS: Life-table analysis demonstrated AneuRx freedom from migration (> or =10 mm or clinical event) was 96.1%, 89.5%, 78.0%, and 72.0% at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively. Zenith freedom from migration was 100%, 97.6%, 97.6%, and 97.6% at 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively (P = .01, log-rank test). The stricter 5-mm migration threshold found 67.4% of AneuRx and 90.1% of Zenith patients free from migration at 4 years of follow-up. Twelve out of 14 (85.7%) AneuRx patients (12/14) with migration (> or =10 mm or clinical event) underwent 14 related secondary procedures (13 endovascular, 1 open conversion). The single Zenith patient with migration (> or =10 mm) has not required adjuvant treatment. Mean follow-up was 39.0 +/- 2.3 months (AneuRx) and 30.8 +/- 1.9 months (Zenith, P = .01). Patients with and without migration did not differ in age, gender ratio, aneurysm diameter, and neck diameter. However, initial neck length was shorter in patients with migration (22.1 +/- 2.1 mm vs 31.2 +/- 1.2 mm, P = .02). A subset of patients (21.6%) experienced significant (defined as > or =3 mm) maximum aortic neck dilation. Of the AneuRx patients, > or =3 mm aortic neck dilation affected 30.8% of migrators vs 13.0% of nonmigrators (P = .20). CONCLUSIONS: Endograft migration is a time-dependent phenomenon affected by both device choice and aortic neck length. A great majority of patients (85.7%) with migration of the AneuRx device ultimately required treatment. A minority of patients experienced aortic neck dilation that could be considered clinically significant. Careful surveillance for migration is an essential component of long-term follow-up after EVAR.     

Dilatation of the proximal neck of infrarenal aortic aneurysms after endovascular AAA repair.

OBJECTIVES: to assess size changes of the proximal aortic neck after endograft placement. METHODS: since 1994, 54 consecutive patients have undergone abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair with the Endovascular Technologies (EVT) endograft. The study group comprised the 33 patients who had completed at least six months of the prospective follow-up protocol. The pre-, postoperative and follow-up helical computed tomography (CT) angiograms (CTAs) were processed on a workstation. The proximal neck dimensions were measured perpendicular to the central lumen line of the aortic neck. The cross-sectional area was measured at the proximal attachment system and at 1 cm proximal to the renal arteries. RESULTS: while the dimensions of suprarenal aorta did not change, a significant dilatation of the proximal neck was found. The median increase was 10.3% at 6 months and 15.5% at 12 months. No correlation could be found between the amount of dilatation and pre- or postoperative neck-size, graft diameter and amount of graft-oversizing. CONCLUSION: the infrarenal aortic neck demonstrates continued dilatation during follow-up after endograft placement.     

Impact of transrenal aortic endograft placement on endovascular graft repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

Purpose: Successful endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) requires the creation of a hemostatic seal between the endograft and the underlying aortic wall. A short infrarenal aortic neck may be responsible for incomplete aneurysm exclusion and procedural failure. Sixteen patients who had an endograft positioned completely below the lowest renal artery and 37 patients in whom a porous portion of an endograft attachment system was deliberately placed across the renal arteries were studied to identify if endograft positioning could impact on the occurrence of incomplete aneurysm exclusion. Methods: Fifty-three patients underwent aortic grafting constructed from a Palmaz balloon expandable stent and an expandable polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft implanted in an aorto-ilio-femoral, femoral-femoral configuration. Arteriography, duplex ultrasonography and spiral CT scans were performed in each patient before and after endografting to evaluate for technical success, the presence of endoleaks, and renal artery perfusion. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in patient demography, AAA size, or aortic neck length or diameter between patients who had their endografts placed below or across the renal arteries. However, significantly more proximal aortic endoleaks occurred in those patients with infrarenal endografts (P ≤.05). Median serum creatinine level before and after endografting was not significantly different between the 2 patient subgroups, with the exception of 2 patients who had inadvertent coverage of a single renal orifice by the endograft. Median blood pressure and the requirement for antihypertensive therapy remained the same after transrenal aortic stent grafting. Significant renal artery compromise did not occur after appropriately positioned transrenal stents as shown by means of angiography, CT scanning, and duplex ultrasound scan. Mean follow-up time was 10.3 months (range, 3 to 18 months). Patients who had significant renal artery stenosis (≥50%) before aortic endografting did not show progression of renal artery stenosis after trans-renal endografting. Two patients with transrenal aortic stent grafts had inadvertent coverage of 1 renal artery by the endograft because of device malpositioning, which resulted in nondialysis dependent renal insufficiency. In addition, evidence of segmental renal artery infarction (<20% of the kidney), which did not result in an apparent change in renal function, was shown by means of follow-up CT scans in 2 patients with transrenal endografts. Conclusion: Transrenal aortic endograft fixation using a balloon expandable device in patients with AAAs can result in a significant reduction in the risk of proximal endoleaks. Absolute attention to precise device positioning, coupled with the use of detailed imaging techniques, should reduce the risk of inadvertent renal artery occlusion from malpositioning. Long-term follow-up is essential to determine if there will be late sequelae of transrenal fixation of endografts, which could adversely effect renal perfusion. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:638-46.)     

