Initial results of the management of aortoiliac aneurysms with GORE® Excluder® Iliac Branched Endoprosthesis.

AIM: We prospectively observed the outcomes of all patients (N.=15) with an aortoiliac and a common iliac artery aneurysm who were electively treated with the GORE® Excluder® Iliac Branched Endoprosthesis (IBE) with regard to clinical, anatomical and radiological results. METHODS: We evaluated operative mortality, aneurysm rupture rate and aneurysm related mortality as well as conversion to open surgery, incidence of endoleak, rate of aneurysm migration, aneurysm enlargement, graft patency, reintervention rate and the clinical outcome. Postoperative follow-up included a computed tomography angiography (CTA) before discharge, clinical evaluation and Duplex ultrasound or CTA 3 weeks after the intervention and Duplex ultrasound every 3 months afterwards. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 79 years (range 61-83 years); f/m: 1/2; mean follow-up was 9 months; 80% of the patients presented 2 or more major comorbidities and 1/3 were considered to be not eligible for open repair. Mean hospitalization time was 5 days. Technical success rate was 93.3% (intent-to-treat basis). Mortality within 30 days was 0%; there were no ruptures; type II endoleak directly after the procedure occurred in 20%, dropping to 13.3% after 3 months. We defined the initial technical success in absence of type I endoleaks. The initial technical success rate was 100%. No IBE occlusion or type Ia, Ib or III endoleak was observed during the postoperative follow-up (mean follow-up: 9 months). All of the internal iliac side branches remained patent. Reintervention rate, buttock claudication rate and pelvic complication rate were 0%. CONCLUSION: The GORE® IBE provides a new and safe alternative for the management of complete endovascular repair of an extensive aortoiliac or common iliac aneurysm while maintaining pelvic blood flow in iliac branched devices. Due to the lower complexity if compared to previous endovascular or hybrid methods, it should be performed in every anatomically suitable case.

[Popliteal artery aneurysm: surgical and endovascular therapy]. / Poplitealarterienaneurysma: Konventionelle und endovaskuläre Therapie.

Aneurysms of the popliteal artery are the most common form of peripheral aneurysm with an incidence of 70-80 %. An enlargement of the popliteal artery of more than 50% of the original diameter is defined as a popliteal artery aneurysm and is found mainly in male patients older than 65 years of age. The incidence is 1%, in 50% of cases is bilateral and in up to 50% in association with other large vessel aneurysms (e.g. abdominal aorta). Differential diagnoses are Baker's cyst, cystic adventitial disease, entrapment syndrome and epitheloid hemangioma. One third of all diagnosed popliteal artery aneurysms are asymptomatic incidental findings, whereas two thirds are conspicuous due to symptoms (acute or chronic ischemia, local compression, rupture). The indications for invasive treatment are given for patients with patent aneurysms at a diameter of more than 2 cm or if a thrombus is present within the aneurysm. Symptomatic popliteal artery aneurysms are always an indication for therapy. Treatment strategies are surgical techniques and endovascular interventions, which both have a similar outcome and graft patency in midterm results.

New results with 100 Excluder cases.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to report the outcome of EVAR using EXCLUDER endoprosthesis (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz.) with low-porosity polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in the medium term. We reviewed a 10-year-experience with this device to document the outcome of 100 consecutive elective EVARs with Excluder-Device performed at a single centre. METHODS: From 01.2006 to 01.2009 all elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) cases (N=100) with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA; mean diameter 5.61 cm; range 4.2-7.3 cm) that were treated electively with the EXCLUDER Bifurcated Endoprosthesis were entered in an index. Anatomical and clinical evaluations and radiological results have been analyzed. Mean aortic neck length was 12.24 mm, mean proximal aortic diameter was 24.39 mm. Primary outcome that has been examined, include operative mortality, aneurysm rupture, aneurysm-related mortality, open surgical conversion, and late survival rates. The incidence of endoleak, migration, aneurysm enlargement, and graft patency have also been determined. Finally, the need for reinterventions and success of such secondary procedures were evaluated. Endoleaks were diagnosed from contrast-enhanced computed tomography, the rate of type II endoleaks was analyzed after 1, 3 and 12 months. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 74.1 years (range 44-91 years); 91% were male. Mean follow-up was 20 months; 78 % of the patients had 2 or more major comorbidities, and 32 % were categorized as inappropriate for open repair. On an intent-to-treat basis, device deployment was successful in 100%. Thirty-day mortality was 0%; freedom from AAA rupture was 100%. Type II endoleak appeared directly after the procedure in 24%, after 3 months in 15% and after 12 months in 7%. The initial technical success defined as endovascular aneurysm exclusion and absence of type I endoleak was 99%. Proximal type I early endoleak occurred (detected by intraoperative DSA) in 3 patients, in 2 cases intraoperative proximal aortic cuffs were needed to seal proximal type I endoleaks. In one case we performed a proximal bending via a retroperitoneal access and sealed the endoprosthesis. Postoperatively, the size of the AAA decreased or remained unchanged in 93% after 12 months. Freedom from reinterventions was 94% after 2 years. CONCLUSION: EVAR using the EXCLUDER-Device is a safe, effective, and durable method to prevent AAA rupture and aneurysm-related death. Assuming suitable AAA anatomy, these data justify a broad application within a wide spectrum of patients.

[Epithelioid hemangioma of the popliteal artery]. / Epitheloides Hämangiom der A. poplitea.

We report the case of a 37-year-old patient with an epithelioid haemangioma arising from the third segment of the popliteal artery and the tibio-peroneal trunk. As far as we know this is the first description of this tumour originating in an artery of this order. One year after excision of the tumour mass and vascular reconstruction the patient has recovered and shows no evidence of recurrence. Clinical manifestation and morphological characteristics of this rare lesion are described in this article.