title: Preoperative infra- and suprarenal aortic pulsatile distension is comparable between relatively young and older patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Young healthy individuals have a large aortic pulsatile distension during the cardiac cycle. In patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), aortic distension during the cardiac cycle is associated with stent graft migration. However, whether the pulsatile distension is larger in relatively young patients with an AAA compared to older AAA patients is unknown. This study investigated whether preoperative pulsatile aneurysm neck distension is related to age.
  
  
  METHODS
  From our database of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), we selected 25 consecutive male patients ≤65 years of age (group 1) and 25 consecutive patients >65 years of age (group 2). All patients had a preoperative electrocardiogram-triggered computed tomography angiography scan consisting of 8 phases. Aortic area and diameter changes per heartbeat were measured at 2 levels: (A) 3 cm above and (B) 1 cm below the most distal renal artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group 1 compared to group 2, distension during the cardiac cycle at level A was 1.6 ± 0.4 versus 1.5 ± 0.4 mm (P = 0.62), and the aortic area increase was 45.4 ± 19.6 versus 41.7 ± 20.8 mm(2) (P = 0.52). Aortic distension at level B was 1.4 ± 0.3 versus 1.5 ± 0.4 mm (P = 0.79), and the area increase was 35.5 ± 12.0 versus 35.0 ± 15.5 mm(2) (P = 0.90).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative pulsatile aneurysm neck distension did not differ between younger and older patients; therefore, we do not expect young patients to have more pulsatile distension-related complications after EVAR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: h.j.a.zandvoort@umcutrecht.nl.
authors.forename: Herman J A
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zandvoort
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Frans L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Artin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domanian
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jasper W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van Keulen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Evert-Jan P A
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Vonken
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Herwaarden
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D055424:Cardiac-Gated Imaging Techniques; D004562:Electrocardiography; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011673:Pulsatile Flow