Contemporary results of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: effect of anatomical fixation on outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To report the contemporary controlled trial experience with the fully supported unibody Powerlink stent-graft for endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).


METHODS
Between 2000 and 2008, 3 prospective multicenter trials of the Powerlink system evaluated 157 AAA patients (141 men; mean age 72.0+/-9.1 years) with mean AAA sac diameter of 5.6+/-0.9 cm who received a bifurcated stent-graft featuring anatomical fixation at the aortoiliac bifurcation and proximal sealing with extension stent-grafts as needed. Challenging infrarenal aortic neck anatomy was present in 83% of patients. Postoperative follow-up occurred at defined intervals to 5 years.


RESULTS
Technical success was achieved in 99% of patients. Aneurysm exclusion was achieved in all patients over a mean procedure time of 132+/-58 minutes. No aneurysm-related deaths, ruptures, conversions, or migrations have been observed to current follow-up as these aneurysms have continued to remodel, with > or =92% of patients free from sac growth.


CONCLUSIONS
The implant technique of placing a fully-supported unibody stent-graft at the aortoiliac bifurcation with proximal sealing appears to safely and effectively reline the aorta and exclude aneurysms. Results from controlled clinical trial experience suggest this algorithm can provide stable, secure fixation for patients with challenging infrarenal aortic neck anatomy.
Carpenter
Jeffrey P
JP
1 Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden, NJ 08103, USA. carpenter-jeffrey@cooperhealth.edu
Garcia
Mark J
MJ
Harlin
Stuart A
SA
Jordan
William D
WD
Jung
Matthew T
MT
Krajcer
Zvonimir
Z
Rodriguez-Lopez
Julio A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D017130:Angioplasty; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene