Novel Technique for the Treatment of Type Ia Endoleak After Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Abstract

Purpose Open surgical repair of type Ia endoleak after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair/sealing (EVAR/EVAS) is associated with significant perioperative mortality and morbidity. Current endovascular redo techniques face limitations, especially when the infrarenal landing zone is inadequate and the previous endograft is rigid and features a short or no main body. We present a novel concept for the treatment of type Ia endoleak using a custom-made branched device. Technique The 5-branch-device (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN, USA) consists of a nitinol skeleton with branches, covered with a low-profile polyester fabric loaded in an 18F sheath. The device features a minimum of 2 proximal sealing stents and includes branches for renovisceral vessels as well as an additional 8 mm branch for the contralateral iliac limb. Implantation and sealing in the renovisceral vessels is carried out in standard fashion, using transfemoral and transaxillary access. Distal sealing is achieved by tapering the branched component into the ipsilateral iliac limb and using a bridging balloon-expandable or self-expandable stent-graft through the additional branch to the preexisting contralateral iliac limb. Conclusion Treatment of type Ia endoleak with a new custom-made device enables sufficient proximal seal while minimizing suprarenal aortic coverage and facilitates adequate component overlap. The low profile branched design accommodates implantation through the preexisting endograft and catheterization of target vessels.

Focused Update on Patients Treated with the Nellix EndoVascular Aneurysm Sealing (EVAS) System from the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Clinical Practice Guidelines

“…Proximal extension with a fenestrated or branched EVAR device may be an alternative option, but, due to limited data, this method needs further evaluation. 10,11 Open conversion with device explantation is the treatment of choice for patients with a failing EVAS if they are deemed fit enough to undergo the intervention. 3,4 The Nellix devices are relatively easy to remove from the proximal neck as there is no active fixation; however, the balloon expandable stent grafts in the iliac arteries may be more challenging to remove and care must be taken to avoid intimal dissection.…”