Strategies and outcomes for aortic endograft explantation.

Failure of endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVARs) requiring open conversion remains a major challenge. We analyzed indications for repair, operative strategies, and outcomes with a focus on iliac artery degeneration after endograft removal. A prospective, institutional database was reviewed to identify patients who underwent explantation of a failed EVAR device. Demographics, reason for failure, operative details including extent of endograft removal, and complications/survival were examined. Postexplantation computed tomography imaging was evaluated for iliac artery degeneration. There were 32 patients who underwent explantation from 2002 to 2017. Six patients were treated emergently for rupture. The majority were elderly (average age, 76 ± 8.5 years), white (100%) men (91%) who had their EVAR graft inserted 45.5 months (range, 0.3-86 months) before open conversion, usually at an outside institution (75%). Explanted endografts included nine AneuRx (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn), nine Excluder (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz), four Endurant (Medtronic), three Zenith (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind), three Powerlink/AFX (Endologix, Irvine, Calif), one Aorfix (Lombard Medical, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom), one Talent (Medtronic), and two unknown. Failure was due to endoleak in 91% (type I, 38%; type II, 28%; type III, 13%; type V, 13%), infection in 6%, and occlusion/kinking in 3%. A previous attempt at endovascular salvage of EVAR occurred in 12 (37.5%) patients. Operative approach was transabdominal in 69% and retroperitoneal in 31%. Initial aortic clamp position was supraceliac in 31%, suprarenal in 31%, and infrarenal in 38%. Most patients had complete removal of their endograft (n = 19 [59%]), with 22 (69%) having at least the iliac limbs removed. Grafts with suprarenal fixation were more likely to have the upper main body left in situ (67% vs 17%; P = .029). The 30-day mortality was 6.3% (3.8% elective, 16.7% ruptured), and 31% had a major complication. Of the 23 patients who had follow-up imaging, there was a trend for more iliac degeneration (>5 mm in growth) in those who had the iliac limbs removed (29.4% vs 0%; P = .184). Three patients with iliac limb removal required subsequent iliac endovascular intervention (two for rupture). Patients who presented with a rupture had a decreased 5-year overall survival (33%) compared with those who were converted electively (59%). Both complete and partial endograft explantation, although morbid procedures, can be performed safely. Postoperative imaging surveillance is important, especially if the endograft has been removed from the iliac arteries, as degeneration can occur.

Arnaoutakis DJ ，Sharma G ，Blackwood S ，Shah SK ，Menard M ，Ozaki CK ，Belkin M ... -  《-》

Late open conversion and explantation of abdominal aortic stent grafts.

To evaluate indications for, operative strategy during, and outcomes following late open surgical conversion following endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Between 2002 and 2009, patients undergoing open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair at a university hospital were entered prospectively into a database which was examined to identify patients undergoing open conversion >30 days after EVAR. Over 7 years, 21 patients required late open conversion of EVAR. The average patient age was 75 years (range, 59-88), and there were 16 male (76%) patients. The mean interval to conversion was 33.4 months (range, 2-73). Eight patients (38%) presented with proximal type I endoleak; 4 patients (19%) presented with type II endoleak and aneurysm expansion; 5 patients (24%) presented with graft migration and aneurysm expansion; and 5 patients (24%) presented with de novo visceral aneurysms. Rupture (1) and infection (1) were also observed. There were five (24%) emergent cases. Most patients (12/21, 57%) had more than one reason for conversion. There were no perioperative deaths; three patients (14%) had major complications. Grafts requiring conversion were AneuRx (6; Medtronic AVE, Santa Rosa, Calif), Zenith (6; Cook Inc, Bloomington, Ind), Talent (3; Medtronic), Excluder (2; W. L. Gore, Flagstaff, Ariz), Anaconda (1; TERUMO Corp, Ann Arbor, Mich), Ancure (1; Guidant, Menlo Park, Calif), Quantum LP (1; Cordis Corp, Miami Lakes, Fla), and Powerlink (1; Endologix, Irvine, Calif). The surgical approach was retroperitoneal in 16 (76%) and transperitoneal in four (19%) patients. Initial proximal aortic control was supraceliac (9/21), suprarenal (7/21), or infrarenal (5/21), with stepwise distal clamping to reduce ischemic time. Complete endograft removal was performed in 17/21 patients; in 4/21 the distal anastomosis was performed to the endograft after proximal segment explantation. Reconstruction was completed with tube (19/21) or aortoiliac (2/21) grafts; in one case, homograft was used. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 1.9 L (range, 0.4-6.5 L), mean intensive care unit (ICU) stay was 3 days (range, 2-6), and the mean hospital stay was 10 days (range, 4-39). While technically challenging, delayed open conversion of EVAR can be accomplished with low morbidity and mortality in both the elective and emergent settings. These results reinforce the justification for long-term surveillance of endografts following EVAR.

Brinster CJ ，Fairman RM ，Woo EY ，Wang GJ ，Carpenter JP ，Jackson BM ... -  《-》

Late graft explants in endovascular aneurysm repair.

With more than a decade of use of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), we expect to see a rise in the number of failing endografts. We review a single-center experience with EVAR explants to identify patterns of presentation and understand operative outcomes that may alter clinical management. A retrospective analysis of EVARs requiring late explants, >1 month after implant, was performed. Patient demographics, type of graft, duration of implant, reason for removal, operative technique, length of stay, complications, and in-hospital and late mortality were reviewed. During 1999 to 2012, 100 patients (91% men) required EVAR explant, of which 61 were placed at another institution. The average age was 75 years (range, 50-93 years). The median length of time since implantation was 41 months (range, 1-144 months). Explanted grafts included 25 AneuRx (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn), 25 Excluder (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz), 17 Zenith (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind), 15 Talent (Medtronic), 10 Ancure (Guidant, Indianapolis, Ind), 4 Powerlink (Endologix, Irvine, Calif), 1 Endurant (Medtronic), 1 Quantum LP (Cordis, Miami Lakes, Fla), 1 Aorta Uni Iliac Rupture Graft (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind), and 1 homemade tube graft. Overall 30-day mortality was 17%, with an elective case mortality of 9.9%, nonelective case mortality of 37%, and 56% mortality for ruptures. Endoleak was the most common indication for explant, with one or more endoleaks present in 82% (type I, 40%; II, 30%; III, 22%; endotension, 6%; multiple, 16%). Other reasons for explant included infection (13%), acute thrombosis (4%), and claudication (1%). In the first 12 months, 23 patients required explants, with type I endoleak (48%) and infection (35%) the most frequent indication. Conversely, 22 patients required explants after 5 years, with type I (36%) and type III (32%) endoleak responsible for most indications. The rate of EVAR late explants has increased during the past decade at our institution. Survival is higher when the explant is done electively compared with emergent repair. Difficulty in obtaining a seal at the initial EVAR often leads to failure ≤1 year, whereas progression of aneurysmal disease is the primary reason for failure >5 years.

Turney EJ ，Steenberge SP ，Lyden SP ，Eagleton MJ ，Srivastava SD ，Sarac TP ，Kelso RL ，Clair DG ... -  《-》

Infrarenal endograft clamping in late open conversions after endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair.

