Perioperative management of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Objective: To summarize the clinical experience of perioperative management in performing endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). Methods: EVAR was performed in 22 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Before treatment the functions of main organs were evaluated and certain measures were adopted in order to protect them. Useful parameters, including the length, diameter, angle and configuration of the proximal and distal aneurysmal neck, the relationship of the aneurysm to aortic branches, the distance from the lowest renal artery to the bifurcation of abdominal aorta, and the quality of access vessels (such as diameter, tortuosity and calcification degree) were determined and assessed with CTA. According to the parameters thus obtained, the suitable stent-graft with ideal diameter and length was selected, and the optimal surgery pattern was employed. Local anesthesia was employed in 20 patients, among them the local anesthesia had to be changed to general anesthesia in one. Epidural anesthesia was carried out in one patient through the surgically-reconstructed iliac artery access,and general anesthesia was employed in one patient who had Stanford type A aortic dissection. The lowest renal artery must be accurately localized before deployment of stent-graft was started. At least one patent internal iliac artery should be reserved when bilateral internal iliac arteries needed to be covered, to be covered by stages or to be reconstructed. After stent-graft placement, angiography must be performed to find out if there was any endoleak and, if any, to determine the type of endoleak and to deal with it properly. Two cases had proximal type I endoleak, so balloon dilation was employed in one and cuff implantation in another one. Distal type I endoleak occurred in one case, but, unfortunately, the iliac artery ruptured when balloon dilation was employed, therefore the patient had to receive vascular repair with prosthesis. Three cases developed type III endoleak. Balloon dilation followed by additional stent-graft placement was adopted in one case. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair with subsequent EVAR was carried out in another patient with Stanford type A aortic dissection. Re-examination with CTA was performed 7-10 days after the treatment, and once a year thereafter. Results: EVAR was successfully completed in all patients. The main complications included thrombosis due to vascular kinking (n=1) and disruption of abdominal incision (n=1). No death due to surgery occurred. During the follow-up period of 6 month to 5 years all patients remained alive. Conclusion: With the advantages of high imaging quality and usefulness for accurate measure of parameters, CTA is the gold standard for preoperative and postoperative evaluation. EVAR is a safe and effective treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm in aged patients with high-risk. (authors)