Endovascular management of a ruptured thoracoabdominal aneurysm-damage control with superior mesenteric artery snorkel and thoracic stent-graft exclusion

We report a case of a large ruptured thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, which was stabilized with endovascular aortic exclusion and snorkel bypass of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). An 80-year-old African American woman with multiple medical comorbidities and previous open infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair presented with a ruptured 10.7 × 7.3 cm thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm involving the origins of the renal and mesenteric vessels. The patient underwent emergent endovascular aortic repair with placement of a covered stent into the SMA coursing parallel to the aortic endograft. This technique was initially successful in clinically stabilizing the patient; however; 3 weeks after the initial procedure, she presented with recurrent rupture necessitating proximal extension of her snorkeled SMA bypass and aortic endograft into the mid-descending thoracic aorta. The patient stabilized and was successfully discharged home.     

A novel alternative to open conversion for type 1 endoleak resulting in ruptured aneurysm

In this article, a novel technique for the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm secondary to proximal type 1 endoleak as a result of progressive neck dilatation after endovascular aneurysm repair is reported. A 74-year-old man with multiple comorbidities including severe ischemic heart disease, congestive cardiac failure, and chronic renal failure presented with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. He had an infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair performed in 1999 and had subsequently developed a proximal type 1 endoleak. At open laparotomy, the placement of 4 nylon ties around the infrarenal aneurysm neck to refashion a seal and exclude the sac from systemic pressurization effectively treated the rupture. In the high-risk patient, ruptured proximal type 1 endoleak can be successfully treated with external banding avoiding the potential morbidity seen with the aortic clamping and blood loss of open conversion.     

Correlation between the Measurement of Transverse Diameter in the Proximal Neck on Computed Tomography and on Aortography before Endovascular Treatment of Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysm

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the measurement of transverse diameter of the proximal neck on computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and graduated catheter aortography in patients who are candidates for endovascular graft placement in order to replace, if both measurements are equivalent, aortography for CTA alone. Preoperative dual-slice CTA and graduated catheter aortography were performed in 35 consecutive patients with infrarenal aortic aneurysm within 10 days. Transverse proximal neck diameters were measured on a true axial section on CTA reconstructions and on aortographic images, always 6 mm distal from the most inferior main renal artery. Mean, median, and standard deviation were obtained and the measurements correlated for each patient using Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analysis. A significant difference in proximal neck transverse diameter measurements was found between graduated catheter aortography and CTA in all cases. CTA values were a mean of 1.74 mm higher than aortography values. Pearson’s correlation indicates a strong correlation between both techniques, and a regression equation determines the predictive value of aortography on the basis of CTA values. Estimation of the transverse diameter of the proximal neck on aortography on the basis of that obtained on CTA allows us to affirm that CTA could be used as the sole method for the preoperative selection of appropriate endograft size in patients with infrarenal aortic aneurysm.     

Experience with endovascular grafts in the treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms associated with proximal aortic dissection

BACKGROUND: Chronic abdominal and thoracic aortic dissections often present with concomitant infrarenal aortic dilatation. We conducted a retrospective review of 6 patients treated with endovascular stent grafts for coexisting aortic dissection and infrarenal aneurysm. METHODS: Six patients with suprarenal aortic dissections and infrarenal aortic aneurysms (AAA) had their AAAs treated with endovascular grafts. Grafts were constructed of balloon expandable Palmaz stents and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft. The device was inserted transfemorally and deployed under fluoroscopy. RESULTS: Successfully primary AAA exclusion was achieved in 5 patients. One patient required a supplemental stent placed above the endograft and into the true lumen to seal the endoleak. No aneurysm has enlarged, and all remain thrombosed for 9 to 24 months (mean 20). One type III dissection enlarged 2 weeks after endograft insertion. One patient had uncomplicated cephalad fenestration of a dissection by the endograft. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular grafts may be used to treat coexisting AAA and aortic dissection. Attention to the site or sites of reentry of a dissection is essential to insure full aortic aneurysm exclusion. The fate of a chronic aortic dissection cephalad to an endovascularly treated AAA is unclear and will require longer follow-up.     

