Coxiella burnetii Femoro-Popliteal Bypass Infection: A Case Report.

Cardiovascular infections are the most severe and potentially lethal among the persistent focalized Coxiella burnetii infections. While aortic infections on aneurysms or prostheses are well-known, with specific complications (risk of fatal rupture), new non-aortic vascular infections are increasingly being described thanks to the emerging use of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET-scan). Here, we describe an infection of a femoro-popliteal bypass that would not have been diagnosed without the use of PET-scan. It is well-known that vascular prosthetic material is a site favorable for bacterial persistence, but the description of unusual anatomical sites, outside the heart or aorta, should raise the clinicians' awareness and generalize the indications for PET-scan, with careful inclusion of the upper and lower limbs (not included in PET-scan for cancer), particularly in the presence of vascular prostheses. Future studies will be needed to precisely determine their optimal management.

Editor's Choice - A Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Outpatient versus Inpatient Hospitalisation for Lower Extremity Arterial Disease Endovascular Revascularisation in France: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The AMBUVASC trial evaluated the cost effectiveness of outpatient vs. inpatient hospitalisation for endovascular repair of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). METHODS: AMBUVASC was a national multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled trial conducted in nine public and two private French centres. The primary endpoint was the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER), defined by cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY). Analysis was conducted from a societal perspective, excluding indirect costs, and considering a one month time horizon. RESULTS: From 16 February 2016 to 29 May 2017, 160 patients were randomised (80 per group). A modified intention to treat analysis was performed with 153 patients (outpatient hospitalisation: n = 76; inpatient hospitalisation: n = 77). The patients mainly presented intermittent claudication (outpatient arm: 97%; inpatient arm: 92%). Rates of peri-operative complications were 20% (15 events) and 18% (14 events) for the outpatient and inpatient arms respectively (p = .81). Overall costs (difference: €187.83; 95% confidence interval [CI] -275.68-651.34) and QALYs (difference: 0.00277; 95% CI -0.00237 - 0.00791) were higher for outpatients due to more re-admissions than the inpatient arm. The mean ICER was €67 741 per QALY gained for the base case analysis with missing data imputed using multiple imputation by predictive mean matching. The outpatient procedure was not cost effective for a willingness to pay of €50 000 per QALY and the probability of being cost effective was only 59% for a €100 000/QALY threshold. CONCLUSION: Outpatient hospitalisation is not cost effective compared with inpatient hospitalisation for endovascular repair of patients with claudication at a €50 000/QALY threshold.

STABILISE Technique for a Non-A Non-B Acute Aortic Dissection in Marfan Syndrome.

A 35-year-old man, with a deep pectus excavatum due to a Marfan syndrome treated 9 years before for an acute type A dissection involving only the aortic arch, by a Bentall surgery, was admitted for acute chest pain. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed an acute type non-A non-B dissection extending to the iliac. After 5 days with strict arterial blood pressure management, the patient had recurrent refractory chest pain and a hybrid technique associating full supra-aortic vessels debranching and STABILISE technique during the same procedure was performed. The patient had an uneventful recovery with CT scan showing complete aortic arch aneurysm exclusion.

Protocol of supra-visceral aortic ischemic preconditioning for open surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm : The EPICATA study (Evaluation of the Efficacy of Ischemic PreConditioning on morbidity and mortality in open ThoracoAbdominal Aortic surgery).

BACKGROUND: Open surgical repair (OSR) for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAA) is associated with a high pulmonary and renal morbidity rate. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is a mechanism of protection against the deleterious effects of ischemia-reperfusion. To our knowledge IPC has never been tested during OSR for TAA. METHODS: The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of IPC during OSR for TAA with respect to acute kidney injury (AKI) according to KDIGO and pneumonia/prolonged ventilation-time during the first 8 postoperative days. The secondary objectives are to compare both arms with respect to cardiac complications within 48 h, renal and pulmonary complications within 21 days and mortality at 60 days. To assess the efficacy of IPC with respect to pulmonary and renal morbidity, a cox model for competing risks will be used. Assuming that the event occurs among 36% of the patients when no IPC is performed, the allocation of 55 patients to each arm should allow detecting a hazard ratio of at least 2.75 with a power of 80% when admitting 5% for an error of first kind. This means that 110 patients, enrolled in this multicenter study, may be randomised within 36 months of the first randomization. Randomization will be performed to allocate patients either to surgery with preconditioning before aortic cross clamping (Arm 1) or to surgery without preconditioning before aortic cross clamping (Arm 2). Randomization takes place during the intervention after intravenous injection of heparin, or after the start of femoral assistance. The procedure for IPC will be a supra-visceral thoracic aortic cross clamping for 5 min followed by an unclamping period of 5 min. This procedure will be repeated twice before starting thoracic aortic cross clamping needed to perform surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Our hypothesis is that ischemic preconditioning could reduce clinical morbidity and the incidence of lung damage associated with supra-visceral aortic clamping. TRIAL REGISTRATION: EPICATAStudy registered in ClinicalTrial.gov / number: NCT03718312 on Oct.24.2018 URL number.

Editor's Choice - Durability of Open Repair of Juxtarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Multicentre Retrospective Study in Five French Academic Centres.

OBJECTIVES: With a focus on renal function, the goal of this multicentre study was to assess peri-operative complications and late mortality of open surgical repair (OSR) of juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (JRAAA). METHODS: From February 2005 to December 2015, 315 consecutive patients undergoing elective OSR of a JRAAA in five French academic centres were evaluated retrospectively. The definition of JRAAA was an aortic aneurysm extending up to but not involving the renal arteries, i.e., a short neck <10 mm. End points included post-operative death; acute kidney injury (AKI) defined by the RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of function, End stage renal disease) criteria; and long term follow-up with freedom from chronic renal decline (CRD) and any graft related complications. Factors predictive of renal insufficiency were determined by multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Of 315 patients, 292 (92.6%) were men (mean age 68 ± 8 years), and 73 (23.2%) had baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. The level of aortic clamping was supracoeliac (n = 11), suprarenal (n = 235), or inter-renal above one renal artery (n = 69). The mean duration of renal artery clamping was 24 ± 7 min (range 10-55 min). Eleven patients (3.5%) presented with a renal artery stenosis that was treated conservatively. Perfusion of the renal arteries with a chilled Ringer's solution was used selectively in seven patients (2.2%). The overall 30 day mortality was 0.9% (three patients). AKI occurred in 53 patients (16.8%). Nine patients (2.9%) required temporary dialysis and one patient required chronic dialysis. Predictors of AKI were pre-existing CKD (odds ratio [OR] 2.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-4.48; p = .021], diabetes (OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.48-6.71; p = .003), hypertension (OR 3.38, 95% CI 1.33-8.57; p = .01), and age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.10; p = .014). The level of aortic clamping and duration of renal artery clamping were not associated with an increased risk of AKI. The Kaplan-Meier survival estimate was 71% ± 5% at five years. Predictors of CRD during follow up were AKI (hazard ratio [HR] 15.81, 95% CI 5.26-47.54; p = .001), diabetes (HR 4.56, 95% CI 1.57-13.17; p = .005), and pre-existing CKD (HR 2.93, 95% CI 1.19-7.20; p = .019), with freedom from CRD of 89% ± 3% at five years. Surveillance imaging was obtained by computed tomography angiography in 290 patients (92.6%) at a mean follow up of 4.3 ± 2.4 years. Renal artery occlusion occurred in two patients (0.7% of imaged renal arteries). One patient (1.9%) had an aneurysm of the visceral aorta and eight patients had a descending thoracic aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: This multicentre study suggests that in fit patients, open JRAAA repair can be performed with acceptable operative risk with durable results in terms of both graft integrity and preservation of renal function.

French Guidelines for the Management of Ambulatory Endovascular Procedures for Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Ambulatory hospitalization for endovascular repair of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) could be a real opportunity to respond to the burden of PAD, to reduce costs, and to improve patients' empowerment. The French Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (SCVE) established guidelines to facilitate the development of ambulatory hospitalization in France. METHODS: In 2017, we used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and MEDLINE database to conduct a systematic review of available literature. A total of 448 relevant articles were found. Twelve articles, all published after the year 2000, were included and reviewed by two independent investigators. The SCVE mandated a scientific committee to collectively establish these guidelines. RESULTS: Eligibility for ambulatory management shall be based on the assessment of the triad: (1) patient, (2) procedure, and (3) structure. Comprehensive information and a detailed procedural pathway should be provided for the patient. No age limit is recommended. American Society of Anesthesiologists I, II, and III stable patients are eligible for ambulatory intervention. Specific comorbidities such as severe obesity, sleep apnea, and/or chronic kidney failure should be assessed preoperatively. Critical limb ischemia and complex lesions have not been considered as exclusion criteria. Antiplatelet drug use (aspirin and/or clopidogrel) has not been considered as a contraindication. Femoral ultrasound-guided puncture is recommended. Manual compression or closure devices have been recommended for 7F sheath or less. A minimum of 4 hours of monitoring after percutaneous femoral access is required before discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The SCVE guidelines aim to frame the practice of ambulatory endovascular procedures for lower extremity peripheral artery disease and to give vascular interventionalists help in their routine practice.

Fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair and open surgical repair for the treatment of juxtarenal aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare surgical risk and early and late mortality of patients treated for anatomically classified juxtarenal aortic aneurysms (JRAs) by fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (F-EVAR) or open surgical repair (OSR) during a period when the two treatments were available and to validate an institutional algorithm for JRA repair. METHODS: We retrospectively included all patients treated electively in our center between January 2005 and December 2015 for JRAs classified into three anatomic categories, excluding suprarenal aneurysms. Lee score and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class evaluated preoperative surgical risk. We compared clinical and radiologic parameters between the patients treated by F-EVAR and those treated by OSR. The primary study end point was 30-day mortality. We also compared 5-year survival. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2015, there were 191 patients separated into two groups, one treated by OSR (n = 134; mean age, 69 years) and the other treated by F-EVAR (n = 57; mean age, 74 years). Patients of the F-EVAR group were significantly older (P = .001). Intensive care unit length of stay was significantly higher in the OSR group (3.4 days vs 1.5 days; P = .01). Surgical risk was significantly higher in the F-EVAR group as measured by Lee score ≥2 (OSR, 8.9 %; F-EVAR, 21%; P = .02) and ASA class 3 and class 4 (OSR, 32.8%; F-EVAR, 73.6%; P = .001), whereas 30-day postoperative mortality was not significantly different (OSR, 1.5%; F-EVAR, 0%; P = .394). The 5-year survival was not significantly different in the two groups (OSR, 82.1%; F-EVAR, 69.2%). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, despite a higher surgical risk by Lee score and higher ASA class in the group of patients treated by F-EVAR, postoperative mortality was not significantly different between these groups. In our opinion, F-EVAR and OSR of JRA are complementary.

Surgical anatomy of the right gastro-omental artery: a study on 100 cadaver dissections.

PURPOSE: The gastro-omental artery (GOA) with the greater omentum (GO) is known for its high quality as a vascular graft, its resistance to infections as an omental flap and for its multiple applications in surgery. A better knowledge of anatomical variations of GO and its vascularization can improve the application in surgery and decrease complications. The purpose of this study was to measure diameters and lengths of the right GOA (RGOA) and study the interindividual variability of these anatomical structures. METHODS: In 100 cadaveric dissections, we carried out dissection of the RGOA and of the GO. In 70 unfixed cadavers, the transillumination technique was used to identify all RGOA branches. In the remaining 30 cadavers, prepared with Winckler's solution, barium sulfate with colored latex was injected. Digital X-ray was used to measure RGOA lengths, internal diameters and the distribution of the omental branches. The gastro-omental vein was also dissected. RESULTS: The mean proximal and distal diameters of RGOA were 2.68 (± 0.39) mm and 0.94 (± 0.24) mm, respectively. The mean length was 244.3 (± 34.4) mm. The thickness of the omentum ranged from 5 to 15.5 mm. The arteria omentalis magna, defined in this study for the fist time as the longest and widest omental branch, was present in 73.3% cases. The trans-omental arch was present in 6% cases. CONCLUSIONS: This morphometric study allowed us to define the vascularization and the anatomical variations of RGOA and GO. This may lead to improvement of applications in surgery and decrease complications.

Total Endovascular Treatment of Acute Non-A-non-B Dissection Complicated by Visceral Malperfusion without Primary Entry Tear Coverage.

Management of visceral ischemia due to non-A, non-B dissection is extremely challenging due to the position of the primary entry tear at the level of the brachiocephalic vessels. We report on a patient who was admitted for a complicated non-A, non-B-type dissection with visceral and leg ischemia. A covered stent graft was implanted below the primary entry tear to redirect the flow in the true lumen, associated with stents implantation in the visceral arteries, to treat the dissection's static component. The patient did well, without need for bowel resection visceral or late stent restenosis. Stent-graft implantation below the primary entry tear in cases of visceral ischemia due to non-A, non-B dissection seems feasible.

Endovascular Treatment of Asymptomatic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Octogenarians: Factors Influencing Long-term Survival.

BACKGROUND: Beyond the age of 80 years, the preventive treatment of an asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has to be decided in light of the life expectancy which it is difficult to evaluate, but it is important to determine who in this population will benefit from it. The objective of our study was to determine the factors influencing short-term mortality and long-term survival in patients aged 80 years and older after the endovascular treatment of AAAs (EVAR). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present a retrospective analysis of the prospective databases of 4 French academic departments of vascular surgery, bringing together the data of all the patients presenting an AAA who were treated by EVAR between 1998 and 2011. Logistic regression and multivariate analysis with a Cox survival model were used to determine the factors influencing perioperative and long-term mortality. The cumulative rate of events for the measurement of survival was calculated with the technique of Kaplan-Meier. RESULTS: We treated 345 octogenarians and 339 younger patients. The average follow-up was 40 months. Average survival was 75% at 36 months and 49% at 60 months. There was no evidence of any risk factor influencing mortality at 30 days in the octogenarians. However, chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR] = 3.95, P <0.001) and chronic respiratory failure (OR = 2.62, P <0.001) proved to be independent factors of a poor long-term prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment by stent graft in octogenarians is effective in the long term. The presence of an impaired renal function or respiratory failure in this population could put into question the operative indication.

Anatomical and Technical Factors Influence the Rate of In-Stent Restenosis following Carotid Artery Stenting for the Treatment of Post-Carotid Endarterectomy Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been advocated as an alternative to redo surgery for the treatment of post-carotid endarterectomy (CEA) stenosis. This study analyzed the efficacy of CAS for post-CEA restenosis, focusing on an analysis of technical and anatomical predictive factors for in-stent restenosis. METHODS: We performed a retrospective monocentric study. We included all patients who underwent CAS for post-CEA restenosis at our institution from July 1997 to November 2013. The primary endpoints were the technical success, the presence of in-stent restenosis >50% or occlusion, either symptomatic or asymptomatic, during the follow-up period, and risk factors for restenosis. The secondary endpoints were early and late morbidity and mortality (TIA, stroke, myocardial infarction, or death). RESULTS: A total of 153 CAS procedures were performed for post-CEA restenosis, primarily because of asymptomatic lesions (137/153). The technical success rate was 98%. The 30-day perioperative stroke and death rate was 2.6% (two TIAs and two minor strokes), and rates of 2.2% (3/137) and 6.2% (1/16) were recorded for asymptomatic and symptomatic patients, respectively. The average follow-up time was 36 months (range, 6-171 months). In-stent restenosis or occlusion was observed in 16 patients (10.6%). Symptomatic restenosis was observed in only one patient. We found that young age (P = 0.002), stenosis > 85% (P = 0.018), and a lack of stent coverage of the common carotid artery (P = 0.006) were independent predictors of in-stent restenosis. CONCLUSION: We identified new risk factors for in-stent restenosis that were specific to this population, and we propose a technical approach that may reduce this risk.

Young Women with a Long Past of Resistant Hypertension Cured after Surgery of Severe Bilateral Ostial Renal Artery Stenosis.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is an underdiagnosed disease which can affect young people and with poor prognosis such as dissection or aneurysm rupture if unknown. This case illustrates a multi-vessel FMD with symptomatic severe bilateral ostial renal artery stenosis and intracranial aneurysms. One of the original features is a very late delay to diagnosis with 23 years between onset of hypertension and renal stenosis diagnosis, particularly due to lower quality of initial CT scan with milder and uncommon abnormalities. The experiment neuroradiologist had suspected the diagnosis of renal FMD because she developed intracranial aneurysms and he confirmed this diagnosis with an artery renal contrast injection during an intracranial angiogram Because of very tight and short stenosis, surgery was chosen for treatment and permitted the cure of hypertension, with normal home blood pressure after 6 months. Several particularities of FMD were presented in this case: important delay diagnosis due to rare lesion and lower sensitivity of CT in this form, the possibility to perform an angiography in high suspicion of FMD, poor prognosis risk with intracranial aneurisms and premature birth child, and the choice for surgery with cure of hypertension. We thought that hypertension etiologic evaluation must be repeated in case of resistant hypertension in young patients, particularly when they developed intracranial aneurysms.

Emergency Embolization of a Ruptured Aneurysm of the Internal Iliac Artery by Direct Ultrasound-Guided Puncture: Report of a Case.

We report the emergency embolization of a ruptured aneurysm of the internal iliac artery in a patient at high surgical risk. Admission computed tomography scan showed that the ostium of the aneurysmal internal iliac artery was covered by a covered stent. In this patient, we chose to carry out an embolization of the aneurysm and its efferent arteries by direct puncture of the aneurysmal sac using an antero-external abdominal approach under ultrasound guidance. Short-term results were favorable and we consider that this technique is one of the therapeutic options to discuss in such situation.

Aneurysm sac shrinkage after endovascular repair: predictive factors and long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the predictive factors of reduction in diameter ≥10 mm of the aneurysm sac after endovascular treatment and analyze evolution in these patients. METHODS: Between December 1997 and December 2008, all patients electively treated at our center for an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were included in a prospective registry. We did a retrospective study between patients whose aneurysm was reduced by at least 10 mm in diameter on computed tomography scan during follow-up (Group 1) and the other patients who did not (Group 2). A univariate and multivariate statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: The files of 197 patients (mean age 74.8 years) with a mean follow-up of 54.8 months were reviewed. One hundred two patients (51.8%) had a reduction of ≥10 mm of AAA diameter (Group 1); this reduction was achieved after an average follow-up of 23.6 months. The delay to obtain at least a 10-mm diameter reduction was not influenced by any preoperative characteristics of patients or characteristics of the AAA. Patients in Group 1 were younger (74 vs. 76 years, P = 0.039), with a longer (31 vs. 27.7 mm, P = 0.038) and narrower upper neck (23.1 vs. 24.0 mm, P = 0.02) compared with Group 2. After multivariate analysis, these 3 variables were independently predictive of reduction in AAA diameter. In Group 1, secondary procedures were performed in 13 patients after a diameter reduction of ≥10 mm, including 3 type 1 endoleaks treated after 36 months (1 case) and after 123 months (2 cases) and 1 type 3 endoleak treated after 78 months. In Group 2, secondary procedures were performed in 28 patients, including 9 type 1 endoleaks treated after a median time of 26 months and no type 3 endoleak. Secondary procedures were significantly more frequent in Group 2 than in Group 1 (29.4% vs. 12.7%, respectively; P = 0.005). Freedom from secondary procedure at 5 years was 87.9% in Group 1 and 65.4% in Group 2 (P = 0.003). Freedom from AAA rupture at 8 years was significantly superior in Group 1 than in Group 2 (100% vs. 83.5%, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Sac shrinkage after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair is more likely observed in younger patients with long and small proximal neck anatomy and is associated with better long-term outcomes. However, late failures do occur even in those with significant sac shrinkage; therefore, follow-up should continue lifelong.

