title: Endoluminal treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We report our preliminary results with endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between October 1998 and June 2000, 64 patients (62 male, two female; mean age = 70 years) underwent endovascular repair of AAA. Different types of prostheses were used, both bifurcated (n = 58) and straight (n = 6). We performed duplex sonography and spiral computed tomographic angiography (CTA) at discharge and at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 20 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All procedures were successful, except for three immediate and one late surgical conversions (6.2%). One patient died 14 days after immediate surgical conversion. At discharge, CTA showed 13 endoleaks: three resolved spontaneously, six persisted during follow-up, and four (one angioplasty and three embolizations) were treated successfully. Stenosis of an iliac branch occurred in one patient after 3 months and was successfully treated by angioplasty. Late endoleaks were detected by imaging follow-up in four cases, three at 1 year and one at 6 months, requiring deployment of distal extender cuffs (n = 2), a proximal cuff (n = 1), and lumbar embolization (n = 2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary experience supports the efficacy of endovascular repair in selected patients, but strict and accurate follow-up is required.
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Department of Oncology, Transplants, and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vignali
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cioni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petruzzi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bargellini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sardella
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caramella
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bartolozzi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed