Endoleak and Endotension Following Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Report of Two Cases

Delayed abdominal aortic aneurysm sac rupture after open repair

Open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is often regarded as a near-permanent operation with little long-term complications. Reported herein is a case of delayed rupture of an enlarging AAA sac after open repair requiring re-exploration in a patient presenting with flank pain and ipsilateral hydronephrosis. The natural history of a large, excluded aneurysm sac after open AAA repair, hypothesized etiology for this rare occurrence, and proposed diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm are described.

Management of Concealed Type IV Endoleak and Aortic Sac Hygroma by Prone ContrASt EnHancement Computed Tomography Angiography

BACKGROUND

Aortic sac hygroma and concealed endoleaks (EL) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysm needs particular attention with aggressive management as they are associated with rapid sac expansion and rupture risk. However, they can be erroneously reported as type IV or V EL with supine computed tomography (CT) scans, leading to delay in management. Therefore, we describe a novel diagnostic technique, 'Prone contrASt enHanced computed tomography Angiography' (PASHA), to document concealed EL METHODS: We present eight case descriptions with continuous sac expansion after primary EVAR. Management began with diagnosis using the PASHA imaging technique. PASHA is a multiphase CTA positional technique for increasing the accuracy of detecting EL after EVAR. Furthermore, the PASHA imaging technique also guides whether the open or endovascular intervention could be used effectively to manage the sac expansion. In synchrony with the PASHA technique, "EVAR GORE SalvAge FAbric Technique" (ARAFAT) was to salvage previous EVAR.

RESULTS

The PASHA technique diagnosed all cases of type IIIb EL, as it enhanced the degree of contrast infiltration into the aortic sac when microleaks were present. ARAFAT was effectively used in five elderly patients. Another three had an open conversion; two with double breasting of the aortic sac and one EVAR explantation.

CONCLUSIONS

The PASHA protocol helped classify and localize the concealed EL (type IV, V), which were not appropriately diagnosed by supine CT protocols. PASHA and ARAFAT were used as a fully functioning protocol to overcome apparent challenges in accurate diagnosis and subsequent concealed EL management in high-risk patients.

Successful endovascular management of endoleak-like phenomenon following open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

•

Endoleaks after open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair are a rare.

•

Type I endoleak-like phenomenon post-open AAA is also defined as a proximal pseudoaneurysm.

•

Type I endoleak-like phenomenon may result in aneurysmal sac rupture into the peritoneal cavity.

•

This is the first reported case in the literature of successful management of concomitant types I and potential type II endoleaks post-open AAA repair using an endovascular approach.

Introduction

Endoleaks are a well-known complication after endovascular aortic repair. Type I endoleak-like phenomenon (also defined as a proximal pseudoaneurysm) post-open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is described as an anastomotic leak causing recurrent pressurization of the original aneurysm sac. It is rare but may result in aneurysmal sac rupture into the peritoneal cavity.

Report

A 78-year-old man presented with a progressively enlarged aneurysmal sac due to proximal anastomotic degeneration of the proximal suture line associated with an outflow through a patent large lumbar vessel following a previous emergency open AAA repair. This was successfully treated using a combination coils and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer. An Endoluminal tube stent graft was successfully deployed to seal the aortic anastomotic dehiscence.

Conclusion

Endovascular treatment of an anastomotic dehiscence associated with a large outflow lumbar artery post-open AAA repair is feasible and safe.

Minimally invasive application of thrombin in the treatment of pseudoaneurysms following open aortic surgery

BACKGROUND

Anastomotic leaks are uncommon complications following aortic surgery. To avoid the morbidity associated with a second surgical procedure, minimally invasive techniques have become increasingly popular.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of thrombin in interventional treatment of postoperative pseudoaneurysms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

CT-guided percutaneous injection was chosen in four cases. Endovascular access using an occlusion balloon catheter placed in the orifice of the pseudoaneurysm was utilized in one case.

RESULTS

The average volume of all pseudoaneurysms was 178 ± 190 mL with a volume of the patent lumen of 25 ± 28 mL. All aneurysms thrombosed after injection of 600 ± 237 IU of thrombin. During the follow-up period of an average of 10 months all pseudoaneurysms remained occluded.

CONCLUSION

Our series demonstrates the feasibility of thrombin in the treatment of aortic anastomotic pseudoaneurysms. In combination with occlusion balloon catheters, even wide-necked pseudoaneurysms may be treated successfully. However, further investigations are warranted.

Endotension following endovascular aneurysm repair

Abstract

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a new and minimally invasive alternative to open repair for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Soon after its introduction in 1990, it was recognized that EVAR had potential and distinct advantages in the elective and emergency settings. However, long-term follow-up has shown enlargement of the AAA in a substantial percentage of patients who underwent EVAR with the original-permeability Excluder. Of interest is that sac expansion frequently occurs in the absence of endoleak, often referred to as endotension. The pathophysiology of endoleak is beginning to be elucidated and its management is ready to be established, while controversy still exists about the etiology and clinical consequences of endotension. Fortunately, the incidence of endotension is decreasing and it appears that AAA expansion after EVAR with the original Excluder can be arrested by endovascular relining with a low-permeability Excluder endoprosthesis. The aim of this brief review is to provide historical perspective and a good understanding of the etiology, diagnosis, and management of endotension.

Symptomatic seroma after open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Seroma following open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair has rarely been described. The majority of cases in the literature have been associated with use of polytetrafluoroethylene grafts. Here, we present a patient with a very large, symptomatic periaortic graft seroma 10 years after conventional (open) repair. The etiology of such seromas is of significant interest in endovascular aortic repair.

Sac enlargement due to seroma after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with the Endologix PowerLink device

A patient who had undergone endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with the Endologix PowerLink bifurcated system presented with delayed aortic aneurysm enlargement due to assumed endotension. He was treated with aortic sac evacuation and wrapping of the endograft. This is the first report of endotension and aneurysm sac enlargement after implantation of the PowerLink endograft.