Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm.
BACKGROUND
Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm has become widely used. Supporters claim high success rates, few complications and a dramatically reduced hospital stay. However, endoleak, endotension and reports of endoprosthesis rupture are causes of concern.


METHODS
A Medline search was undertaken to identify articles on endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm. Additional papers were identified by manual scanning of the references from key articles.


CONCLUSIONS
Endoleak is a potentially serious complication of the endovascular technique and occurs in a significant proportion of patients. It is still not possible to judge whether the presence of an endoleak alone signifies failure of treatment, and the long-term durability of prosthetic covered stents is unknown. However, endovascular repair does appear to confer a degree of protection from rupture although patients must be advised of the need for life-long imaging surveillance and, perhaps, further intervention.
Gorham
T J
TJ
Radiology Department, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Taylor
J
J
Raptis
S
S
D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods