Outcome of Proximal Internal Iliac Artery Coil Embolization prior to Stent-graft Extension in Patients Previously Treated by Endovascular Aortic Repair

Use of a Microcatheter to Cannulate the Contralateral Gate in Endovascular Aortic Repair

Cannulation of the contralateral gate is a crucial step in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) to configure a modular stent-graft. Most commonly, the contralateral gate is cannulated retrogradely using a conventional catheter and hydrophilic guide wire; if this maneuver fails, a cross-over technique or additional access in the left brachial artery in association with a contralateral femoral snare catheter may be used. A cross-over technique using a microcatheter and a contralateral snare catheter might be a valuable alternative to cannulate the contralateral gate, especially in cases where there is a partly nondeployed contralateral stent-graft limb.

The Importance of the Hypogastric Artery Preservation during Treatment for Aortoiliac Aneurysms: A Prospective Single-Center Study

BACKGROUND

To determine the importance of the hypogastric artery for the outcomes of survival, endoleaks, reinterventions, buttock claudication (BC), and perioperative mortality rate (PMR) in patients with aortoiliac aneurysms (AIA) receiving endovascular or open surgical (OS) repair.

METHODS

This was a prospective consecutive cohort study of patients with AIA who underwent endovascular treatment or OS repair during the period of 2010-2021. Endovascular repair was performed with use of aortoiliac endoprosthesis associated with internal iliac artery (IIA) coil embolization and/or with iliac branch endoprosthesis (IBE) in order to preserve the IIA. The AIA OS repairs were performed with the artery ligation in order to exclude the IIA, or in some cases, the exclusion of the IIA was performed with an endosuture in the proximal stump of the artery. Three groups were identified in the postprocedural period: group 0 (no hypogastric arteries (HAs) preserved), group 1 (1 hypogastric artery preserved), and group 2 (2 hypogastric arteries preserved).

RESULTS

A total of 91 patients were submitted to OS or endovascular surgery. Regarding the HA patency, there were 17 patients in group 0, 45 patients in group 1, and 29 patients in group 2. There were 17 cases of bowel ischemia (BI) (94.1% in group 0, 5.9% in group 1, and no cases in group 2, P < 0.001) most of them in group 0, with statistical significance, 12 cases of BC (91.7% in group 0, 8.3% in group 1, and no cases in group 2, P < 0.001), most of them in group 0, with statistical significance. The perioperative mortality was 14.3%, 13 patients (9 patients - 52.9% group 0, 3 patients - 6.7% group 1, and 1 patient - 3.4% group 2, P < 0.001). The linear regression analysis for survival rates showed that BI [P = 0.026 to hazard ratio (HR) = 1.69], emergency aortoiliac repair (P < 0.001, HR = 8.86), and number of HAs (P < 0.001, HR = 5.46) in postoperative were related to poorer survival rates in both univariate and multivariate analysis. The linear regression analysis showed that the number of HAs (P < 0.001, HR = 3.61) in postoperative, emergency aortoiliac repair (P = 0.002, HR 3.233), and cardiac disease (P = 0.048, HR = 3.84) were related to BI.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the number of HA is crucial for adequate and safe outcomes after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. The main factors related to death were BI, emergency aortoiliac repair, and the number of HAs preserved. Moreover, the main factors related to BI were the number of HAs in postoperative, emergency aortoiliac repair, and cardiac disease.

Preservation of internal iliac artery flow during endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in a patient with bilateral absence of common iliac artery

Bilateral absence of the common iliac artery is an extremely rare congenital vascular malformation in which the distal aorta divides directly into two external iliac arteries and two internal iliac arteries. In the case of the presence of this vascular malformation in association with an aortic aneurysm, preservation of the internal iliac artery flow during endovascular aortic repair represents a technical challenge. We have reported a case in which the bilateral absence of the common iliac artery associated with an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm was successfully treated by endovascular aortic repair using commercially available iliac branched devices to maintain pelvic perfusion.

The outcomes of internal iliac artery preservation during endovascular or open surgery treatment for aortoiliac aneurysms

Background

Internal iliac artery (IIA) preservation continues to be a challenge during open surgery or endovascular repair of abdominal aortoiliac aneurysm (AAIA).

