Stent graft repair of paraanastomotic aneurysms after open descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Abstract

Background: After open thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair, anastomotic aneurysms can form at or near the suture lines of the graft. Endovascular repair is an alternative to complicated reoperative open surgery. We report on our experience with endovascular treatment of these lesions.

Methods: A prospectively maintained database of endovascular thoracic aortic aneurysm repairs (TEVARs) performed at Mount Sinai Medical Center was reviewed and the initial procedures, comorbidities, clinical presentation, aneurysm characteristics, type of endograft, adjunctive procedures, and follow-up were analyzed.

Results: Of the 135 TEVAR procedures performed between June 2001 and December 2008, 9 patients had anastomotic aneurysms after a previous open repair. The mean age was 66.7 (range 41-89) years, 67% of whom were male. Of these 9 patients, 5 had a descending thoracic repair, 3 had a type IV repair, and 1 had a type II thoracoabdominal repair. Aneurysm formation occurred in the following regions: proximal anastomosis (n = 2); intercostal patch (n = 1); distal anastomosis (n = 3); visceral patch (n = 2); and midgraft (n = 1). The initial technical success rate was 100%, with 8 patients receiving a thoracic tube graft and 1 a modular bifurcated device. Two patients required an adjunctive carotid-subclavian bypass and 2 required extraanatomic revascularization of the visceral arteries. Mean follow-up was 16.5 months. There was 1 perioperative death secondary to a postoperative myocardial infarction. Three patients developed an endoleak with 1 requiring an intervention. One patient required an open thoracoabdominal repair at 3 months for a penetrating ulcer at the visceral segment and another died from a ruptured thoracic aneurysm proximal to the stent graft at 72 months. Two more died during the follow-up period of non-aneurysm-related causes. Five patients had paraanastomotic shrinkage or no change and 1 had an increase in size, and 3 had no follow-up imaging.

Conclusions: Stent graft repair of paraanastomotic aneurysms after open descending thoracic and thoracoabdomninal repair is a reasonable option when patients have suitable anatomy. These patients, however, require close follow-up for the development of aneurysmal degeneration adjacent to the stent graft repair.