A retrospective study of intravascular ultrasound use in patients undergoing endovascular aneurysm repair: its usefulness and a description of the procedure.
OBJECTIVE
To verify the usefulness and limitation of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).


METHODS
A total of 112 consecutive patients, who underwent EVAR to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms, were examined retrospectively. Of these, 33 patients were assigned to the IVUS group because of renal failure, a suspected allergy to contrast agents or anatomical difficulties; the remaining 79 patients were assigned to the non-IVUS group.


RESULTS
Patients in the IVUS group required fewer intra-arterial contrast agents (IACAs) than those in the non-IVUS group (67±34ml vs. 123±50ml; p<0.01). Blood loss and operation time were comparable between the two groups. No patients died within 30 days of the operation. Three major renal complications occurred in the non-IVUS group. Renal deterioration evaluated by chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage was found to a greater extent in the non-IVUS group.


CONCLUSIONS
IVUS is a powerful auxiliary method in EVAR for reducing the required volume of contrast agents. The combination of IVUS and IACA usage showed good overall performance; thus, we propose the routine use of IVUS in EVAR procedures.
Hoshina
K
K
Department of Vascular Surgery, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. traruba@gmail.com
Kato
M
M
Miyahara
T
T
Mikuriya
A
A
Ohkubo
N
N
Miyata
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional