Review of Type III Endoleaks

Endoleak remains a significant challenge to endovascular aneurysm repair, particularly as evolving techniques and devices have allowed treatment of increasingly complex aneurysm anatomy with increasing number of device components. Intervention is recommended for both type I and III endoleaks due to their risk of rupture, and endovascular techniques are the favored modality with placement of a bridging endograft over the endoleak defect. Conversion to open surgical repair remains the definitive option in cases where less invasive methods have failed or are precluded. In this article, the authors review evidence on the etiology, incidence, diagnosis, and current techniques for type III endoleak management.

Concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm and gastrointestinal malignancy: evolution of treatment paradigm in the endovascular era - review article

The incidence of concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm and gastrointestinal malignancy is rare. Current treatment strategies in patients with both lesions remain controversial. It is unclear whether to treat the AAA and gastrointestinal malignancy simultaneously or in a staged manner. In patients with concomitant AAA and gastrointestinal malignancy surgical orthodoxy dictates that the most symptomatic lesion or the most life threatening condition should be treated first, however there is a therapeutic dilemma when neither or both of the lesions are symptomatic .In this review we explore (a) Priority of treatment in patients with concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm and gastrointestinal malignancy (b) The role of EVAR in the management of abdominal aortic aneurysm and concomitant gastrointestinal malignancy.

Getting the aorta pants in place: a 'community of guidance' in the evolving practice of vascular implant surgery

The evolving nature of surgical treatments creates gaps between evidence-based guidelines and actual clinical practice.This article addresses the emerging clinical practice of the EndoVascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR), a surgical treatment of patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). Drawing on a qualitative study across three hospitals, we identified three interplaying expertise traits: the collective, the interpersonal and the technical, each being present to promote surgical work. The evolvement of EVAR is contextualized within technical artefacts and patient characteristics, along with a joint decision approach. The intertwinement between various expertise traits and contextual factors forms a 'community of guidance', nourishing further EVAR innovation without formalized institutions, evidence, training or guidelines. However, the lack of a shared context limits the transfer of evolving knowledge across hospital boundaries.

Optimal technique for imaging iliac segments during endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

PURPOSE

To determine if oblique angulation of the image intensifier is adequate to image the entire length of the common iliac artery during endovascular aneurysm repair or if additional caudal tilt is necessary.

METHODS

Using a 3D workstation, the apparent level of the iliac bifurcation (distal limit of the stent-graft) was determined on computed tomographic angiography by profiling the common iliac segment in oblique angulation only and repeated with a combination of oblique angulation and caudal tilt. Two independent observers measured twice the apparent length of the iliac segment in both profiles for 50 patients according to a set protocol. Intra- and interobserver variability was calculated using the Bland and Altman method; the differences between the two different profiles were tested using paired t tests.

RESULTS

Of the 50 CTA datasets reviewed, 2 datasets were excluded owing to extensive calcification of the iliac system that prevented accurate interpretation of the image. Of the 96 segments studied, the iliac segments appeared longer (better profiled) with a combination of caudal tilt and oblique angulation in 80%, with an average discrepancy of 9 mm for observer 1 (range -1 to +28) and 7 mm for observer 2 (0 to +26). The effect of caudal tilt was statistically significant for individual observers (p = 0.001 and 0.024, respectively). Forty-six percent of iliac segments measured by observer 1 and 35% by observer 2 showed that the addition of caudal tilt resulted in improved profiling by at least 10 mm. Although inter- and intraobserver variation was significant, the gain in apparent iliac length with the addition of caudal tilt was preserved.

CONCLUSION

When profiled with oblique angulation alone, the location of the iliac bifurcation may appear higher than its true location, resulting in underutilization of the iliac segment by >10 mm in over a third of the patients. The problem is corrected by employing additional caudal tilt.