Aorto-Uni-Iliac Stent Grafts with and without Crossover Femorofemoral Bypass for Treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Parallel Observational Comparative Study

Abstract

We investigated the safety and efficacy of primary aorto-uni-iliac (AUI) endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) without fem-fem crossover in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and concomitant aortoiliac occlusive disease. 537 EVARs were implemented between 2002 and 2015 in University Hospital Galway, a tertiary referral center for aortic surgery and EVAR. We executed a parallel observational comparative study between 34 patients with AUI with femorofemoral crossover (group A) and six patients treated with AUI but without the crossover (group B). Group B patients presented with infrarenal AAAs with associated total occlusion of one iliac axis and high comorbidities. Technical success was 97% (n = 33) in group A and 85% (n = 5) in group B (P = 0.31). Primary and assisted clinical success at 24 months were 88% (n = 30) and 12% (n = 4), respectively, in group A, and 85% (n = 5) and 15% (n = 1), respectively, in group B (P = 0.125). Reintervention rate was 10% (n = 3) in group A and 0% in group B (P = 0.084). No incidence of postoperative critical lower limb ischemia or amputations occurred in the follow-up period. AUI without crossover bypass is a viable option in selected cases.

Figure 1

(a) 6 cm AAA with 7 cm right common iliac artery aneurysm. (b) AUI with left to right fem-fem and ligation of the distal right external iliac artery.

Figure 2

5.3 cm AAA in an 86-year-old female patient, with totally occluded left iliac system treated with an AUI EVAR without the need of either a left iliac occluder or fem-fem crossover graft.

Figure 3

Mean ABIs follow-up in both lower limbs of patients of both groups. Group A is the standard practice of the AUI grafts with the fem-fem crossover. Group B is the study group with the omission of the bypass step.