Preoperative morphology influences thoracic aortic aneurysm sac expansion after endovascular repair

• Published in: British journal of surgery Vol. 103; no. 7; pp. 819 - 829
• Main Authors: Sobocinski, J., Patterson, B. O., Vidal-Diez, A., Brownrigg, J. R., Thompson, M. M., Holt, P. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.06.2016; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Aged; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic - diagnostic imaging; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic - surgery; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - adverse effects; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - methods; Computed Tomography Angiography; Endoleak - etiology; Endovascular Procedures - adverse effects; Endovascular Procedures - methods; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Middle Aged; Preoperative Period; Risk Factors; Stents
• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.10138
• ISSN: 0007-1323

Background The fate of the aneurysm sac after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) remains poorly defined. The aim of this study was to characterize the incidence of aneurysm sac expansion after TEVAR, and to determine the effect of aneurysm morphology on postoperative sac behaviour. Methods Preoperative and postoperative CT angiography (CTA) images were analysed from a proprietary database (M2S). TEVARs undertaken for thoracic aortic aneurysms from 2004 to 2013 were included. Preoperative aortic morphology was available for each patient. Post‐TEVAR sac expansion was defined as an increase in aortic diameter of at least 5 mm. The influence of aortic morphological variables on sac expansion was assessed using Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analysis. Results CTA images were available for 899 patients who underwent TEVAR. Median follow‐up was 2·1 (i.q.r. 1·7–2·4) years. Some 46·0 per cent had a maximum aneurysm diameter of 55 mm or more at the time of repair. The 5‐year rate of freedom from sac expansion of at least 5 mm was 60·9 per cent. The sac expansion rate after 3 years was higher when the proximal sealing zone was over 38 mm in diameter (freedom from expansion 51·2 per cent versus 76·6 per cent for diameter 38 mm or less; P < 0·001), or 20 mm or less in length (freedom from expansion 67·3 per cent versus 77·1 per cent for length exceeding 20 mm; P = 0·022). Findings for the distal sealing zone were similar. The risk of sac expansion increased according to the number of adverse morphological risk factors (freedom from expansion rate 79·1 per cent at 3 years in patients with 2 or fewer risk factors versus 45·7 per cent in those with more than 2; P < 0·001). Conclusion Sac expansion was common in this cohort of patients undergoing TEVAR for thoracic aortic aneurysm. Aneurysm sac expansion was significantly influenced by adverse morphological features in the aortic stent‐graft sealing zones. Sac expansion common and associated with adverse anatomy