Anaconda aortic stent-graft: single-center experience of a new commercially available device for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
OBJECTIVE
To report a retrospective evaluation of the efficacy and midterm clinical results of the Anaconda stent-graft in the endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms.


METHODS
Fifty-one patients (48 men; mean age 71+/-8 years, range 62-89) were treated with the Anaconda stent-graft from January 2006 to September 2007. Six patients were considered at high risk for open repair (defined as ASA grade 3) and 10 had undergone previous laparotomy. The mean neck diameter and length were 26 mm (range 22-30) and 18.5 mm (range 14-35), respectively. Mean proximal neck angulation was 30 degrees (range 5-60). Severe iliac artery tortuosity (>60 degrees ) was seen in 20 (39%) patients; 3 (6%) had a proximal aneurysm neck angle >45 degrees.


RESULTS
The technical success rate was 100%; intraprocedurally, 7 (14%) stent-grafts were repositioned to address renal artery occlusion by the graft (n = 1) or type I endoleak. This maneuver resolved 6 of the 7 situations; a remaining endoleak required a proximal cuff to seal it. The procedural success rate (no major complication at 30 days) was 94%. The mean follow-up was 16 months (range 1-21). Five (10%) endoleaks (1 type I, 4 type II) and 1 (2%) graft migration occurred. The overall reintervention rate was 6%. Two (4%) patients died in late follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
The Anaconda stent-graft appears both safe and effective in terms of midterm clinical outcome and compares favorably with previously reported EVAR results. The ability to reposition the stent-graft is a particular advantage.
Saratzis
Nikolaos
N
1st Department of Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. a_saratzis@yahoo.gr
Melas
Nikolaos
N
Saratzis
Athanasios
A
Lazarides
John
J
Ktenidis
Kyriakos
K
Tsakiliotis
Sotirios
S
Kiskinis
Dimitrios
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome