Iliac Branch Devices in the Repair of Ruptured Aorto-iliac Aneurysms: A Multicenter Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of preserving the internal iliac artery (IIA) with iliac branched devices (IBDs) during acute endovascular repair of ruptured aortoiliac aneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a multicenter retrospective review of all consecutive patients undergoing acute endovascular repair of ruptured aortoiliac aneurysm with an IBD at 8 aortic centers between December 2012 and June 2020. A control group was used where the IIA was intentionally occluded from the same study period. The main outcome measures were 30-day mortality, major adverse events, technical success, and clinical success. Secondary outcomes were buttock claudication, primary patency, primary-assisted and secondary patency of the IBD, occurrence of endoleak types I/III, and reintervention. Values are presented as numbers and percentages or interquartile range in parenthesis. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients were included in the study: 24 with IBD and 24 with IIA occlusion. There was no difference in demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and aneurysm extent. Twenty (83%) of them were hemodynamically stable during the procedure as opposed to 14 (58%, p=.23) with the IIA occlusion. Technical success was achieved in all cases with a procedure time of 180 (133-254) minutes, 45 (23-65) of which were from IBD. There were 2 (8%) deaths during the first 30 days and 2 (8%) major complications unrelated to the IBD, whereas in the IIA occlusion, the figures were 10 (42%) and 7 (29%), respectively. No patient in the IBD group developed buttock claudication compared to 8 (57%, p<.0001) in the IIA occlusion group; 1 (4%) patient developed bowel ischemia on both groups, with 1 in the IIA occlusion group needing resection. The median follow-up duration was 17 months (interquartile range 2-39) for the IBD group, with a primary patency of 60±14% at 3 years that went up to 92±8% with reinterventions (8 reinterventions in 6 patients). When the first 90 days were disregarded, there were no differences in survival between the groups. CONCLUSION: IBD is a valid alternative for maintaining the pelvic circulation for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair of ruptured aortoiliac aneurysms. The technical success and midterm outcomes are very satisfactory but require patient selection particularly regarding hemodynamic stability. The reintervention rate is considerable, mandating continuous follow-up. CLINICAL IMPACT: This multicenter study demonstrates that ruptured aortoiliac aneurysms do not necessarily require mandatory occlusion of hypogastric arteries. Iliac branch devices are shown to be a valid alternative in highly selected cases, with good midterm results, even if reinterventions are required in a significant proportion of patients.

Bilateral Implantation of Double-Branched Iliac Branch Devices for Endovascular Repair of Aorto-Bi-Iliac Aneurysm With Concomitant Hypogastric Aneurysms: The Quadruple Branch.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to describe the use of a double-branched custom-made iliac branch device (IBD) for the endovascular repair of an aorto-bi-iliac aneurysm with concomitant bilateral hypogastric aneurysms. TECHNIQUE: A 61-year-old man on peritoneal dialysis underwent a computed tomography (CT) of the infrarenal aorta before planned kidney transplantation. The CT showed an asymptomatic aorto-bi-iliac aneurysm of 54 mm involving the hypogastric artery (HA) bilaterally (right HA 31 mm; left HA 40 mm). The treatment consisted of an endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and the bilateral implantation of custom-manufactured IBDs with double inner branches to preserve both superior and inferior gluteal arteries. At 1 year follow-up, the patient remains free of symptoms and the postoperative CT showed a successfully excluded aneurysm with patent bridging stent grafts to all HA branches. CONCLUSION: The bilateral implantation of double-branched IBDs is a feasible technique. Preservation of both hypogastric arteries and its branches can be achieved with this technique and therefore decrease the risk of buttock claudication and other ischemic complications.

Effectiveness of the Rotarex Excisional Atherectomy System in Both Subacute and Chronic Aortoiliac Endograft Thrombosis: An Innovative Option for the Modern Endovascular Surgeon Toolkit.

PURPOSE: To report a successful revascularization case using the Rotarex™S atherothrombectomy system in a recent iliac limb thrombosis, and chronic hypogastric stent obstruction after previous aortoiliac aneurysm endovascular repair (EVAR). CASE REPORT: A 72-year-old patient was treated for recent right iliac limb thrombosis and left iliac branch chronic hypogastric stent occlusion, 5 years after EVAR. A total endovascular approach, using both upper extremity and femoral vascular access, was settled with 2 Rotarex™S (6Fr and 10Fr) devices. The Rotarex™S catheters removed most of the intraluminal material, allowing additional endografts and bare metal stents to be deployed to support a new healthy lumen surface. CONCLUSION: The total endovascular approach provided by the Rotarex™S device appears to be safe and effective in treating aortoiliac endografts occlusions, both in subacute and chronic phases. Larger studies could highlight differences and eventual advantages compared with more traditional solutions.

Snare-Dragging Technique to Target the Hypogastric Artery in an Iliac Bifurcation Dissection.

