Treatment Of Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysms Research Articles

Long Term Outcomes of the Gore Excluder Low Permeability Endoprosthesis for the Treatment of Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysms

This study evaluated the long term outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair using the Gore Excluder Low Permeability (LP) endoprosthesis across high volume Dutch hospitals. A retrospective analysis was conducted of patients treated with the Excluder LP for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in four hospitals between 2004 and 2017. Primary outcomes were overall survival, freedom from re-interventions (overall, inside and outside instructions for use, IFU), and AAA sac dynamics: growth (> 5 mm), stabilisation, and regression (< 5 mm). Secondary outcomes were technical success (device deployment), procedural parameters, and re-interventions. Follow up visits were extracted from patient files, with imaging assessed for complications and AAA diameter. Five hundred and fourteen patients were enrolled, with a median (IQR) follow up of 5.0 (2.9, 6.9) years. Survival rates were 94.0% at one year, 73.0% at five years, and 37.0% at 10 years, with freedom from re-interventions of 89.0%, 79.0%, and 71.0%, respectively. 37.9% were treated outside IFU, leading to significantly more re-interventions over 10 years compared with those treated inside IFU (36.0% vs. 25.0%, respectively; p= .044). The aneurysm sac regressed by 53.5% at one year, 65.8% at five years, and 77.8% at 10 years, and grew by 9.8%, 14.3%, and 22.2%, respectively. Patients with one year sac growth had significantly worse survival (p= .047). Seven patients (1.4%) had a ruptured aneurysm during follow up. Over 15 years, type 1a endoleak occurred in 5.3%, type 1b in 3.1%, type 3 in 1.9%, type 4 in 0.2%, and type 2 in 35.6% of patients. This multicentre study of real world endovascular aneurysm repair data using the Gore Excluder LP endoprosthesis demonstrated robust long term survival and re-intervention rates, despite 37.9% of patients being treated outside IFU, with type 4 endoleak being rare. Treatment outside IFU significantly increased re-intervention rates and one year sac growth was associated with statistically significantly worse survival.

Pulsatile Changes of the Aortic Diameter May Be Irrelevant Regarding Endograft Sizing in Patients With Aortic Disease.

Endovascular aortic repair has become the preferred elective treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms. Aortic pulsatility may pose problems regarding endograft sizing. The aims of this study are to determine the aortic pulsatility in patients with aortic disease and to evaluate the effect of pulsatility on the growth of aneurysms. In this retrospective study, analyses of computed tomography angiography (CTA) images of 31 patients under conservative treatment for small abdominal aortic aneurysms were performed. Reconstructions of the raw electrocardiography (ECG) gated dataset at 30% and 90% of the R-R cycle were used. After lumen segmentation, total aortic cross-sectional area was measured in diastole and systole in the following zones: Z0, Z3, Z5, Z6, Z8, and Z9. Effective diameters (EDs) were calculated from the systolic (EDsys) and diastolic (EDdia) cross-sectional areas to determine absolute (EDsys - EDdia, mm) and relative pulsatility [(EDsys - EDdia) / EDdia, %]. Diameter of the aneurysms was measured on baseline images and the last preoperative follow-up study of each patient. A total of 806 measurements were completed, 24 pulsatility and 2 growth measurements per patient. The mean pulsatility values at each point were as follows: Z0: 0.7±0.8 mm, Z3: 1.0±0.6 mm, Z5: 1.0±0.6 mm, Z6: 0.8±0.7 mm, Z8: 0.7±1.0 mm, Z9: 0.9±0.9 mm. Follow-up time was 5.5±2.2 years during which a growth of 13.42±9.09 mm (2.54±1.55 mm yearly) was observed. No correlation was found between pulsatility values and growth rate of the aneurysms. The pulsatility of the aorta is in a submillimetric range for the vast majority of patients with aortic disease, thus probably not relevant regarding endograft sizing. Pulsatility of the ascending aorta is smaller than that of the descending segment, making an additional oversize of a Z0 implantation questionable. Endovascular aortic repair reqiures precise preoperative planning. Pulsatile changes of the aortic diameter may pose issues regarding endograft sizing. In our retrospective single-centre study, aortic pulsatility of patients with AAA was measured on ECG gated CTA images. Pulsatility values reached a maximum at the descending aorta, however absolute pulsatility values did not exceed 1 mm at any point along the aorta. Therefore, significance of aortic pulsatility regarding the sizing of EVAR prostheses is questionable. Correlation between pulsatility and AAA growth was not found.

Endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm using the ANKURA stent graft - one-center case series.

ENWEndNote BIBJabRef, Mendeley RISPapers, Reference Manager, RefWorks, Zotero AMA Nowakowski P, Uchto W, Stoliński J, Gubała M, Legut M. Endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm using the ANKURA stent graft – one-center case series. Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej. 2023. doi:10.5114/aic.2023.124041. APA Nowakowski, P., Uchto, W., Stoliński, J., Gubała, M., & Legut, M. (2023). Endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm using the ANKURA stent graft – one-center case series. Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej. https://doi.org/10.5114/aic.2023.124041 Chicago Nowakowski, Przemysław, Wojciech Uchto, Jarosław Stoliński, Marek Gubała, and Mateusz Legut. 2023. "Endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm using the ANKURA stent graft – one-center case series". Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej. doi:10.5114/aic.2023.124041. Harvard Nowakowski, P., Uchto, W., Stoliński, J., Gubała, M., and Legut, M. (2023). Endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm using the ANKURA stent graft – one-center case series. Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej. https://doi.org/10.5114/aic.2023.124041 MLA Nowakowski, Przemysław et al. "Endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm using the ANKURA stent graft – one-center case series." Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej, 2023. doi:10.5114/aic.2023.124041. Vancouver Nowakowski P, Uchto W, Stoliński J, Gubała M, Legut M. Endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm using the ANKURA stent graft – one-center case series. Advances in Interventional Cardiology/Postępy w Kardiologii Interwencyjnej. 2023. doi:10.5114/aic.2023.124041.

Endovascular infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair: Perhaps we've gone about it all wrong

Endovascular infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair: Perhaps we've gone about it all wrong

Abdominal aortic aneurysms-open vs. endovascular treatment : Decision-making from the perspective of the vascular surgeon

In the last 20years, the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms has essentially evolved from surgical to minimally invasive endovascular treatment. There are still anumber of clinical situations that make surgical intervention useful or even necessary. This underlines the importance of interdisciplinary vascular centers for the treatment of complex aortic pathologies and their sequelae. In the following article, the arguments for the choice of procedure for the treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms are discussed and the recommendations of various guidelines are compared.

Endovascular Treatment of Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysm With Difficult Neck Anatomy

At present, endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms is the standard of care. However, worse aortic aneurysm anatomy is one of the main risk factors limiting the use of endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms and leads to endoleak type I, endograft dislocation, and an increased risk of reintervention. The aim of our study was to demonstrate our single-center experience with the Gore conformable Excluder (GCE) endograft implantation in patients with difficult abdominal aortic aneurysm neck anatomy.

Long-term results of treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms with low-profile stent grafts in a multicenter registry

ObjectiveIn recent years, manufacturers have developed new stent grafts with lower profiles to increase the endovascular aneurysm repair applicability. As reported by the current European Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines, long-term evaluation of such low-profile platforms is strongly recommended. This study aims to report outcomes beyond 5 years from a multicenter registry, including a real-world cohort of patients electively treated with low-profile stent grafts. MethodsA retrospective data collection of patients who had undergone elective implantation of low-profile endograft ≤16 Fr. (Zenith LP, Ovation, Incraft) was performed in nine centers. The primary endpoint was a long-term primary clinical success. Secondary endpoints were survival rate, freedom from abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)-related death, freedom from type I to III endoleak, limb patency, and freedom from all reinterventions. The Kaplan-Meier curves were stratified for investigative devices. A multivariate analysis evaluated predictors of primary clinical success and reintervention rate. ResultsA total of 619 patients were enrolled (Ovation, n = 373; Incraft, n = 111; and Zenith LP, n = 135), with a mean follow-up of 56.8 ± 22.8 months. The overall primary and the secondary clinical success rate at 8 years was 72.1% and 93.8%, respectively. At 8 years, overall survival was 53.2%, freedom from AAA-related death was 94.4%, freedom from reintervention was 74%, freedom from type I/III endoleak was 86.9%, and limb patency was 90.4%. A significantly worse primary clinical success of the Zenith LP was recorded as dependent on more limb-related events. No differences between platforms were registered in the rate of AAA-related deaths, open conversion, sac enlargement, and type I/III endoleaks (P = .26). Multivariate analysis identified iliac tortuosity (hazard ratio, 2.053) and Zenith LP (hazard ratio, 3.818) as significant independent predictors of clinical failure and reintervention. ConclusionsLow-profile stent grafts have acceptable long-term outcomes. Overall survival and AAA-related death were in line with those reported for traditional devices. Long-term surveillance and reintervention, when necessary, remain crucial to guarantee durability.

Sexual Dysfunction Before and after Treatment of Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysm Patients

Sexual dysfunction is supposed to be one major complication after treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms. It is still controversial how many patients suffer from a sexual dysfunction already before their operation and if there are any procedure-specific differences in postoperative sexual function depending on the operative procedure performed, for example, open (OAR) or endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). To answer these questions we conducted this prospective unicentric study using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and analyzed the sexual function of 56 male patients with an infrarenal aortic aneurysm before as well as 3, 6, and 12 months after their operation. 23 patients (median age 66.5 years) were treated by OAR and 33 patients (median age 75.8 years) by EVAR. We observed that the majority of the 56 patients analyzed (91.3% of the 23 OAR patients and 96.8% of the 33 EVAR patients) suffered from a sexual dysfunction already before their operation. A 56.5% of the OAR patients and 67.7% of the EVAR patients even disclaimed a severe sexual dysfunction prior to surgery. Age and operation method showed no significant influence on the IIEF score (P= 0.647 and P= 0.621, respectively). The change of the IIEF score over the 4 time points also did not significantly differ for age and operation method (P= 0.713 and P= 0.624, respectively). The IIEF scores were significantly different between time points T1 and T4 (P= 0.042), whereas between the other time points no significant differences were found. Sexual dysfunction is very common in infrarenal aortic aneurysm patients even before their operation. OAR and EVAR do not cause a procedure-specific deterioration of the sexual function.

Expression of MicroRNA-1281, C-Reactive Protein, and Renal Function in Individuals with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and their Clinical Correlation after Endovascular Repair.

Introduction:The treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms has changed in the last three decades. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the primary treatment option in anatomically suitable patients with infrarenal aortic aneurysms. However, there is no serum biomarker to be used in EVAR follow-up.Methods:This is a prospective single-centre study of 30 consecutive patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) who underwent EVAR. Serum dosages of micro ribonucleic acid 1281 (miRNA-1281), creatinine, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated and angiotomographic evaluations were performed preoperatively and six months after the intervention.Results:There was a hyperexpression of miRNA-1281 in patients with AAA and a significant reduction of it after EVAR, from 1.66-fold before EVAR to 0.27 after the procedure (P<0.0001). MiRNA-1281 expression was not influenced by renal function (creatinine: 1.14±0.29, P=0.68), total cholesterol (179.9±59.9, P=0.22), or CRP (1.17±3.5; P=0.48). There is correlation between AAA size and CRP serum levels, however there was no statically significant reduction of CRP after EVAR.Discussion:MiRNA-1281 expression may be influenced by cholesterol, triglycerides levels, and renal function. We found no difference in these markers before and six months after EVAR. However, miRNA-1281 presents a significant reduction in patients with no follow-up complications. We hypothesize that miRNA-1281 expression may be related to aortic wall stress or flow changes.Conclusion:MiRNA-1281 may contribute as a possible marker of EVAR follow-up.

