Outcome of the pivotal study of the Aptus endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysms repair system.

Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is associated with benefits over open surgery, yet limitations remain with current endovascular devices. This study was performed to assess outcomes of AAA repair with the Aptus endograft and EndoAnchors (Aptus Endosystems, Sunnyvale, Calif). This prospective, multicenter, single-arm investigational device exemption trial was conducted at 25 sites in the United States. A total of 155 patients were enrolled in the trial (mean age, 73 ± 8 years; male, 93.5%; mean AAA diameter, 53.6 ± 7.9 mm). The Aptus endograft is a two-component system: a multilumen, modular endograft with two docking limbs (Aptus Endograft System) and the Heli-FX Aortic Securement System comprising an electronically controlled applier (Heli-FX Applier) with helical EndoAnchors provided in a cassette and a deflectable sheath (Heli-FX Guide) designed for delivery of the applier to the target location for EndoAnchor implantation. The main eligibility criteria included proximal neck length of ≥12 mm, diameter of 19 to 29 mm, and infrarenal angulation of ≤60 degrees. The primary safety end point was freedom from major adverse events at 30 days, and the primary effectiveness end point was successful aneurysm treatment at 12 months. Thrombus-related events (TRE) were defined as limb occlusion or thromboembolism from the endograft. Subjects were observed for a median of 4.2 years, with imaging end points analyzed by a core laboratory and adverse events adjudicated by a clinical events committee. Among 155 enrolled subjects, 153 (98.7%) underwent successful implantation of the Aptus endograft and a median of five EndoAnchors; two subjects were converted to open surgical repair during the initial procedure. Overall, the primary safety and effectiveness end points were met in 98.1% and 97.4% of the subjects, respectively. Aneurysm-related mortality was 0.6%, with one postdischarge cardiac death 18 days after implantation. There were no AAA ruptures. There were no fractures of stents or EndoAnchors. There was one type I endoleak and one type III endoleak. Stent graft migration was noted in five subjects, none associated with sac enlargement, type I endoleak, or EndoAnchor dislocation from the endograft. AAA sac shrinkage of ≥5 mm at 1, 2, and 3 years was observed in 60.3%, 72.9%, and 81.7%, respectively. Sixty-one subjects (39.4%) experienced 113 TRE, associated with 80 reinterventions (in 58 subjects) unassociated with limb loss or death. A root cause analysis of TRE identified small, out-of-specification docking limbs with graft infolding and high local shear, resulting in thrombus formation within the endograft with subsequent distal embolization in some cases. Early results of the Aptus endograft trial met its safety and effectiveness end points; however, a high rate of TRE was observed because of manufacturing discrepancies. The findings confirm a low rate of type I and type III endoleaks, migration, and non-TRE reintervention with a high rate of aneurysm sac regression during midterm follow-up.

Mehta M ，Henretta J ，Glickman M ，Deaton D ，Naslund TC ，Gray B ，McCann R ，Jordan W ，Fairman R ... -  《-》

One-year outcomes from an international study of the Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft System for endovascular aneurysm repair.

This study evaluated 1-year safety and effectiveness outcomes of the United States regulatory trial for the Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft System (TriVascular Inc, Santa Rosa, Calif) for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). This prospective, multicenter, single-arm trial was conducted at 36 sites in the United States, Germany, and Chile to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Ovation stent graft. From November 2009 to May 2011, 161 patients (88% males; mean age, 73 ± 8 years) with AAAs (mean diameter, 54 ± 9 mm) were treated with the Ovation stent graft. The main body is a modular two-docking limb device with a 14F outer diameter delivery system, active suprarenal fixation, and polymer-filled proximal rings that accommodate the aortic neck for seal. Main inclusion criteria included proximal aortic neck length ≥ 7 mm, inner neck diameter between 16 and 30 mm, distal iliac landing zones length ≥ 10 mm, and diameter between 8 and 20 mm. Patients were treated under a common protocol, including clinical and imaging follow-up at discharge, 30 days, 6 months, and annually through 5 years. A Clinical Events Committee adjudicated adverse events, an independent imaging core laboratory analyzed imaging, and a Data Safety and Monitoring Board provided study oversight. Complete 1-year follow-up data were available for this report. The Ovation stent graft was implanted successfully in 161 patients (100%), including 69 (42.9%) by percutaneous access. General anesthesia was used in 106 patients (65.8%). Technical success was 100%, and mean procedure time was 110 minutes. Median procedural blood loss was 150 mL, and median hospital stay was 1 day. The 30-day major adverse event rate was 2.5%. At 1 year, AAA-related and all-cause mortality were 0.6% and 2.5%, respectively. Major adverse event and serious adverse event rates through 1 year were 6.2% and 38.5%, respectively. The 1-year treatment success rate was 99.3%. The imaging core laboratory reported no stent graft migration or type I, III, or IV endoleaks. At 1 year, type II endoleaks were identified in 34% of patients, and AAA enlargement was identified in one patient (0.7%). No AAA rupture or conversion to open surgery was reported. AAA-related secondary procedures were performed in 10 patients (6.2%) for 12 findings, including endoleak (six), aortic main body stenosis (three), and iliac limb stenosis or occlusion (three). The 1-year results of the Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft System demonstrate excellent safety and effectiveness in treatment of patients with AAAs, particularly in patients with challenging anatomic characteristics, including short aortic necks and narrow iliac arteries. Longer-term follow-up is needed.

Mehta M ，Valdés FE ，Nolte T ，Mishkel GJ ，Jordan WD ，Gray B ，Eskandari MK ，Botti C ，A Pivotal Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of the Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft System Investigators ... -  《-》

Analysis of EndoAnchors for endovascular aneurysm repair by indications for use.

The proximal aortic neck remains one of the challenges of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), and the risk of type Ia endoleak and endograft migration is increased in patients with short, large-diameter, or highly angulated necks. EndoAnchors have been used as an adjunct to EVAR in such patients, and the aim of this study was to assess their benefit analyzed by indication for use. During a 2-year period, 319 patients were enrolled at 43 sites in the Aneurysm Treatment Using the Heli-FX Aortic Securement System Global Registry (ANCHOR) study. This prospective, multinational, real-world analysis of EndoAnchors comprised two groups of patients, those undergoing first-time EVAR (primary arm, 242) and those with proximal neck complications remote from the time of an initial endograft implantation (revision arm, 77). The primary arm was further subdivided into patients undergoing prophylactic EndoAnchor use for hostile proximal neck anatomy (178), with a type Ia endoleak evident during initial endograft deployment (60), and in conjunction with extender cuffs after unsatisfactory endograft deployment distally in the neck (four). The revision arm was subdivided into patients presenting with a type Ia endoleak alone (45), endograft migration alone (11), and migration with endoleak (21). Technical success was site reported as satisfactory deployment of the desired number of EndoAnchors without fracture or loss of integrity. Procedural success was defined as technical success without type Ia endoleak at completion arteriography. Core laboratory analysis was performed on 249 baseline and 192 follow-up computed tomographic studies, 66 of which were available within the 1-year window. Technical and procedural success rates were highest in the prophylactically treated subset (172 of 178; 96.6%). Whereas the technical success of EndoAnchor deployment was also high in the other subsets, residual type Ia endoleaks were more frequent at completion angiography when the indication for EndoAnchor use was type Ia endoleak, both in the primary arm (17 of 60; 28%) and in the revision arm (9 of 45; 20%). During a median imaging follow-up of 7 months, 183 of 202 patients (90.1%) remained free of type Ia endoleaks. Primary prophylactic patients were free from type Ia endoleak in 110 of 114 cases (96.5%). The most challenging subset was revision patients treated for type Ia endoleak; type Ia endoleaks were evident during follow-up in 10 of 29 of the cases (34%). Sac regression >5 mm in patients with 1-year imaging was observed in 26 of 66 patients (39%) and was highest in the primary prophylaxis subset (20 of 43; 47%). EndoAnchor implantation can be a useful adjunct to EVAR as prophylaxis against proximal attachment site complications in patients with hostile aortic neck anatomy, as treatment for early and late type Ia endoleaks, or, in conjunction with aortic extension cuffs, for endograft migration. Whereas the most challenging patients are those who present with type Ia endoleaks remote from initial EVAR, EndoAnchors are still effective in treating the majority of these cases.

de Vries JP ，Ouriel K ，Mehta M ，Varnagy D ，Moore WM Jr ，Arko FR ，Joye J ，Jordan WD Jr ，Aneurysm Treatment Using the Heli-FX Aortic Securement System Global Registry ANCHOR Trial ... -  《-》

Safety and effectiveness of the INCRAFT AAA Stent Graft for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

This study evaluated the 2-year safety and effectiveness of the European First-in-Human INNOVATION trial for the INCRAFT AAA Stent Graft system (Cordis Corp, Bridgewater, NJ), an ultra-low-profile device for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. From March 2010 to June 2011, the INNOVATION prospective multicenter trial involving six centers in Europe enrolled and treated 60 asymptomatic patients (95% male; mean age, 74.4 ± 6.9 years) with the INCRAFT System. Main inclusion criteria included proximal aortic neck length of 15 mm or more with a diameter up to 27 mm; distal iliac landing zones with a length greater than 10 mm and a diameter between 9 and 18 mm; and aortic bifurcation >18 mm in diameter and access vessels large enough to accept the 14F outer diameter of the delivery system. The primary end point was technical success at 1 month; 2-year safety end points included the absence of device- or procedure-related major adverse events, absence of type I or III endoleaks, and maintenance of device integrity through 2 years of follow-up. Study oversight was provided by a Data Safety Monitoring Board with event adjudication by a Clinical Events Committee and imaging analysis by an independent core laboratory. Of 60 successfully treated patients, two did not come back for their 1-month evaluation but remained enrolled in the study; 56 were evaluated at 1 year and 52 at 2 years. Of the 58 patients, 56 met the 1-month primary safety and effectiveness end point (97%; 95% confidence interval, 88%-100%). All patients were free from aneurysm enlargement through 2 years. There were no type I or III endoleaks at the 2-year time point. All-cause mortality at 2 years was 11.5%, and no death was device or procedure related. In total, three patients required a postprocedure intervention, two to repair a type I endoleak and one for limb occlusion. Core laboratory evaluation of the postoperative imaging studies documented absence of endograft migration and stent fractures in all patients. The INCRAFT AAA Stent Graft System provides a durable solution for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms, with a low frequency of device-related events through 2 years of follow-up.

Torsello G ，Scheinert D ，Brunkwall JS ，Chiesa R ，Coppi G ，Pratesi C ... -  《-》

Early report from an investigator-initiated investigational device exemption clinical trial on physician-modified endovascular grafts.

To determine whether a physician-modified endovascular graft (PMEG) is a safe and effective method for treating patients with juxtarenal aortic aneurysms who are deemed unsuitable for open repair. A nonrandomized, prospective, consecutively enrolling investigational device exemption clinical trial was used. Data collected on patients treated with PMEG between April 2011 and August 2012 were analyzed. Subjects were followed with computed tomography, visceral duplex, and four-view X-ray at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year. The protocol was designed to include follow-up to 5 years. The primary safety end point was the proportion of subjects who experienced a major adverse event (MAE) within 30 days of the procedure. The primary efficacy end point was the proportion of subjects experiencing treatment success. During the 16-month study period, 28 patients were consented and 26 underwent endovascular repair using PMEGs. Anatomic, operative details, and length of stay were recorded and included aneurysm diameter (mean, 62.5 mm), proximal neck length (mean, 4.4 mm), graft manufacture time (mean, 59.7 minutes), procedure time (mean, 169 minutes), fluoroscopy time (mean, 42.8 minutes), total contrast usage (mean, 63 mL), estimated blood loss (mean, 221 mL), and length of hospital stay (mean, 4.9 days). There were 63 fenestrations created for 48 renal arteries and 15 superior mesenteric arteries. Renal artery fenestrations were stented whenever possible (96%) and superior mesenteric artery fenestrations were all left unstented. There were no unanticipated adverse device events, no MAEs, and only a single minor adverse device event treated with a successful reintervention. At 30 days, there were no type I or III endoleaks and only four type II endoleaks (15.4%). Two patients died during the study period, one at day 23 from respiratory failure (in-hospital and 30-day mortality = 3.8%) and one at day 210 from urosepsis and congestive heart failure. MAEs occurred in 11.5% of patients at 30 days. The primary efficacy end point was achieved in 87.5% of patients (technical success 100%, freedom from migration, rupture or conversion, type I or III endoleaks, or sac enlargement = 100%, 100%, 87.5%, and 87.5%, respectively). These preliminary data suggest that endovascular repair with PMEG is safe and effective for managing patients with juxtarenal aortic aneurysms. Endovascular repair with PMEG has acceptable early rates of morbidity, mortality, and endoleak. This endovascular aortic strategy is particularly appealing for those patients presenting with symptomatic or ruptured aortic aneurysms until reliable off-the-shelf solutions become widely available.

Starnes BW ，Tatum B 《-》