The aim of this study was to report the technical aspects and outcomes of late open conversion (LOC) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in a single center by using exclusively infrarenal clamping of the endograft as an alternative to suprarenal or supraceliac aortic clamping. A retrospective analysis of EVAR requiring late explantation (>30 days) from January 1996 to October 2016 was performed. Patients' demographics, type of endograft, duration of implantation, reason for removal, extent of stent graft removal, type of reconstruction, 30-day mortality, postoperative complications, and long-term survival were obtained for analysis. During the study period, 28 patients required LOC. The mean age at conversion was 75.11 ± 6.65 years; 26 of 28 (92.86%) were male. Grafts were excised after a median of 41.4 months (range, 5.97-112.67 months), with 21 of 28 explantations (75%) performed electively. Multiple types of EVAR devices have been explanted; suprarenal fixation was present in 75% of the cases. The indication for LOC was the presence of an endoleak in 27 cases (20 type I, 4 type II associated with aneurysm growth, 3 type III, and 3 endotensions; in 3 cases, multiple types of endoleak were present) and graft thrombosis in 1 case. All patients underwent a transperitoneal approach with infrarenal clamping. No patient required revascularization of visceral or renal vessels. Complete removal of the stent graft was performed in 8 of 28 cases, partial removal in the remaining 20 cases (with conservation of the proximal portion in 16 of 20 cases). Technical success was 100%. Overall 30-day mortality was 7.14% (2/28). The 30-day mortality was 9.5% in elective patients and 0% in the urgent setting; this difference was not statistically significant (P = .56). Postoperative kidney injury rate was 7.7% (2/26). Mean follow-up was 47.37 ± 55.67 months (range, 0.23-175.07 months). The estimated 5-year survival rate was 78%. No aneurysm-related death or additional procedure occurred during follow-up. LOC after EVAR using infrarenal clamping of the endograft is a feasible and effective technique, with satisfactory postoperative mortality and morbidity. This method allows simplification of the surgical technique and may avoid renal and visceral complications related to suprarenal or supraceliac clamping.

Perini P ，de Troia A ，Tecchio T ，Azzarone M ，Bianchini Massoni C ，Salcuni P ，Freyrie A ... -  《-》

Graft infection after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Although the natural history and management of infected open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is well described, only sporadic case reports have described the fate of patients with infected endografts placed in the abdominal aorta. The present study describes a tertiary referral center's experience with infected endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVARs). The medical records of 1302 open and endovascular aortic procedures were queried from January 2000 to January 2010. The cases were reviewed for prior aortic procedures, prosthetic implants, and etiology of current open procedure. Demographics, operative details, and perioperative courses were documented. Nine patients (1 woman) with a mean age of 71 years had an EVAR that later required an open procedure for explantation and surgical revision for suspected infection. All grafts were explanted through a midline transperitoneal approach, with a mean time to explant of 33 months. The explanted endografts included 4 Zenith (Cook, Bloomington, Ind), 2 Ancure (Endovascular Technologies, Menlo Park, Calif), 2 Excluders (Gore, Flagstaff, Ariz), and 1 AneuRx (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn). Eight of the nine original EVARs were performed at other hospitals; 1 patient had EVAR and open explant at the University of Michigan. All patients had preoperative computed tomography scans, except one who was transferred in extremis with a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Three patients also had a tagged leukocyte scan, and two had magnetic resonance imaging to further reinforce the suspicion of infection before explantation and bypass planning. Rifampin-soaked Hemashield (Boston Scientific) in situ grafts were used in four patients, with extra-anatomic (axillary-bifemoral) bypass used in the other five. The in situ group had no positive preoperative or postoperative cultures, with the exception of the unstable patient who died the day of surgery. For the other five patients, positive tissue cultures were found for Bacteroides, Escherichia coli, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Candida. Three patients were found to have aortic-enteric fistula, two of whom died before discharge from the hospital. The remaining seven survived to discharge. Average length of stay was 22 days, with a median follow-up of 11 months. This series of infected EVARs is the largest group of infected AAA endografts reported to date. Because EVAR of AAAs is presently the most common method of repair, development of endograft infection, while rare, can be managed with acceptable mortality rates. Patients presenting with aortic-enteric fistula after EVAR appear to have a more virulent course.

Laser A ，Baker N ，Rectenwald J ，Eliason JL ，Criado-Pallares E ，Upchurch GR Jr ... -  《-》