Association between operation volume and postoperative mortality in elective endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms: systematic review—continuation

AbstractBackgroundMany surgical interventions show an inverse association between case volume per hospital/surgeon and perioperative mortality. In the first part of this systematic review it was shown that such an association also exists for the open treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms. The second part now examines a possible association with endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms.ObjectiveIn a systematic review, the data available on the association between the case volume per hospital/surgeon and perioperative mortality in elective endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms are presented.Materials and MethodsSystematic research using defined keywords was carried out. All original works comparing elective endovascular treatment of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm in a “high volume” center with a “low volume” center or by a “high volume” surgeon with a “low volume” surgeon, as defined in each study, were included.ResultsAfter deduplication, the literature search produced 1,021 hits. Of these, 16 publications fulfilled the inclusion criteria. With regard to the thresholds for the definition of high volume and low volume, there was marked heterogeneity between individual studies. Twelve of the 15 studies showed a significantly lower mortality in high volume than in low volume centers. The effect measures, usually odds ratios, were between 0.43 and 0.91. In the comparison between high volume and low volume surgeons, there was no difference in mortality in any of the five studies included.DiscussionThe available data on the association between case volume per hospital and surgeon and the perioperative mortality in elective endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms consistently show that patients operated on in high volume centers have a lower mortality. The volume per surgeon seems to have no influence on perioperative mortality. To achieve the lowest perioperative mortality possible in endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms, centralization with high volume per hospital should be aimed for, taking into consideration the context of the health care system.

Endovascular aneurysm repair for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm: How, why, and when!

Endovascular aneurysm repair is an established method for the treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms. The operator needs to remain abreast with evolving technology and be conversant with the proper use of pre and postoperative imaging and its interpretation, limitations of devices and of the technique itself, and the IFUs.

Gender features of etiopathogenesis, clinical and anatomical picture, tactics and results of surgical treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm in women

The review includes the analysis of the literature data on the features of etiopathogenesis, clinic, tactics and results of treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysm.

Long-Term Outcome of the GORE EXCLUDER AAA Endoprosthesis for Treatment of Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysms

PurposeTo evaluate long-term outcome of GORE EXCLUDER AAA Endoprosthesis (W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc, Flagstaff, Arizona) for elective treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms and to evaluate performance of different generations of the device. Materials and MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed of 248 patients undergoing elective endovascular aneurysm repair with the GORE EXCLUDER between January 2000 and December 2015 in 2 hospitals. Primary endpoint was reintervention-free survival. Secondary endpoints were technical success, overall survival, rupture-free survival, endoleaks, sac diameter change (> 5 mm), limb occlusion, and migration (> 5 mm). Median follow-up time was 26 months (range, 1–190 months). ResultsAssisted primary technical success was 96.8%. Reintervention-free survival for 5 and 10 years was 85.2% and 75.6%, respectively. Independent risk factors for reintervention were technical success (P < .001), type I endoleak (P < .001), and type II endoleak (P = .003). Late adverse events requiring reintervention included rupture (0.4%), limb occlusion (0.4%), and stent migration (0.4%). Type Ia (4.8%), Ib (2.8%), II (35.9%), and V (6.5%) endoleaks were reported throughout follow-up. Sac growth was more prevalent with the original GORE EXCLUDER compared with the low permeability GORE EXCLUDER (P = .001) and in the presence of type I, II, and V endoleaks (P < .05). Three conversions (1.2%) were performed. Overall survival at 5 and 10 years was 68.4% and 49.0%, with no reported aneurysm-related deaths. ConclusionsTreatment with the GORE EXCLUDER is effective with acceptable reintervention rates in the long-term and few device-related adverse events or ruptures up to 10 years. Observed late adverse events and new-onset endoleaks emphasize the need for long-term surveillance.

Technique for treating complex aneurysms with Hercules stent graft modified by the surgeon

Endovascular treatment of thoracoabdominal aneurysms with fenestrated stent grafts expands its applicability because of good technical results. However, stent graft customization requires an average of 6 to 12 weeks, which makes this technique ineligible for symptomatic or ruptured aneurysms. Authors advocate perioperative fenestration by the surgeon, allowing this technique to be used for emergency cases with good results and favorable prognosis. This article describes a technique for intraoperative changes of the Hercules stent graft (MicroPort Scientific Corporation, Shanghai, China) to include the ostia of visceral arteries by making fenestrations and scallops, with a temporary diameter-reducing wire as a further modification to facilitate positioning and catheterization of fenestrations with guidewires.

Elective Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair Continues to Cost More than Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is now established as first-line treatment for infrarenal aortic aneurysms in the United States. Recent data from randomized trials suggest that elective EVAR is cost-effective compared with open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (oAAA). Cost analysis for urgent aneurysm repair has not been reported. We evaluated the cost of elective and urgent EVAR and compared it with oAAA at a tertiary academic medical center. All infrarenal AAA repairs performed from 2004 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed (n=172). Clinical characteristics of patients receiving EVAR and oAAA repair were compared. Direct costs, payments, and direct cost margin for the index inpatient episode were obtained from the hospital for all patients. Subsequent financial information including clinical, radiologic, and procedural cost was also available for 52 patients who had received all follow-up care in our institution for at least 1 year (EVAR 34, oAAA 18). Overall, elective EVAR patients were older, but oAAA patients had more comorbidities, with significantly more patients having dyspnea at rest and being totally dependent for activities of daily living. EVAR patients had significantly shorter lengths of stay, regardless of urgency and urgent AAA repair occurred more often by oAAA than EVAR (P<0.001; χ2). For elective patients, EVAR costs were 34.21% greater than for oAAA. There was a trend toward lower costs with EVAR versus oAAA in patients treated urgently by a ratio of 1.28:1. The hospital experienced a negative cost margin more often after elective EVAR versus oAAA. Negative cost margins were less frequent following urgent repair but still occurred twice as often in EVAR versus oAAA patients. Cost margins remained negative in all EVAR patients for at least 1 year and only 18% converted to a positive cost margin at a mean of 31months. At a tertiary academic institution, costs for elective EVAR are significantly higher than oAAA. EVAR may be relatively more cost-effective in urgent situations. Negative cost margins were more common in EVAR patients and 1-year follow-up with imaging in the same institution did not result in a positive margin.

Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms with Endologix® stent graft: single-site experiences and short-term follow-up outcomes

The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term results of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms with the Endologix IntuiTrak Powerlink XL® (Endologix) stent graft and to share our clinical experiences in our center. Materials and methods: Endovascular stent graft treatment was applied in 16 cases with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (13 men and 3 women; mean age: 70.2 years) in 2009 and 2010. Before treatment, all of the patients were examined with 128-slice computed tomography (CT) angiography for the assessment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The Endologix stent graft (bifurcated system) was used for all of the patients. Results: The aneurysms of the 16 patients were located at the infrarenal level. They were treated with aortobiiliac stent grafts. The technical success rate was 100%. No mortality, major complications, or need of urgent conversion to open surgery occurred in any of the patients. Only 1 patient died due to acute coronary syndrome in the early follow-up period and 1 patient was lost in the follow-up period. There were no aneurysm ruptures, graft migrations, or graft fractures in any of the patients. Conclusion: Endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms with the Endologix stent graft has a high degree of technical success and is a useful alternative to surgery.