Objectives

To determine the results in terms of survival and clinical outcomes in patients with aortoiliac aneurysms (AAIA) treated with endovascular (EV) or open surgical (OS) repair.

Methods

This was a retrospective consecutive cohort study of patients with AAIA who underwent EV or OS repair.

Results

Post-procedure hospitalization time and intensive care unit stay were both longer in the OS group than in the EV group (7.08 ± 3.5 days vs. 3.32 ± 2.3 days; p = 0.03; 3.35 ± 2.2 days vs. 1.2 ± 0.8 days; p = 0.02, respectively). There were two cases of bowel ischemia (4.7%; OS 8.3% and EV 3.2%; p = 0.48), two cases of buttock claudication (4.7%; OS 8.3% and EV 3.2%; p = 0.48), and one case of sexual dysfunction (2.3% OS), all of them in patients with bilateral occlusion of the internal iliac artery (five patients, 11.6%; p = 0.035). Overall survival at 720 days was 80.6% in the EV group and 66.7% in the OS group (p = 0.58).

Conclusions

In the present study, OS and EV repair of aortoiliac aneurysms had similar overall survival and outcomes. Preservation of at least one internal iliac artery is associated with good results and no further complications.

Bell-bottom technique in iliac branch era: mid-term single stent graft performance

BACKGROUND

Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is considered the primary option for abdominal aortic aneurysm but the management of concomitant wide or aneurysmal iliac arteries (CIAs) is still controversial.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated mid-term results of patients receiving standard EVAR combined with bell-bottom technique (BBT) using Medtronic Endurant endograft between January 2009 and December 2018. Patients were followed up by CT scan performed 1 month after the procedure and by duplex ultrasound annually (with or without contrast medium) followed by CT scan in case of evolution.

RESULTS

Seventy-one patients (67 males; mean age of 77,1 years) with abdominal aortic aneurysm and wide or aneurysmal common iliac artery (distal landing zone diameter up to 25 mm and length more than 20 mm) were treated with standard EVAR and BBT (107 limbs) using Endurant stent graft. The median aortic diameter was 56,1 mm (31.0-85.0). Technical success was obtained in 100%. Mean procedural time was of 100.1 min. No 30 days' mortality, renal failure or limb ischaemia occurred. The median follow-up was of 36.56 months (1-136). 5-year aneurysm related mortality was not found. At 5 years, the number of all-cause deaths was seven. The freedom from secondary intervention was 91.6% at 5 years. Three patients (4.4%) were treated for iliac related complications at 5 years: internal iliac artery aneurysm, iliac obstruction, type 1b endoleak, all successfully treated by endovascular technique.

CONCLUSIONS

According with this study BBT using Endurant stent graft is effective and safe with good mid-term results, with low rate of iliac related complications and no aneurysm related mortality.

Adjunctive Procedures for Challenging Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Repair: When Needed and How Effective?

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is now considered the first choice treatment modality for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) treatment. Advocates for endovascular strategies will try to treat all AAA by EVAR, regardless if the anatomy is conducive for treatment or not. However, the long-term outcomes of EVAR outside the instructions for use (IFU) due to a hostile aneurysmal neck or iliac artery anatomy are known to be poor. The EVAR procedures can be classified according to the technical difficulty, IFU, and need for visceral revascularization: standard, adjunctive, and complex EVAR. The situation required for adjunctive procedures can be classified as the following four steps: a hostile neck (i.e., short or severely angled); large inferior mesenteric or lumbar artery; tough iliac artery anatomy, such as a short common iliac artery and stenotic external iliac artery; and limitations in vascular access. This article will discuss the adjunctive procedures to overcome hostile aneurysm neck and unsuitable iliac artery anatomy.

Midterm results of internal iliac artery aneurysm embolization

OBJECTIVE

We describe the immediate and midterm results of endovascular treatment of isolated internal iliac artery aneurysms (IIAA).

METHODS

This was a retrospective single center study. From 2005 to 2014, data from 20 consecutive patients who had an embolisation for an isolated atherosclerotic internal iliac artery aneurysm underwent an endovascular treatment. We retrospectively evaluated the technical aspects and outcomes.

