The AAA with a Challenging Neck: Outcome of Open versus Endovascular Repair with Standard and Fenestrated Stent-Grafts

Abstract

Purpose:

To compare the outcome of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) versus conventional open repair (OR) in patients with a short, angulated or otherwise challenging proximal neck.

Methods:

The definition of a challenging proximal neck was based on diameter (≥28 mm), length (≤15 mm), angulation (≥60°), shape (reverse tapered or bulging), and thrombus lining (>50%). Between January 2005 and December 2007, 187 consecutive patients (159 men; mean age 73 years, range 48–92) operated for asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were identified as having challenging proximal neck morphology. Of these, 61 patients were treated with OR at center I (group A), 71 with standard EVAR (group B; 45 center I, 29 center II) and 52 with fenestrated EVAR (group C) at center II. Clinical examination and computed tomography were performed at 1 month and yearly thereafter.

Results:

There was no statistically significant difference between groups A, B, and C regarding primary technical success rate, 30-day mortality, or late AAA-related mortality. The mean length of follow-up was 19.5 months (range 0–40). Freedom from reintervention at 3 years was 91.8%, 79.7%, and 82.7% for groups A, B, and C, respectively (p=0.042). The only statistically significant difference between standard and fenestrated EVAR was a higher incidence of late sac expansion [9 (12.2%) versus 1 (1.9%), p=0.036] in the standard stent-graft group. Reinterventions were more frequent after EVAR (p=NS), but open reinterventions were more common after OR. Reinterventions after EVAR were related to the presence of an angulated (p=0.039) or short neck (p=0.024).

Conclusion:

The results of EVAR and OR were similar for AAAs with a challenging proximal neck. Endovascular reinterventions were more frequent after EVAR, particularly in patients with an angulated or short neck. Open reinterventions were more common after OR. More patients and long-term data are needed to confirm these findings.

Keywords

abdominal aortic aneurysm endovascular aneurysm repair stent-graft surgery fenestrated stent-graft proximal neck

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