EVAR of aortoiliac aneurysms with branched stent-grafts.

Introduction: Branched iliac stent-grafts (bSG) have recently been developed in order to preserve internal iliac artery (IIA) flow in patients with aneurysmal or short common iliac arteries. The aim of this study is to evaluate a single-center experience with bSG for the IIA.

Methods: Twenty-two male patients (70 (IQR 65-79) years old) underwent EVAR with 23 bSG (1 bilateral repair) between September 2002 and August 2007. Median AAA diameter was 52 (37-60) mm while common iliac diameter on the side of the bSG was 34 (27-41) mm. Two in-house modified Zenith SG and subsequently 21 commercially available bSG (18 Zenith Iliac Side and 3 Helical Branches) were used. Follow-up (FU) included CT at one month and yearly thereafter. Data was prospectively entered in a database.

Results: Primary technical success was 91% (21 bSG). Median FU duration was 20 (8-31) months. One patient (5 %) died after discharge from acute myocardial infarction on day 13. Another patient died 30 months after EVAR of an unrelated cause. The overall bSG patency was 74% due to 6 branch occlusions (2 intraoperative and 4 late). All patients with patent bSG were asymptomatic. Three occlusions were asymptomatic findings on CT, while the other three developed claudication (two patients with contralateral IIA occlusion and one with simultaneous occlusion of the external iliac). One patient (5%) developed an asymptomatic type III endoleak at 1 month and was successfully treated with a bridging SG. Overall, four patients (18%) required reinterventions (1 bilateral stenting of the external iliac arteries, 1 external and 1 internal SG extensions and 1 femoro-femoral cross-over bypass). Nine out of 16 patients (56%) with CT-FU>/=1 year had shrinking aneurysms. There were no postoperative aneurysm expansions.

Conclusions: EVAR of aortoiliac aneurysms with IIA bSG is a good alternative to occlusion of the IIA in patients with challenging distal anatomy.