RESULTS

The mean aneurysm diameter was 42mm (range 30-97mm). No perioperative deaths or treatment failures occurred. No endoleaks or secondary aneurysm ruptures were observed during the follow-up. Three patients experienced disabling buttock claudication, which was spontaneously remissive in two cases. No relationship was found between buttock claudication and the patency of the contralateral internal iliac artery and the deep femoral artery. Six patients (30%) died during follow-up. Among these, three patients died due to cardiovascular events. The mean follow-up interval was 24 months (range 6-96 months).

CONCLUSION

The endovascular treatment of isolated internal iliac artery aneurysm is safe in the short-term and could prevent secondary aneurysm rupture at midterm.

Point-by-point parent artery/sinus obliteration using detachable, pushable, 0.035-inch coils

BACKGROUND

Parent artery occlusion for intractable aneurysms or sinus packing for dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) is sometimes difficult and requires many expensive coils to accomplish complete occlusion. To help solve these problems, we reviewed our experience using 0.035-inch coil (0.035 coil; Boston Scientific, San Leandro, CA, USA), which has been used in cardiovascular and abdominal lesions.

METHODS

These 0.035 coils were preferably used in addition to the detachable and fibered coils for patients with intractable aneurysms, traumatic vessel blowout, and DAVF. Our strategy was as follows: (1) detachable coils were deployed first for the ideal anchoring of the coils; (2) small fibered coils were additionally deployed to stabilize the coil mass; (3) 0.035 coils were deployed to complete the occlusion.

RESULTS

From January 2012 to December 2013, seven consecutive patients were treated by endovascular embolization with 0.035 coils. Reasons for intervention were parent artery occlusion for carotid blowout (n = 1), internal carotid artery aneurysm (n = 2), traumatic vertebral artery injury (n = 2), vertebral AVF (n = 1), and transverse sinus-sigmoid sinus DAVF (n = 1). In our cases, a mean of 20.1 ± 8.5 coils per vessel were placed, and mean total coil length was 258.4 ± 91.5 cm per vessel. All procedures were safely performed and complete occlusions achieved.

CONCLUSIONS

From our initial experience and treatment results, we believe endovascular parent artery occlusion or sinus packing with 0.035 coils to be useful in terms of reducing the number and expense of coils and also accomplishing immediate occlusion.

How safe is internal iliac artery embolisation prior to EVAR? A 10-year retrospective review

PURPOSE

Internal iliac artery (IIA) embolisation is commonly performed prior to endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of aortoiliac aneurysms to prevent type 2 endoleaks via the internal iliac arteries. The safety of this procedure is controversial due to the high incidence of pelvic ischaemic complications.

METHODS

We undertook a retrospective review of all patients undergoing IIA embolisation before EVAR from 2002 to 2012, to determine incidence of, and factors associated with pelvic ischaemia.

RESULTS

Eight of 25 patients (32 %) experienced new-onset ischaemia, including erectile dysfunction (4 %), and buttock claudication (28 %) that persisted >6 months in only four patients (16 %). Both bilateral IIA embolisation and a shorter time interval to EVAR correlate with increased risk (p = 0.006 and p = 0.044). No co-morbidities or demographic factors were predictive.

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that IIA embolisation remains a beneficial procedure, however, to minimise the risk of buttock claudication we advise against both bilateral IIA embolisation and short time intervals between embolisation and subsequent EVAR.

Embolization of the internal iliac artery before EVAR: is it effective? Is it safe? Which technique should be used?

PURPOSE

To assess the clinical outcomes of internal iliac artery (IIA) embolization before endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

METHODS

Between 2002 and 2011, 88 patients underwent IIA embolization prior to EVAR. Sixty-five patients underwent unilateral and 23 underwent bilateral IIA embolization. A total of 111 IIAs were embolized: 56 were embolized with coils, 41 with Amplatzer plugs, and 14 with a combination of embolic agents. The outcomes were assessed retrospectively by reviewing medical records and follow-up imaging.

