Total percutaneous access for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair ("Preclose" technique).
OBJECTIVE
Percutaneous access during endovascular aneurysm repair has been difficult owing to the large size of the delivery catheters. This study reports a single-center experience of totally percutaneous access during endovascular abdominal and thoracic aortic repairs using the Preclose Proglide device (Abbott Vascular, Redwood City, Calif).


METHODS
Between December 2004 and August 2006, 262 endovascular aortic aneurysm repairs were performed. Percutaneous access was used for the introduction of 12F to 24F sheaths (4.4-mm to 8.6-mm outer diameter). The technique involved deployment of two Proglide devices before insertion of the sheath ("Preclose" technique) with the sutures left extracorporeally for closure after conclusion of the procedure. A prospectively maintained endovascular database and medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Rates of technical success, failure modes, and the overall duration of the endovascular repair compared with a similar cohort using open femoral exposures were examined.


RESULTS
A total of 559 Proglide devices were used to close 279 femoral arteries, and 175 (63%) required the insertion of 18F to 24F sheaths. There were 16 failures, mainly due to obesity, device malfunction, severe calcific disease, and faulty arterial punctures, for a technical success rate of 94.3%. The success rates for 12F to 16F size sheaths were significantly higher than for the larger 18F to 24F sheaths (99.0% vs 91.4%, P<.01). For both endovascular abdominal (EVAR) and thoracic (TEVAR) aortic repairs, the Preclose technique resulted in shorter overall procedure times compared with a similar cohort in which open femoral exposures were used (EVAR, 115 vs 128 min, P<.001; TEVAR, 80 vs 112, P=.019). Despite this reduction of procedure time, the savings on the cost of operating room time was negated by the cost of the Proglide devices ($295 per device).


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous access for endovascular aortic repair is safe and feasible using the Proglide device. Although the success rates are higher for smaller size sheaths, successful closures may be obtained for up to 24F sheaths. Percutaneous access may result in shorter overall procedure times and potentially lower operating room costs, but this appears to be offset by the cost of the closure devices.
Lee
W Anthony
WA
Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0286, USA. leewa@surgery.ufl.edu
Brown
Michael P
MP
Nelson
Peter R
PR
Huber
Thomas S
TS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000191:economics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000191:economics / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics; D018579:Patient Selection; D011677:Punctures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome