Long-term Evaluation of Proximal Aortic Neck Dilatation After Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair With a Variety of Contemporary Endografts.

PURPOSE: To measure the long-term proximal aortic neck dilatation (AND) after elective endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) with a variety of contemporary, third-generation, endograft devices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a noninterventional prospective cohort study of 157 patients that underwent standard EVAR with self-expanding abdominal endografts. Patients' recruitment lasted from 2013 to 2017, and postoperative follow-up was up to 5 years. A computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed at the first month and then at 1, 2, and 5 years. Proximal aortic neck's (PAN) basic morphological characteristics (diameter, length, angulation) were measured based on the analysis of CTA in a standardized fashion. Neck-related adverse events, such as migration, endoleak or rupture, and reinterventions were recorded. RESULTS: Significant straightening of the PAN was evident even in the first-month CTA with concurrent neck shortening that became significant at 5 years. Both the suprarenal aorta and the PAN significantly dilated overtime, with PAN dilating more progressively. Mean neck dilatation at the juxtarenal level was 0.8±0.4 mm at 1 year, 1.8±0.8 mm at 2 years, and 3.9±1.7 mm at 5 years, with a mean neck dilatation rate of 0.07 mm/month overall. The incidence of AND ≥2.5 mm was 37.2% at 2 years and 58.1% at 5 years after EVAR and was considered important (≥5 mm) in 11.5% of patients at 2 years and 30.6% of patients at 5 years. A multivariate analysis performed showed that the endograft oversizing, the preoperative neck diameter, and the preoperative abdominal aortic aneurysm sac diameter served as independent predictors of AND at 5 years. At the 5-year follow-up, 8 late type Ia endoleaks (6.5%) and 7 caudal migrations (5.6%) were identified, while no late ruptures were reported. In total, 11 late endovascular reinterventions (8.9%) were performed. Overall, proximal neck-related adverse outcomes (5/7 migrations and 5/8 endoleaks) and reinterventions (7/11) were significantly associated with the presence of important late AND. CONCLUSION: Proximal AND after EVAR is common. It can influence the long-term durability of proximal endograft fixation and is significantly associated with adverse outcomes, often leading to reinterventions. A systemic and extended surveillance protocol is needed for maintenance of good long-term results. CLINICAL IMPACT: This is a thorough and systematic analysis of the long-term geometric remodeling of the proximal aortic neck after EVAR, that highlights the importance of a strict, and extended surveillance protocol for maintenance of good long-term results of EVAR.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of proximal aortic neck dilatation after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an updated systematic literature review summarizing current evidence on aortic neck dilatation (AND) after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) in patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. METHODS: An extensive electronic search in major electronic databases was conducted between January 2000 and December 2021. Eligible for inclusion were observational studies that followed up with patients (n ≥ 20) undergoing EVAR with self-expanding endografts, for 12 or more months, evaluated AND with computed tomography angiography and provided data on relevant outcomes. The primary end point was the incidence of AND after EVAR, and the secondary end points were the occurrence of type Ia endoleak, stent graft migration, secondary rupture, and reintervention. RESULTS: We included 34 studies with a total sample of 12,038 patients (10,413 men; median age, 71 years). AND was defined clearly in 18 studies, but significant differences in AND definition were evidenced. The pooled incidence of AND based on quantitative analysis of 16 studies with a total of 9201 patients (7961 men; median age, 72 years) was calculated at 22.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.4-34.4) over a follow-up period ranging from 12 months to 14 years. The risk of a type Ia endoleak was significantly higher in AND patients compared with those without AND (odds ratio, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.10-7.93; P = .030). Similarly, endograft migration was more common in the AND group compared with the non-AND group (odds ratio, 5.95; 95% CI, 1.80-19.69; P = .004). The combined incidence of secondary rupture and reintervention did not differ significantly between the two groups, even though the combined effect was in favor of the non-AND group. CONCLUSIONS: Proximal AND after EVAR is common and occurs in a large proportion of patients with infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. AND can influence the long-term durability of proximal endograft fixation and is significantly related to adverse outcomes, often leading to reinterventions.

The Clinical Problems of Hypertension Treatment in Hemodialysis Patients.

Hypertension (HT) is present in more than 80% of patients undergoing Hemodialysis (HD). Elevated Blood Pressure (BP) in hemodialysis patients is associated with cardiovascular events and mortality only when BP is recorded with home or ambulatory monitoring, since pre- and post-dialysis measurements are not valid estimates of BP levels during the interdialytic interval. Sodium and water overload is the most important of several mechanisms involved in HT development in HD. In this context, non-pharmacologic measures to ensure water and sodium balance by achieving patient dry weight and decreasing daily sodium intake, through modification of sodium level in the diet or in dialysis dialysate, are fundamental for HT control. After these strategies are properly implemented, the introduction of drug treatment can further help in achieving optimum BP. All major antihypertensive classes, with the exception of diuretics, can be considered in HT management, as current evidence suggest that the use of agents from these classes was associated with reduced cardiovascular risk. The choice of a specific antihypertensive drug should be based on the co-morbid conditions of the patient, and the pharmacologic characteristics of the agent, including dialyzability. Of note, the need of increasing the number of antihypertensive drugs, should be each time balanced against reappraisal of the non-pharmacologic measures, as increased antihypertensive efficacy can result in a vicious circle of more difficulties regarding dry weight reduction, possible volume overload, and further BP increase.

To intervene or not? A man with multidrug-resistant hypertension, endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair, bilateral renal artery stenosis and end-stage renal disease salvaged with renal artery stenting.

We report the case of a 69-year-old man with uncontrolled multidrug-resistant secondary hypertension following a 10 year history of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, with suprarenal fixation and concurrent angioplasty with stenting of the left renal artery for atherosclerotic renal disease, and progressive chronic kidney disease. Renal scintigraphy revealed complete loss of the right kidney's and severe reduction of the left kidney's perfusion and function. Following recent evidence and consultation with vascular surgeons regarding the technical difficulties of any procedure, escalation of antihypertensive treatment was initially chosen. Careful drug adjustments significantly improved but did not fully control blood pressure (BP); further, the patient experienced an acute ischaemic stroke and renal function deterioration towards end-stage renal disease within a few months. At this point, revascularization of the left renal artery coupled with three haemodialysis sessions to remove contrast media was justified as rescue therapy against permanent renal replacement therapy. Successful intervention achieved an immediate BP reduction, with BP fully controlled, despite a > 70% decrease in antihypertensive treatment, while renal function improved at 6 months from 11.5 to 22 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Renal angioplasty confers undisputed benefits in BP control and nephroprotection, and should be offered without delay to patients with renovascular hypertension and/or ischaemic nephropathy.