Embolotherapy of persistent endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm with the ancure-endovascular technologies endograft system.

PURPOSE: Endoleak is a potential complication after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). It may result in continued growth of the aneurysm and potentially result in aneurysm rupture. The authors present their experience with embolotherapy in patients with persistent perigraft flow treated with the Ancure-Endovascular Technologies endograft system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1996 and August 1998, 54 patients underwent successful repair of AAA with use of the Ancure system. All underwent operative angiography and discharge computed tomography (CT). Follow-up included CT at 6, 12, and 24 months, and CT was also performed at 3 months if an endoleak was present on the discharge CT. Persistent endoleak was defined as perigraft flow still present on the 6-month CT. Seven of 21 initial endoleaks persisted at 6 months. Six patients returned for embolization of the perigraft space and outflow vessels including lumbar arteries and the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). RESULTS: Five of the six patients had leaks from the proximal (n = 1) or distal attachment sites (n = 4) of the Ancure system with outflow into lumbar arteries and/or the IMA; one leak was caused by retrograde IMA flow. The six patients underwent nine embolization procedures with only one minor complication. Follow-up CT showed complete resolution of endoleak and decrease in size of the aneurysm sac in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although endoleak is commonly seen initially with the Ancure system, persistent leak occurred in 13% of the patients in the study. Persistent flow in most patients arises from a graft attachment site combined with patent outflow vessels such as the IMA or lumbar arteries. Persistent endoleaks can be effectively and safely embolized with use of a combination of coil embolization of the perigraft space and embolization of outflow vessels. Such intervention resulted in a decrease in size of the aneurysm sac.