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Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and extent of length changes during implantation of endovascular grafts in a prospective study of patients undergoing endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Methods: Data regarding the occurrence of intraoperative technical difficulties and device complications were recorded prospectively for the Vanguard or AneuRx self-expanding, bifurcated endovascular grafts in 64 patients (56 males; mean age 75 years). Graft length was measured in the sheath system before deployment and again immediately after deployment by fluoroscopic comparison to a graduated marking catheter. Results: Graft shortening ≥ 15 mm was documented in 22 (56%) of 39 Vanguard cases and 11 (44%) of 25 AneuRx endografts. Additional extension grafts were required to correct endoleak caused by inadequate graft length in 9 (14%) patients, but no conversion to open repair was necessary. Conclusions: There appears to be a high incidence of intraprocedural graft shortening with 2 current designs of self-expanding endoluminal grafts.

Purpose: To summarize the results of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) treatment using several endograft designs over a 4.5-year experience and offer comparisons on the various devices. Methods: From May 1992 to August 1996, 121 AAA patients meeting the criteria for an endoluminal repair were treated with 1 of 5 endograft designs in three configurations. The endografts were implanted in the operating room under fluoroscopic control. Follow-up included contrast-enhanced computed tomography within 10 days of operation, 6 months postoperatively, and annually thereafter. Results: Endografts were successfully deployed in 106 patients (88%). Fifteen cases were converted to open repair. Six procedure-related deaths occurred within 30 days owing to myocardial infarction (3), combined renal failure and septicemia (2), and multisystem failure (1). There were 36 local/vascular complications (30%) and 18 systemic/remote complications (15%). Of the 121 patients undergoing endoluminal AAA repair, 93 (77%) are currently alive and well with their AAAs excluded from the circulation. Conclusions: Trends in endoluminal AAA repair and prosthetic design point toward simpler devices and earlier treatment of smaller aneurysms once the long-term outcome of aortic endografting has been determined.

Purpose: To report a > 3-year experience with a modular, balloon-expandable endovascular graft used for aneurysm exclusion in the aorta and other arteries. Methods: The customized White-Yu Endovascular GAD Graft, a woven polyester prosthesis with an intrinsic Elgiloy wire graft attachment system along the body of the graft, is a flexible endograft design available in straight, tapered, and bifurcated versions that can be delivered transluminally through 18F to 24F sheaths. Results: Since July 1993, 93 patients have received the White-Yu endograft for treatment of 76 abdominal aortic, 3 thoracic aortic, 13 iliac, and 1 popliteal aneurysms. Of the 79 aortic procedures, 39 involved straight tube grafts, 20 were tapered aortoiliac models, and 20 were bifurcated devices. Success rates for tube grafts were 81% in the abdominal aorta and 100% for the thoracic aorta; 5 primary endoleaks (14%) and 2 conversions to surgery (5.6%) occurred with this graft type. Aortoiliac grafts were deployed successfully in 95% (19/20) of cases with 1 conversion (5%) due to thrombosis. Seventy-five percent of the bifurcated endograft procedures were successful, with 4 conversions (20%) for technical failures and 1 graft thrombosis. Four additional endografts were deployed to treat two primary and two secondary endoleaks in tube graft patients. Two access-related arterial injuries were treated surgically. There was one case of embolus to the distal femoral artery but no microembolization. Overall perioperative (30-day) mortality was 3.1%. Over a mean 18-month follow-up (range 2 to 39), no late graft thrombosis, stenosis, or graft migration has been seen on CT scans or X ray. Endoleak has not been detected in any aortoiliac or bifurcated graft. Aneurysm size has diminished consistently in successfully treated cases. Conclusions: The White-Yu endograft appears to offer a safe, efficacious, and minimally invasive means of excluding aneurysms from the circulation. Improvements in patient selection, surgical techniques, and equipment have reduced the incidence of endoleak and conversion to open repair over the course of the evaluation.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to analyze the causes of failure of endoluminal grafting for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) and to put forward proposals for preventing these failures. METHODS Since May 1992, endoluminal repair of aneurysms was undertaken in 47 patients. Forty-three of these patients had AAAs and are the basis of this study. All procedures were nonurgent and were performed in the operating room with the patient draped for an open repair in the event of failed endoluminal repair. Radiographic guidance was used to pass the endografts into the aorta via a delivery sheath introduced through the femoral or iliac arteries. The configuration of the endografts was tubular (n = 28), tapered aortoiliac/aortofemoral (n = 11), and bifurcated (n = 4). RESULTS Successful endoluminal repair was achieved in 34 of 43 (79%) patients. The remaining nine were terminated in favor of an open repair. The causes of failure were problems with access (2), balloon malfunction (1), stent dislodgment (3), graft thrombosis (1), and inability to deploy the contralateral limb of a bifurcated graft (2). All failed endoluminal repairs proceeded to successful open repair. There was no perioperative mortality in patients undergoing endoluminal repair or in those whose endoluminal repair was converted to open operation. CONCLUSIONS The failures of endoluminal grafting have been analyzed. Methods of avoiding access problems, balloon malfunction, and stent dislodgment have been defined and recommendations made.