RESULTS

IIA embolization was technically successful in 95.7% of cases. Type 2 endoleak from previously embolized IIAs was seen in 4 cases, and in 1 case this was significant necessitating re-intervention. Buttock claudication was reported in 38% of cases, whereas new onset erectile dysfunction occurred in 10% of cases. No severe ischemic complications, such as spinal cord ischaemia or buttock necrosis, were reported. Analysis comparing unilateral versus bilateral embolization, simultaneous versus sequential embolization, and the type of embolic material used showed no statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

IIA embolization is technically successful and effective in preventing significant type 2 endoleak in the majority of cases. It is a relatively safe procedure without major complications, but the incidence of buttock claudication and erectile dysfunction remain relatively high, and patients should be consented appropriately. There is no significant benefit for adopting a particular embolization technique, but there is a tendency towards reduced pelvic ischaemia with proximal embolization. Four cases of type II endoleak occurring after technically successful IIA embolization supports the school of thought that IIA should be embolized prior to coverage and extension of the distal landing zone.

Use of aortic extension cuffs for preserving hypogastric blood flow in endovascular aneurysm repair with aneurysmal involvement of common iliac arteries

BACKGROUND

Intentional hypogastric artery covering during endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR) can carry a non-negligible rate of complications; to preserve pelvic blood flow, several approaches are in use, such as sandwich techniques, branched iliac devices, or the use of aortic extender cuffs in a bell-bottom configuration. We assess the performance of the latter for treatment of common iliac artery aneurysms during EVAR.

METHODS

Prospective gathering of data in 21 dilated common iliac arteries (18-25 mm) with coexisting abdominal aorta aneurysm, which were treated from 2005 to 2010 and received a GORE(®) Excluder endograft and one (n = 14) or several aortic extenders in a bell-bottom configuration. Control group consisted of 136 EVARs performed with the same device in the same time frame. Median follow-up was of 47 months, with contrast-enhanced computed tomography assessment 1 month after the procedure and yearly thereafter.

RESULTS

Age and comorbidities were homogeneously distributed among groups, although the aortic aneurysm diameter was lower in the bell-bottom group (50 mm vs. 58.2 mm, P < 0.001). There was no 30-day mortality registered in this group, and only one patient died during follow-up (5.3%), without relation with the aneurysmal disease. No significant differences were found in reintervention (15.8% vs. 14.7%, P = 0.707) or endoleak rates (36.8% vs. 38.9%, Fisher P = 1). There were no type I and four type II endoleaks, two of which precised treatment for sac growth. Endoleak-free survival (P = 0.994) and reintervention-free survival (P = 0.563) did not show differences either.

CONCLUSION

Bell-bottom technique is a feasible and safe alternative for preserving hypogastric blood flow, and does not imply a higher risk of reintervention or endoleak at 3-year follow-up.

Buttock Claudication After Interventional Occlusion of the Hypogastric Artery—A Mid-Term Follow-Up

Background. Interventional occlusion of the hypogastric artery (HA) can be used for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in the iliac arteries. Most frequent ischemic complication is buttock claudication (BC). Aim. To investigate the frequency and progression of BC after interventional occlusion of the HA prior to EVAR. Methods. A retrospective analysis was performed in patients with EVAR and occlusion of the HA between September 2004 and August 2010. Acute and persistent BC symptoms were assessed. Results. Fifty-four catheter occlusions of the HA were performed. In 10 cases, claudication could not be evaluated. During a mean follow-up of 17 months, 23 occlusions (52.3%) of the HA showed BC, in 52% symptoms were persistent. Of the 5 patients, 3 patients who underwent bilateral occlusion had BC and in 2 cases, persistent in the follow-up. Conclusion. Buttock claudication after occlusion of the HA prior to EVAR is a frequent complication, which often persists during follow-up. Alternatives that maintain pelvic perfusion should be considered.

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

Introduction

Endovascular 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 presentation

We 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.

Conclusions

The 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.

Percutaneous balloon-expandable stent graft repair of a ruptured iliac aneurysm

Elective stent graft repair of iliac aneurysm is successful and safe. There are, however, few published data on stent grafting unstable patients with acute iliac aneurysm rupture. Iliac diameter mismatch can also present a challenge to emergency endovascular treatment. We report the treatment of an unstable patient with iliac aneurysm rupture and diameter mismatch using a percutaneous balloon-expandable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) stent graft. Outcomes were satisfactory up to 12-month follow-up. Treatment of iliac aneurysm rupture using a balloon-expandable stent graft can be successful in selected patients. A percutaneous approach and targeted stent graft postdilatation enable prompt repair in the presence of diameter mismatch, facilitating emergency therapy.