Endovascular aortic repair for spontaneous rupture of a non-aneurysmal infrarenal aorta

We report the case of a patient who underwent an endovascular aortic repair for spontaneous rupture of a non-aneurysmal infrarenal aorta. A 67-year-old male with a diagnosis of infrarenal aortic rupture was referred to our hospital. Preoperative computed tomography showed focal ulcers adjacent to the site of rupture, with no evidence of aneurysm formation, suggesting that this aortic rupture was likely to be associated with perforation of penetrating atheromatous ulceration. Open surgical repair might have carried a high-risk because of the patient's history of laparotomy and respiratory impairment, so endovascular aortic repair was planned. We deployed a Powerlink proximal infrarenal cuff 25-25-75L at the rupture site through the femoral artery, with the additional placement of two extra large Palmaz stents at the proximal and distal sites of the Powerlink stent-graft. Completion angiography showed total exclusion with no endoleaks. The patient was successfully extubated on the third postoperative day and recovered well until he contracted aspiration pneumonia two weeks after surgery. Unfortunately, he eventually died of a non-aortic cause three months after the operation. Endovascular aortic repair may be an alternative to conventional surgical repair for high-risk patients with spontaneous infrarenal aortic rupture.     

Feasibility of renal artery stenting before, during, and after endovascular aneurysm repair with suprarenal fixation endograft

Suprarenal fixation by means of proximal bare stent may help prevent endograft migration and proximal endoleak. It seems not to compromise renal perfusion and function; however, it is still unclear whether its presence is in conflict with stenting of the renal arteries to treat associated renal stenosis. We report five cases of renal artery stenting performed before, at the same time, or after endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm with a suprarenal fixation endograft (Zenith; Cook, Biaverskov, Denmark). Suprarenal fixation endograft seems not to affect renal artery stenting regardless the timing of the procedure.     

Subclavian-to-carotid transposition and supracarotid endovascular stent graft placement for traumatic aortic disruption

Technologic advances in delivery systems and imaging have allowed expansion of endovascular surgery indications to include the treatment of thoracic aortic disease. Delayed exclusion of traumatic proximal aortic disruption has been shown to be technically feasible, with a low risk of false aneurysm rupture. Long-term endovascular exclusion of these lesions may be precluded by the short or poor quality neck available below the origin of the left subclavian artery for graft fixation. A case report of a traumatic aortic disruption treated with staged subclavian-to-carotid transposition and subsequent endograft fixation is presented. The uncovered bare wire portion of the stent was placed across the left carotid artery. One-year follow-up demonstrated complete exclusion of the false aneurysm, with stable graft fixation, and no neurologic deficits. This technique may provide a means whereby proximal aortic pathology is safely excluded without regard to the length or quality of juxtasubclavian neck available for fixation.     

Continued expansion of aortic necks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

Background: Longitudinal studies have revealed that the aortic segment proximal to an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is at risk for continued enlargement after a standard aneurysm repair. Similarly, preliminary reports have shown expansion of one or both aortic necks after endovascular repair. Although some investigators have suggested that this may be a transient effect, continued dilatation at the endograft attachment site could effect the overall device stability. Methods: As part of a multi-institutional trial of endovascular grafting for the treatment of AAA, 59 patients were successfully implanted with straight endografts between February 1993 and January 1995. A morphometric analysis of aortic neck size was undertaken with serial review of computed tomography scans available through April 1997. The neck sizes at both graft attachment sites were measured, with investigators blinded to patient identity and date of scan. Changes in minor diameter were defined, annual interval expansion rates were calculated, and the data were correlated with endoleak, device migration, aneurysm size change, endograft diameter, attachment system fractures, and initial preimplant neck size. Results: Significant aortic neck enlargement, particularly at the level of the distal neck, was observed for at least 24 months after AAA repair. The annual interval dilation rates of the proximal aortic neck were 0.7 ± 2.1 mm/y (P = .023) and 0.9 ± 1.9 (P = .008) mm/yr during the first and second years, respectively. Enlargement of the distal neck during the observation period was more marked, with corresponding annual expansion rates of 1.7 ± 2.9 mm/y (P < .001) and 1.9 ± 2.5 (P < .001) mm/year. In 5 patients (14%), the minor diameter of the distal neck was at least 6 mm larger than the preimplant diameter of the graft. Migration of the distal attachment system was observed in 3 of these 5 patients. Expansion rates did not have a statistically significant correlation with initial neck size, endograft dimensions, aneurysm size change, presence of endoleak, or attachment system fracture. Conclusions: Aortic neck enlargement was observed for at least 2 years after endovascular grafting. Close patient follow-up remains mandatory in lieu of the potential risk of late failure as a result of continued aortic expansion. The relative contribution of device design to this phenomenon will need to be defined. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:422-31.)     

