Purpose: To present a single institution experience of long‐term results after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) with the Stentor and Vanguard stent‐grafts.
Material and Methods: Twenty‐three patients (20 men, 3 women; mean age 68 years, range 53–81 years) were included in this prospective study. A first generation nitinol stent‐graft (Stentor™) was used in 12 patients and a second generation (Vanguard™) in 11 patients. Follow‐up was performed with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast‐enhanced MR angiography (CE MRA) at 1, 6, and 12 months, and thereafter annually (median follow‐up 3 years; range 8 months to 8 years). A conventional radiograph of the abdomen was also performed. Before secondary intervention the findings on MRI with CE MRA were confirmed with spiral computed tomography (CT) and/or angiography (DSA).
Results: Only one patient (4%) had no complication. Endoleak was found in 15 patients (65%), graft migration in 8 (35%), and graft deformation in 18 (78%). Secondary endovascular repair was required in 7 patients (30%) and 7 (30%) were converted to open repair.
Conclusion: Complications with the Stentor and Vanguard stent‐grafts were common. Long‐term follow‐up of endovascularly repaired AAA is mandatory.
