Relining technique for continuous sac enlargement and modular disconnection secondary to endotension after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

Occult endoleaks revealed during open conversions after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in a multicenter experience

BACKGROUND

An occult endoleak (OE) may be the underlying cause of aneurysm sac expansion after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The aim of this study is to describe intraoperative findings of OE during surgical endograft explantations.

METHODS

This is a retrospective, multicenter analysis of all open conversions (OC) after EVAR from 1997 to 2020 in 12 vascular centers. We excluded patients with a preoperative diagnosis of endograft infection, endograft thrombosis, and thoracic-EVAR. An OE was defined as an endoleak revealed during OC not shown on preoperative imaging, which was likely the real cause for sac enlargement. We reported the number of OE, and we described the type of OE in relation to the initial alleged or associated endoleak. A separate analysis of patients with an initial diagnosis of endotension was also performed.

RESULTS

An OE was found in 32/255 patients (12.5%). In the 78.1% of the cases (25/32) a type II endoleak hid a type I or III endoleak. Endotension was the initial diagnosis of 26/255 patients (10.2%). In 4/26 cases (15.4%), a type I or II OE was revealed. In 5/26 cases (19.2%) an endograft infection was found intraoperatively. In 2/26 cases we found an angiosarcoma. Fifteen cases of endotension (57.7%) remained unexplained.

CONCLUSIONS

OE represent a not negligible cause of EVAR failure. A type II endoleak associated with sac enlargement may actually conceal a higher-flow endoleak. In most of the cases, the initial diagnosis of endotension remains unexplained. However, endotension sometimes conceals severe underlying pathologies such as infections.

Open Abdominal Aortic Repair to Treat Perigraft Seroma after Endovascular Aortic Repair with Endologix AFX2 Endograft

A 75-year-old man with an abdominal aortic aneurysm underwent endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) using an AFX2 endograft with no endoleaks. Nevertheless, the aneurysmal sac increased by 8 mm at 24 months after EVAR despite no detectable endoleaks. Open surgical treatment was performed because of the risk of rupture. Intraoperative findings of much viscous cloudy fluid with no blood flow in the sac suggested that perigraft seroma resulted in sac enlargement. The endografts were replaced by a Dacron graft. Perigraft seroma should be considered as a cause of sac growth after EVAR with AFX2 when there are no detectable endoleaks.

Surgical Findings and Outcomes of Endotension following Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

BACKGROUND

Endotension is one of the detrimental complications after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and surgical management has been considered as standard of care. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the findings and outcomes of such surgical intervention. The aim of this study was to investigate intraoperative findings and outcomes of surgical treatment for endotension after EVAR.

METHODS

Between January 2005 and October 2018, of the 708 patients who underwent EVAR for aneurysm aortic aneurysm; 12 patients (mean age of 76.1; range 66-88) who underwent open repair for endotension were retrospectively analyzed. The anatomical characteristics of the aorta and surgical findings were reviewed. The rates of early and late procedural complications, and overall mortality were evaluated.

RESULTS

The median interval between the EVAR and surgical conversion was 45.9 months (range 17.1-46.9). Three of the twelve patients underwent emergency surgery due to aneurysm rupture. The median aneurysm sac size, the proximal neck diameter, and the proximal neck length before EVAR were 64 mm, 23.5 mm, and 30.5 mm, respectively, that changed before open repair to 93.5 mm (p = .02), 25 mm (p = .011), and 23 mm (p = .003), respectively. In four of the twelve patients, radiographically undetected endoleak was identified during surgery to be Type Ia, Ib, II, and III, respectively. The rates of early and late procedural complications, and overall mortality were 8.3%, 8.3% and 8.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with endotension have a risk of delayed endoleak and aneurysm rupture; secondary intervention should be performed in such cases to prevent fatal complications. Surgical treatment appears to be a curative treatment for endotension with favorable outcomes. In addition, the possibility of an undetected endoleak should be considered as a potential cause of endotension.

Endotension: What do we know and not know about this enigmatic complication of endovascular aneurysm repair

As the use of endovascular approaches to treat aneurysm repair continues to increase, more and more patients have been identified with endoleaks. Five types of endoleaks have been defined. Endotension, or type V endoleak, remains controversial owing to its variable definition across studies and the range of proposed treatments. Thus, we performed a review of the reported studies to summarize the diagnosis and treatment of this rare complication after endovascular aneurysm repair to determine what we do and do not know about this rare form of endoleak. The presence of an endoleak places patients at an increased risk of aneurysm sac enlargement and potential rupture. Although additional research is essential and yet difficult to perform, we sought to provide a guide for the management of this perplexing endoleak known as endotension.

Endovascular relining of a Dacron graft for refractory perigraft seroma

Although perigraft seroma (PGS) is a well-known complication of vascular surgery, optimal therapy has not yet been established. A 90-year-old patient underwent a bypass from the right subclavian artery to the left carotid and subclavian arteries for debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Four years post-surgery, computed tomography revealed PGS at the anastomosis site. Percutaneous needle aspiration and surgical drainage were ineffective in treating PGS. We performed a relining procedure using covered stents for the bypass graft that resolved the PGS. This procedure is minimally invasive, avoids graft excision, and can be especially valuable for elderly patients.

Stent-Graft Relining by Combined Aortic Cuff with Double-D Technique for Type IIIb or V Endoleak after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: A Case Report

We report the case of a 83-year-old man with aneurysmal sac enlargement after endovascular aneurysm repair for an abdominal aortic aneurysm, despite no overt endoleak (EL) detected on imaging. Occult type II EL was suspected, and treatment was performed. However, the aneurysm continued to enlarge. Thus, we diagnose with type V EL as exclusion diagnosis. We combined an aortic cuff and stent-graft leg to cover the initially inserted stent graft, as a diagnostic treatment for unrefined type IIIb EL. Subsequently, the aneurysm diameter decreased. This technique and concept may be effective for type V EL, which may include another type occult EL.

Delayed Type IIIb endoleak secondary to graft fabric tear 7 years following implantation of a Medtronic Talent endovascular aortic device: A case report and review of the literature

Objectives:

To report a rare case of delayed Type IIIb endoleak secondary to fabric tear following implantation of a Medtronic Talent endovascular device.

Methods:

A 83-year old gentleman underwent elective endovascular aneurysm repair for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with a Medtronic bifurcated stent graft in 2008.

Results:

Seven years after the initial repair, imaging surveillance revealed significant endoleak and brisk aneurysm sac expansion due to Type IIIb endoleak secondary to endograft limb fabric tear.

Conclusions:

This case illustrates the imperative role of imaging surveillance in detection of long-term endovascular aneurysm repair complications. Furthermore, we discuss exclusion of the graft tear with aortouniiliac stent grafting as the treatment for this complication.

Intervention after endovascular aneurysm repair: Endosalvage techniques including perigraft arterial sac embolization and endograft relining

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has revolutionized the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, persistent AAA sac endoleak following EVAR can result in sac diameter increase requiring re-intervention in up to one-third of cases and even result in aneurysm rupture. In this case review, we summarize and detail endovascular re-interventions for each type of endoleak. We also detail specific options including stent-graft relining for indeterminate, Type III, and Type IV endoleaks and perigraft arterial sac embolization to induce thrombosis and resolve acute Type I, II, or III endoleaks. Endograft relining involves placement of a new stent-graft-elevating the bifurcation and extending the repair from renal artery to hypogastric arteries; perigraft arterial sac embolization involves placement of a catheter into the excluded sac from common femoral artery access, characterization of the inflow and outflow of the endoleak, and inducing cessation of the blood flow into the sac by the administration of thrombogenic material. Endoleaks range from low-pressure endoleaks, which can be safely monitored in a surveillance program to high-pressure endoleaks, which mandate intervention when associated with AAA sac diameter increase to protect from rupture. The evaluation of new devices and techniques to treat endoleak after EVAR remains an important issue in patient care after EVAR.

Clinical outcomes of endovascular aneurysm repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm complicated with hypertension: A 5-year experience

Objective:

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) complicated with hypertension.

Methods:

Fifty-two patients with AAA complicated with hypertension treated in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into an observation group (34 cases) and a control group (18 cases). The control group was treated by incision of AAA and artificial blood vessel replacement, and the observation group was treated by EVAR.

Results:

All surgeries were performed successfully. However, compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly less surgical time, intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion, as well as significantly higher total hospitalization expense (P<0.05). During the one-month follow-up, the observation group was significantly less prone to pulmonary infection, surgical site infection, lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis and lower extremity weakness than the control group (P<0.05). The observation group enjoyed significantly better quality of life than the control group did one and three months after surgery (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

Given sufficient funding, EVAR should be preferentially selected in the treatment of AAA complicated with hypertension due to minimal invasion, safety, stable postoperative vital signs and improved quality of life.

An in Vitro Twist Fatigue Test of Fabric Stent-Grafts Supported by Z-Stents vs. Ringed Stents

Whereas buckling can cause type III endoleaks, long-term twisting of a stent-graft was investigated here as a mechanism leading to type V endoleak or endotension. Two experimental device designs supported with Z-stents having strut angles of 35° or 45° were compared to a ringed control under accelerated twisting. Damage to each device was assessed and compared after different durations of twisting, with focus on damage that may allow leakage. Stent-grafts with 35° Z-stents had the most severe distortion and damage to the graft fabric. The 45° Z-stents caused less fabric damage. However, consistent stretching was still seen around the holes for sutures, which attach the stents to the graft fabric. Larger holes may become channels for fluid percolation through the wall. The ringed stent-graft had the least damage observed. Stent apexes with sharp angles appear to be responsible for major damage to the fabrics. Device manufacturers should consider stent apex angle when designing stent-grafts, and ensure their devices are resistant to twisting.