Severe symptomatic stenosis of visceral and renal arteries leading primary antiphospholipid syndrome diagnosis.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder with combination of at least 1 clinical and 1 laboratory criterion as defined by the SAPPORO statement. Clinical criteria result from vascular thrombosis that can affect artery, venous, or small vessel in any tissue or organ. Arterial stenosis is a rare lesion involved in APS, affecting mainly renal or intracranial arteries. We reported a case of a 33-year-old woman with abdominal angina and high blood pressure (BP). Imaging showed tight, not calcified, and hypodense stenosis of mesenteric superior artery and left renal artery, and a thrombosis of the celiac trunk. Treatment was digestive rest followed by angioplasty and stenting of mesenteric and renal artery, anticoagulation, antiplatelet, and statin therapy. Normal BP and digestive function were obtained postoperatively. Biological tests showed a positive lupus anticoagulant at diagnosis and at 12 weeks, which allowed us to make the diagnosis of APS. Physiopathology of stenosis in APS remains unclear but suggests arterial wall partial thrombosis, accelerated atherosclerosis, and/or proliferation of smooth muscle cells. We recommend screening of arterial stenosis in patients with APS and arterial symptoms, and inversely, searching for APS in young patients with atypical arterial stenosis to allow optimal therapy.

Pelvic ischemia and quality of life scores after interventional occlusion of the hypogastric artery in patients undergoing endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the pelvic ischemic complications and their impact on quality of life after interventional occlusion of the hypogastric artery (IOHA) in patients undergoing endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). METHODS: Between January 2004 and April 2012, 638 consecutive patients with aortoiliac aneurysm treated by EVAR were prospectively registered in two teaching hospitals. We identified all EVAR patients who underwent IOHA. Demographic, clinical, and radiologic data were extracted from electronic databases and patient records as requested. All patients who survived the postoperative period took part in a quality of life survey, the Walking Impairment Questionnaire (WIQ), which included four items: pain, distance, walking speed, and stair climbing. Outcome measures included the 30-day rate of pelvic ischemic complications, the buttock claudication (BC) rate at 30 days and during follow-up, and the comparative WIQ scores between patients with persistent BC, those with regressive BC, and those who never had BC after the IOHA procedure. RESULTS: A total of 71 patients (97% men; mean age, 76 years ± 7.69) required 75 IOHA procedures. These were deemed proximal in 44 cases and distal in 31, with use of coil embolization in 64%, Amplatzer plug in 24%, or a combination of coils and plugs in 12%. The technical success rate was 100%. Two patients (2.8%) experienced fatal acute pelvic ischemic complications in the postoperative period after EVAR. Another patient died of iliac rupture during EVAR, leading to an operative mortality rate of 4.3%. Eighteen patients (25.3%) suffered BC, among whom 11 cases resolved at a median follow-up of 42 months. Young age (odds ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.85-0.99; P = .03) and distal IOHA (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-11.51; P = .04) were independent predictors of BC occurrence. The actuarial rate of persistent BC was 85% at 18 months. The WIQ scores were lower for patients with persistent BC (median score, 35.04; interquartile range, 16.36; P = .001) compared with patients with regressive BC (median score, 76.5; interquartile range, 36.66; P = .02) or those who never experienced BC after the IOHA procedure (median score, 65.34; interquartile range, 10.94; P < .0003). CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic ischemia associated with IOHA may be severe and lead to fatality after EVAR. Our data show that BC may lead to severe quality of life impairment when it does not regress during follow-up.