The role of magnetic resonance angiography for endoprosthetic design.
OBJECTIVE
Many patients with aortic aneurysms have renal insufficiency and may be at increased risk when conventional imaging modalities (contrast-enhanced computed tomography and arteriography) are used for aortic endograft design. Our objective was to determine if magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) could be used as the sole imaging modality for endoprosthetic design.


METHODS
A total of 96 consecutive patients who underwent endovascular repair of thoracic (5) and abdominal (91) aortic aneurysms (April 1998-December 1999) were included in this study. Data were collected prospectively. Gadolinium-enhanced MRA was used preoperatively in place of conventional imaging if renal insufficiency or a history of severe contrast reaction was present. The control group underwent conventional imaging. Endografts used included Ancure, AneuRx, and Talent.


RESULTS
Fourteen patients (14.6%) had their endografts designed solely with MRA. Intraoperative access failure; proximal and distal extensions (unplanned); conversion to open, aborted procedures; and endoleaks occurred with equal frequency in both the MRA-designed and control groups (16.7% vs 18.3%, respectively; P =.33). Despite baseline renal insufficiency, there was no significant rise in the creatinine level after endograft implantation in patients with an MRA design (preoperative level, 1.8; postoperative level, 1.9; P =.5).


CONCLUSIONS
MRA may be successfully used as the sole modality for aortic endograft design. The use of MRA for this purpose is noninvasive and minimizes nephrotoxic risk.
Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
D G
DG
Neschis
O C
OC
Velazquez
R A
RA
Baum
D
D
Roberts
J P
JP
Carpenter
M A
MA
Golden
M E
ME
Mitchell
C F
CF
Barker
A
A
Pyeron
R M
RM
Fairman
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015607:Stents
D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium