Physician-Modified C3 Excluder Endograft as the Preferred Solution to Treat a Juxtarenal Para-Anastomotic Aneurysm

A systematic review of three-dimensional printed template-assisted physician-modified stent grafts for fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair

OBJECTIVE

Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair has yet to gain widespread adoption owing to the technical complexity and increased risk of complications. Three-dimensional (3D) printed templates to guide fenestrated physician-modified stent grafts (PMSGs) are a novel technique that may have the potential to increase the accuracy of fenestration alignment, and to disrupt both the cost and timing of the current commercial fenestrated endograft supply chain. We have conducted a critical appraisal of the emerging literature to assess this.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed and OVID Medline as guided by the PRISMA statement on April 30, 2020. We used "3D printing" and "physician modified" or "surgeon modified" and all related search terms. We identified 50 articles which met our search criteria. None articles were included as being of direct relevance to 3D-printed template-assisted PMSGs for fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair. Abstracts were screened individually by each investigator to ensure relevance.

RESULTS

Nine relevant articles were identified for critical analysis. These included one technical report, five case reports or series, two prospective trials, and one letter to the editor.

CONCLUSIONS

These 3D-printed templates are a promising new avenue to assist with the placement of fenestrations in PMSGs, particularly in urgent or emergent cases where custom fenestrated endografts are unavailable, with larger scale studies warranted. Further work to validate the key stages of the template workflow are required, as well as further investigation into the most suitable manufacturing and distribution methods before the mainstream implementation of this novel technique.

Comprehensive Review of Physician Modified Aortic Stent Grafts: Technical and Clinical Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

Physician modified stent grafts (PMSGs) present satisfactory results in selected cases of complex aortic pathologies. However, the technique lacks standardisation and depends on the surgeon and aortic segment. The aim of this article is to review comprehensively the technical details and clinical results of PMSGs related to patients with pathology in all aortic locations.

METHODS

A MEDLINE search (last search 20 April 2020) identified 20 relevant papers in the English language published over the last 20 years evaluating clinical outcomes after a PMSG and specifying the technical details to design it.

RESULTS

Seven hundred and eleven patients were included in the analyses, with 59% being operated on as an emergency. Ninety-two per cent of abdominal aortic segment PMSGs (A-PMSGs) were performed either as an emergency or before 2012. The main indications were available in 670 cases; 435 were degenerative aneurysms (64.9%) and 171 were aortic dissections (25.5%). Most of the endografts used were composed of polyethylene terephthalate, except for the Ankura (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene [Lifetech Scientific, Shenzhen, China]; n = 50, 7.5%). The Valiant (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) represented 65% (n = 169) of aortic arch PMSGs (aa-PMSGs) and the Zenith platform (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN, USA) 51% (n = 139) of A-PMSGs. A snare was used to reinforce the fenestration in 458 PMSGs (66%) and a cautery device cut the fenestration in 484 (75%) PMSGs. No bridging stent was used in 47 (7.0%) PMSGs (these aa-PMSGs had large fenestrations). Technical success ranged from 87.5% to 100% and 30 day mortality from 0% to 8%. Primary branch patency ranged from 96.3% to 100% at 12 month follow up. Zero to 14% of patients experienced type 3 or type 1 endoleak at 14.8 month follow up.

CONCLUSION

PMSG is a useful technique, particularly when validated treatments are not available. However, it is a non-standardised technique and the long term consequences of modifications remain unknown.

Physician-Modified Endovascular Gore Excluder Graft (Handmade Modified) for Complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Step-by-Step Approach

Endovascular repair has become the gold standard for the treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysmal disease. Branched and fenestrated commercially custom-made devices have been developed as a treatment option for short necks or juxtarenal aneurysms. However, the lack of availability in some countries and centers, manufacturing time (6-8 weeks requirements), urgent setting in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, and elevated costs make them not a widespread option. Hereby, we expose our step-by-step technique of physician modified Gore Excluder  to treat complex aneurysms. Physician-modified endovascular graft (PMEG) has emerged as an alternative to open repair for the treatment of complex aortic aneurysms. The ultimate goal of fenestrations is to increase the proximal sealing zone length. The Gore C3 delivery system allows repositioning of the graft by constraining the proximal part after a back-table physician modification; the PMEG technique with the Gore Excluder C3 delivery system can be used for complex aortic aneurysms repair as an alternative treatment option.