Editor's Choice – A Shaggy Aorta is Associated with Mesenteric Embolisation in Patients Undergoing Fenestrated Endografts to Treat Paravisceral Aortic Aneurysms

Abstract

Bowel ischaemia is a life-threatening complication of endovascular aneurysm repair. This study aims to evaluate the factors associated with mesenteric ischaemia in patients undergoing fenestrated aortic endografts to treat paravisceral aneurysms. Consecutive patients undergoing double or triple fenestrated stent graft insertion were retrospectively analysed. No patients were declined surgery based on anatomic complexity. Preoperative demographics, procedure-related variables, and anatomical factors were examined. Using 3D software, the aortic thrombus volume from the coeliac axis to the lowest renal, aortoiliac tortuosity, and aortic irregularity index (as graded by 3 independent assessors, graded 0-3 based on severity) were compared. Univariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors for the development of bowel ischaemia. Ninety-nine patients underwent elective aneurysm repair (64 triple fenestrations and 35 double fenestrations), 5% of which developed bowel ischaemia, and of these 80% (4/5) died. Mesenteric ischaemia was significantly associated with increased aortic irregularity (median [range], 2 [1-3] vs. 1 [0-2], p=.005, ischaemia vs. no ischaemia) and increased thrombus volume (37±8 vs. 21±12, p=.007) but not aortoiliac tortuosity (1.4 [1.2-1.5] vs. 1.30 [1.2-1.7], p=.3), inferior mesenteric or internal iliac artery patency. Mesenteric ischaemia was also associated with a significantly higher preoperative creatinine (mean±SD: 183±74 vs. 111±43, p=.007). The presence of aortic irregularity and increased thrombus volume in the paravisceral segment predicts the occurrence of mesenteric and renal ischaemia in patients treated with fenestrated endografts. This is likely to be related to graft manipulation and catheterisation of visceral vessels.