A comparison of AneuRx aortic cuff and zenith distal flare exclusion of common iliac artery ectasia for endovascular aneurysm repair

Stent-grafts are ideally terminated within the common iliac artery (CIA). However, CIA ectasia may require hypogastric artery occlusion, with stent-graft extension to the external iliac artery. Alternatively, the diameter of the distal stent-graft may be increased, or flared, to allow exclusion of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. This report details the authors' experience with this technique. Forty-one patients received bifurcated stent-grafts (BSG): 20 received an AneuRx device, and 21 received a Zenith device. CIA ectasia (diameter 15-25 mm) was treated with a distal flare of 2-4 mm greater than the CIA diameter. Patients were followed up with computed tomography scan at 1, 6, and 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA within groups and unpaired two-tailed t test between groups. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Eight of 20 patients (40%) (11 CIA) received an AneuRx device and 13/21 (62%) (17 CIA) received a Zenith device, with a distal flare. Values are (n) mean (mm) +/- SE. There were no deaths, endoleaks, migrations, or conversions to open repair. Follow-up mean was 24.7 and 20.6 (range 15-28) months for AneuRx and Zenith groups, respectively. In comparing initial and 12-month CIA diameters, AneuRx grafts 20 +/-0.8 vs 21.5 +/-1.0 were not significantly different, p = 0.2, nor was the same comparison for Zenith, 17 +/-0.5 vs 19.1 +/-0.4, significant, p = 0.57. At a mean follow-up of 12 months, distal flare of iliac limbs with either AneuRx or Zenith devices affords a seal for CIA ectasia and/or aneurysms complicating EVAR.