title: Frequency and significance of lumbar and inferior mesenteric artery perfusion after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the frequency and influence of perfused side branches (lumbar arteries [LA] and inferior mesenteric artery trunks) on development of type II endoleaks (EL-II) and on volume changes of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) after endovascular repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 114 patients undergoing EVR of AAA, 89 patients (83 men; mean age 72+/-7.5 years, range 51-88) with >6 months' follow-up and no type I endoleaks were retrospectively analyzed to determine any relationships between retrograde perfusion, endoleaks, and sac volume. Data were derived from computed tomographic angiographic (CTA) scans taken before and after intervention, at discharge, and at 1, 3, 6, and semi-annually thereafter in follow-up. Two groups were identified and compared based on their status at 6 months post EVR: without perfused side branches (group 1) and with perfused collaterals (group 2); group 2 was further divided according to the absence (2a) or presence (2b) of endoleak.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median follow-up was 24 months (range 6-36). Based on a total of 582 CTAs analyzed, 17 (19%) patients developed type II endoleaks (EL-II) during follow-up. There was a significant difference in the number of perfused LAs prior to EVR between groups 1 (n=44) and the 45 patients with postprocedural patent collateral arteries in group 2 (p<0.05); there was no significant difference between groups 2a and 2b (p=0.88) relative to the number of pre-existing patent collaterals. The number of pLAs preoperatively and the rate of type II endoleak were significantly correlated (p<0.05). No type II endoleak was seen in patients without perfused side branches (p=0.01). No significant differences in mean volumes were found between groups 1 and 2a (no EL-II), but significant differences between groups 1 and 2b were seen in later follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A larger number of patent LAs before EVR was associated with a significantly higher rate of type II endoleak. Patent collateral vessels were common after aneurysm repair, but the frequency decreased during follow-up. Persistent side branch perfusion was associated with increased type II endoleak after endovascular AAA repair. Significant differences in volume changes in later follow-up were seen between patients with or without type II endoleak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospital Graz, Austria. gerald.fritz@klinikum-graz.at
authors.forename: Gerald A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: Hannes A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Deutschmann
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schoellnast
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stessel
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sorantin
authors.forename: Horst R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Portugaller
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quehenberger
authors.forename: Klaus A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Hausegger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017537:Mesenteric Artery, Inferior; D008875:Middle Aged; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011336:Probability; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome