Billowing Of Endologix Powerlink Stent Mimicking Endoleaks

CT angiography for the assessment of EVAR complications: a pictorial review

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a minimally invasive treatment proposed as an alternative to open repair in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. EVAR consists in a stent-graft placement within the aorta in order to exclude the aneurysm from arterial circulation and reduce the risk of rupture. Knowledge of the various types of devices is mandatory because some stents/grafts are more frequently associated with complications. CT angiography is the gold standard diagnostic technique for preprocedural planning and postprocedural surveillance. EVAR needs long-term follow-up due to the high rate of complications. Complications can be divided in endograft device-related and systemic complications. The purpose of this article is to review the CT imaging findings of EVAR complications and the key features for the diagnosis.

A Unique Indication for the Altura Endograft to Repair Bilateral Common Iliac Artery Aneurysms Associated with a Short-Infrarenal Aorta

A 71-year-old man with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis presented with bilateral common iliac artery aneurysms diagnosed during the workup of his chronic kidney disease. On computed tomography angiography, common iliac artery aneurysm diameters measured 6.1 cm on the right side and 3.1 cm on the left side. The infrarenal aorta also had a small 3.2-cm aneurysm, but the length from the lowest left renal to the aortic bifurcation was only 6.7 cm, precluding use of most bifurcated endografts. Following an uneventful staged preoperative internal iliac artery embolization, a two-piece D -shaped Altura endograft for the aorta, with bilateral iliac components, landing at the level of the external iliac arteries was successfully performed. Postoperative course was uneventful with no endoleak or endograft migration on computerized tomographic angiography 45 days later, although billowing mimicking an endoleak was evident and will be closely followed.

Retrospective Review of Billowing Phenomenon-A Mimic of Endoleak Following Placement of Endologix Covered Stent for the Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

BACKGROUND

Billowing is a unique computed tomography (CT) finding of the Endologix stent graft where a rim of contrast is observed outside the stent's endoskeleton but still contained within the graft cover. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the incidence and clinical outcome of billowing following an Endologix stent-graft placement.

METHODS

All patients who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair with endovascular placement of an Endologix stent graft from January 2002 to September 2013 and who were followed with imaging were included in the study. The images were evaluated for the incidence of billowing. Demographics and clinical outcomes were also analyzed.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-two patients received an Endologix stent graft for AAA repair at our institution. One hundred patients qualified for this study. Eighty-four patients had billowing with the majority (70 patients) having crescentic billowing, and the remaining 14 patients having focal outpouching. Average billowing thickness measured 4.2 mm (range 1-13). Sixty-three patients with billowing had multiple follow-up CT angiograms to allow serial monitoring. Twelve patients had resolution of billowing, 11 patients had reduction in billowing size, 14 patients had no change in billowing size, and 26 patients had increase in billowing size. Patients with billowing had a statistically significant reduction in aneurysm sac size in anteroposterior and transverse dimensions (P = 0.014 and 0.009, respectively). Five cases of billowing were misdiagnosed as endoleak. Nineteen true endoleaks were identified, of which 13 cases were associated with billowing.

CONCLUSIONS

Billowing does not seem to be associated with increased morbidity, mortality, increase in aneurysm size, or presence of endoleak. Billowing should be recognized as a common and benign finding of the Endologix stent.