Influence and Critique of the EVAR 1 Trial

This article summarizes a differing interpretation of the long-term results of the Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) 1 Trial. The EVAR 1 Trialists' conclusions regarding the equivalence of long-term outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) with those of open repair (OR) are misleading and not applicable to patients currently treated by EVAR. The reasons that the EVAR 1 Trial is misleading and casts an unfairly negative light on the superiority of EVAR are as follows: (1) The convergence of all-cause mortality curves or the "catch-up" phenomenon; (2) old technology, inexperience, and outdated secondary treatment; (3) complications were not well-defined in EVAR 1 and are not applicable to current practice; and (4) the unfair cost comparison between EVAR and OR. The implication that OR is equivalent or superior to EVAR is, therefore, a misrepresentation. EVAR is a better treatment for infrarenal aortic aneurysms in anatomically suitable patients. We believe that current standards of practice should be altered accordingly, rather than preserving the nostrums that EVAR and OR are equivalent and that EVAR has more intrinsic disadvantages.

Placement of an aortomonoiliac stent graft without femorofemoral revascularization in endovascular aneurysm repair: a case report

IntroductionEndovascular aortic repair, if technically feasible, is the treatment of choice for patients with a contained ruptured aortic aneurysm who are unfit for open surgery.Case presentationWe report the case of an 80-year-old Caucasian man who presented with an unusually configured, symptomatic infrarenal aortic aneurysm. His aneurysm showed an erosion of the fourth lumbar vertebra and a severely arteriosclerotic pelvic axis. A high thigh amputation of his right leg had been performed 15 months previously. On his right side, occlusion of his external iliac artery, common femoral artery, and deep femoral artery had occurred. His aneurysm was treated by a left-sided aortomonoiliac stent graft without femorofemoral revascularization, resulting in occlusions of both internal iliac arteries. No ischemic symptoms appeared, although perfusion of his right side was maintained only over epigastric collaterals.ConclusionsThe placement of aortomonoiliac stent grafts for endovascular treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms without contralateral revascularization is a feasible treatment option in isolated cases. In this report, access problems and revascularization options in endovascular aneurysm repair are discussed.

Tube Stent-Grafts for Infrarenal Aortic Aneurysm: A Matched-Paired Analysis Based on EUROSTAR Data

Tube stent-grafts for treatment of infrarenal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are a nearly forgotten concept. For focal aortic pathologies tube stent-grafts may be a treatment option. We have performed a retrospective matched-paired analysis of the EUROSTAR registry regarding the outcome of tube vs. bifurcated stent-grafts for AAA. Tapered aortomonoiliac stent-grafts were not the objective of this study. From July 1997 to June 2006, 7581 patients who underwent an endovascular AAA repair were entered in the EUROSTAR registry by 164 centers. One hundred fifty-three patients were treated with tube stent-grafts. For each of these 153 patients we selected one patient from a bifurcated stent-graft group (BGG-original, 7428 patients) matched according to gender, ASA, age, AAA diameter, and type of anesthesia. Differences in preoperative details between the two study groups were analyzed using chi-square test for discrete variables and Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed on early complications. Midterm outcomes (>30 days) were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. The duration of the procedure was shorter in the tube stent-graft group (TGG; 102.3 +/- 52.2) than in BGG (128.3 +/- 55.0; p = 0.0002). Type II endoleak was less frequent in TGG (4.0%; mean follow-up, 23.12 +/- 23.9 months) than in BGG (14.3%; mean follow-up, 20.77 +/- 20.0 months; p = 0.0394). Type I endoleaks and migration were distributed equally, without significant differences between the groups. Combined 30-day and late mortality was higher for TGG (p = 0.0346) and was obviously not aneurysm related. We conclude that after selection of patients, tube stent-grafts for infrarenal aortic repair can be performed with great safety regarding endoleaks and migration. The combined higher 30-day mortality and non-aneurysm-related mortality during follow-up were mainly caused by cardiac failures in our sample.

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.