Infrarenal endoluminal bifurcated stent graft infected with Listeria monocytogenes

Prosthetic graft infection as a result of Listeria monocytogenes is an extremely rare event that recently occurred in a 77-year-old man who underwent endoluminal stent grafting for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. The infected aortic endoluminal prosthesis was removed by means of en bloc resection of the aneurysm and contained endograft with in situ aortoiliac reconstruction. At the 10-month follow-up examination, the patient was well and had no signs of infection.     

Remodeling of the aortic neck with a balloon-expandable stent graft in patients with complicated neck morphology

Graft migration and other device-related problems are more frequent in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients with a complicated neck. We wanted to evaluate the performance of a balloon-expandable stent graft in these cases. Complicated aortic neck morphology was defined as a combination of short (<15 mm) and angulated (>45 degrees) necks with or without circumferential thrombus. Severe aortic angulation was defined as less than 120 degrees. During a 24-month period, 18 consecutive patients with complicated neck anatomy were treated with the Vascular Innovations (VI)-Datascope balloon-expandable endograft. In two patients, a balloon-expandable cuff was implanted to remodel the neck prior to insertion of a bifurcated endograft (Excluder, W.L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ). Demographic, procedural, and outcome data were collected prospectively and retrospectively analyzed. All patients had preoperative computed tomographic (CT) angiography to determine aortic neck angulation and were followed with duplex ultrasonography and CT every 3 and 6 months postoperatively to assess aortic neck and sac dilatation, as well as device migration. The VI-Datascope graft consists of an aortounifemoral polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft sutured to a proximal balloon-expandable stent. The length of the graft is 40 cm; thus, the distal end of the graft always protrudes through the ipsilateral arteriotomy and can be cut to an appropriate length for each patient. The covered portion of the graft was deployed just below the level of the lowest renal artery. The proximal bare metal stent was deployed in the suprarenal area. An endoluminal hand-sewn anastomosis was performed between the aortounifemoral limb and the distal external iliac or the common femoral arteries. An occluder device was placed in the contralateral common iliac artery to prevent retrograde perfusion of the aneurysm. A femorofemoral 8 mm Dacron graft bypass was then performed to establish flow to the contralateral extremity and pelvis. Using this approach, remodeling and straightening of angulated aortic neck morphology were achieved in all cases, including in 44% of patients with severe aortic neck angulation. The average follow-up period was 11.5 months (4-21 months). There was one early occlusion (<30 days after implantation) of the PTFE limb requiring thrombectomy and one late occlusion (6 months after implantation) requiring thrombectomy and implantation of a Viabahn stent graft (W.L. Gore & Associates). Scheduled CT scans did not show any graft migration or proximal neck dilatation. Neither neck dilatation nor endograft migration was observed with the balloon-expandable stent graft. In patients with complicated aortic neck morphology, balloon-expandable stent grafts such as the VI-Datascope graft provide more secure fixation and better long-term outcomes compared with the more commonly used self-expanding endografts.     

Comparison of renal function after endovascular aneurysm repair with different transrenally fixated endografts

OBJECTIVE: Transrenal fixation of abdominal aortic endografts may provide a more secure proximal attachment with few deleterious effects with respect to renal function. This study's purpose was to determine whether different metals used in two commercially available endografts (Cook Zenith and Medtronic Talent) result in different effects on renal function when placed across renal ostia. METHODS: A total of 140 consecutive patients, between August 2003 and April 2005, who underwent elective endovascular repair of an aortic aneurysm with a nitinol or stainless steel-based endograft with transrenal fixation were reviewed with a mean follow-up period of 5.5 months (range, 1-22 months). The main outcome variable was the percentage change in creatinine clearance (CrCl), which was determined before surgery and at the most recent follow-up. Multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze the contribution of various factors to any deterioration in renal function. RESULTS: The 140 patients were predominantly male (86%), with a mean age of 75 years (range, 56-92) and a mean aneurysm diameter of 62 mm (range, 42-110 mm). The mean intraoperative contrast use was 67 mL (range, 45-160 mL), and after surgery these patients received a mean of 3 surveillance computed tomographic scans (range, 1-7). Nineteen cases (13.6%) required deliberate accessory renal artery coverage. CrCl did not change significantly after surgery; the mean change in CrCl at the end of follow-up was a 2.5% decrease. There was no difference in the reduction in CrCl between endograft types. Only 14.3% of patients experienced a greater than 20% decrease in CrCl. Multiple regression analysis failed to show a relationship between change in renal function and age, sex, aneurysm diameter, infrarenal neck dimensions, endograft type, coverage of accessory renal arteries, intraoperative contrast volume, preoperative CrCl, and postoperative computed tomographic scans. Length of follow-up was an independent predictor (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Transrenal endograft fixation results in little deterioration in renal function during intermediate follow-up. The few patients who do experience a decline in renal function do so independently of any features related to the initial endovascular repair, and there is no difference in renal deterioration between endografts with nitinol and stainless steel transrenal bare metal stents.