Initial Single-Center Experience with the Ovation Stent-Graft System in the Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Application to Challenging Iliac Access Anatomies

Abstract

To present our preliminary results with the Ovation(™) abdominal stent-graft system in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) with narrow (≤7 mm) or angulated iliac vessels. From April 2012 to January 2014, 42 patients (97% men; mean age, 71 years; range, 55-89 years) with AAAs of 55.5 mm (50-79 mm) were treated with the Ovation device. Primary end points included technical success and freedom from early secondary interventions, any type of endoleak, and aneurysm-related death. Limb occlusion was studied with respect to iliac access diameter and angulation. Iliac angulation between 90° and 120° or <90° was considered moderate or severe, respectively. The postoperative follow-up was 7.8 ± 4.6 months (mean ± standard deviation). Infrarenal neck angulation was 26° ± 26°. AAA neck length and diameter were 27.3 ± 10.5 and 24.1 ± 3.2 mm, respectively. Forty-five percent of patients had at least 1 vessel of ≤7-mm diameter, and almost half of patients (24 of 44) had at least 1 iliac artery of moderate or severe angulation. Technical and treatment success were 100% and 95%, respectively. No stent-graft migration or type I, III, or IV endoleaks occurred. Type II endoleaks were identified in 5 patients, leading to sac enlargement in 2 and necessitating an embolization attempt that was unsuccessful in 1 case. No limb occlusion occurred, irrespective of the iliac diameter or angulation. Our 1-year results of the Ovation stent-graft system demonstrate excellent safety and effectiveness. The easy navigation through highly angulated and stenosed iliac vessels ensures high technical success in cases of challenging iliac anatomy. Follow-up is ongoing.