Experience with physician-modified Ankura™ endografts for endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms

Evaluation of physician-modified endografts for the treatment of thoraco-abdominal and pararenal aortic pathologies at a single institution

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to describe the outcomes of high-risk patients with symptomatic or impending ruptured pararenal aneurysm and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm with comorbidities unsuitable for conventional open surgery, using physician-modified endografts (PMEGs).

METHODS

A single-center retrospective analysis was conducted on 59 patients (mean age: 75 years; 47 males) treated with PMEGs between 2017 and 2020. Data on baseline characteristics, procedures, and clinical follow up were collected to retrospectively analyze early (technical success, perioperative mortality, and major adverse events) and late (patency, endoleak, intervention, aneurysm thrombosis, and survival) outcomes.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in 96.6% (57/59) of cases. The 30-day mortality rate was 5.1% (3/59). Five patients suffered renal failure and required temporary or permanent dialysis, one developed respiratory failure, and one suffered bowel ischemia. The major stroke rate was 3.4%, the spinal cord injury rate was 0%, and the myocardial infarction rate was 3.4%. During a mean follow-up period of 18.8 ± 9.2 months, one patient suffered upper gastrointestinal bleeding and died after 7 postoperative months. Primary branch patency was observed in 97.2% of target vessels. Estimated freedom from reintervention was 88.1% and 87.5% at 6 months and 1 year, respectively. Five cases of endoleak (one type I, one type II, and three type III) were detected, and 7.1% required reintervention. The aneurysmal lumen thrombosis rate at 1 year was 89.6%. The estimated overall survival rate was 94.9% and 92.9% at 6 and 12 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

When used by experienced teams under appropriate anatomical conditions, PMEGs are a safe and effective alternative to open surgery. However, further technical advancement and larger studies with long-term follow-up periods are warranted.