PURPOSE: To describe snare-assisted vessel targeting to selectively overcome a dissection in the iliac bifurcation and gain antegrade access to the hypogastric artery (HA). TECHNIQUE: The technique is demonstrated in a 64-year-old woman with an asymptomatic Crawford type III thoracoabdominal aneurysm. A 2-stage endovascular repair, consisting of a thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and a branched endovascular aortic repair was planned. In the control angiography after TEVAR, a disrupted plaque with consequent dissection in the right iliac bifurcation was detected. The perfusion of the common iliac artery and external iliac artery resulted impaired. The targeting of the right HA through a contralateral antegrade approach failed, whereas an ipsilateral retrograde approach was possible but unsuitable for therapeutic purposes. Using the catheter of the retrograde ipsilateral access, a snare from a contralateral crossover was cached and dragged into the HA, allowing the targeting of the vessels and further endovascular therapy with angioplasty and stenting. Follow-up 8 months postoperatively demonstrated the patency of the stents and well-preserved perfusion in the right iliac bifurcation. CONCLUSION: The snare-dragging technique can be used to gain access to vessels presenting challenging conformations or dissections. This application may be a valuable support for complex endovascular treatment in a variety of patients. CLINICAL IMPACT: The snare-dragging technique can be used to gain access to vessels presenting challenging conformations or dissections. It allows the catheterization to be establish from the easiest and safest approach and then "transferred" from one access to the other. It avoids the risk of repeated loss of catheterization due to unstable and unfavorable working angles, and it saves time and radiation. It permits different material combinations, adapting to the available resources and materials. We believe that the current technique may increase the strategy spectrum available for endovascular therapy and complex endovascular procedures.

One-Year Results of ZBIS Iliac Branch Device With an Off-Label Connection Limb.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to study 1-year results of Zenith branch iliac endovascular graft (ZBIS) with the off-label use of a 13 mm spiral Z limb to connect to the aortic main body. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review from 2015 to 2019 of all iliac branch devices (IBDs) was performed at 1 institution that were connected to an aortic main body with a 13 mm spiral Z limb and had at least 1-year follow-up with computed tomography (CT). Primary endpoints are freedom from ZBIS separation from the connection limb, endoleak (EL), or reintervention at 1 year. Secondary endpoints are primary and secondary ZBIS patency, presence of any EL, and aortic reinterventions. RESULTS: Of 149 IBDs implanted in this period, 45 ZBIS in 35 patients were connected with a 13 mm limb and had a 1-year CT; 97% of patients had common iliac artery (CIA) aneurysms, 7% of patients had hypogastric artery (HA) aneurysms, and 30% of patients had bilateral ZBIS implantation. Technical success was 98%. In 84% of cases, the Advanta V12 was used as the HA mating stent; 56% of patients had an EL, mostly type II, which resolved spontaneously in 70% at 1 year, and 9% of ZBIS required reinterventions at 1 year (2 for thrombosis, 2 for type Ic EL from HA mating stent). One-year ZBIS primary patency and secondary patency were 96% and 100%, respectively. No EL was noted to be related to the 13 mm connection limb. No migration or separation of the devices occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The use of 13 mm spiral Z limb to connect a ZBIS with the main body in our series yields a high technical success rate and good 12-month outcomes without device separation or migration.

Prospective clinical study for claudication after endovascular aneurysm repair involving hypogastric artery embolization.

PURPOSE: This prospective study aimed to assess the prognosis of claudication after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) involving hypogastric artery (HGA) embolization. METHODS: Patients who were scheduled to undergo EVAR involving bilateral or unilateral HGA embolization (BHE or UHE, respectively) between May 2017 and January 2019 were included in this study. Patients underwent the walk test preoperatively, one week postoperatively, and monthly thereafter for six months. The presence of claudication and the maximum walking distance (MWD) were recorded. A near-infrared spectroscopy monitor was placed on the buttocks, and the recovery time (RT) was determined. A walking impairment questionnaire (WIQ) was completed to determine subjective symptoms. RESULTS: Of the 13 patients who completed the protocol, 12 experienced claudication in the 6-min walk test. The MWD was significantly lower at one week postoperatively than preoperatively. The claudication prevalence was significantly higher at five and six months postoperatively after BHE than after UHE. BHE was associated with longer RTs and lower WIQ scores than UHE. CONCLUSIONS: We noted a trend in adverse effects on the gluteal circulation and subjective symptoms ameliorating within six months postoperatively, with more effects being associated with BHE than with UHE. These findings should be used to make decisions concerning management strategies for HGA reconstruction.

The association between perioperative embolization of hypogastric arteries and type II endoleaks after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: Type II endoleaks (T2ELs) are the most common type of endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The iliolumbar artery arising from the hypogastric artery is often a major source of T2ELs, and transarterial embolization of the iliolumbar artery through the hypogastric artery is sometimes performed to interrupt sac expansion during follow-up. Considering the equivocal results of an association between hypogastric embolization and T2ELs in previous studies, this topic has re-emerged after the advent of iliac branch devices. This study reviewed our series to clarify whether hypogastric embolization is associated with T2ELs at 12 months after EVAR. METHODS: Patients who underwent elective EVAR between June 2007 and May 2017 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with postoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) at 12 months were included. Patients in whom CTA revealed type I or type III endoleaks during follow-up, who required reinterventions before 12 months, and who had solitary iliac aneurysms were excluded. The primary outcome was the incidence of T2ELs at 12 months after EVAR. The associations of patients' characteristics, anatomic factors, hypogastric embolization, and type of endograft with the primary outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 375 patients were enrolled. During the median follow-up of 59.5 months (interquartile range, 19-126 months), 40 patients died, and 50 reinterventions were performed. In 108 patients (28.8%), either hypogastric artery was embolized to extend distal landings to the external iliac artery. Bilateral and unilateral embolization was performed in nine and 99 patients, respectively. In total, 153 patients (40.8%) had T2ELs found by CTA at 12 months. In the univariate analysis, the status of hypogastric artery occlusion or embolization was not significantly different between patients with and without T2ELs. However, there were not enough patients to detect a 10% difference in T2ELs with >80% statistical power. In the multivariate analysis, significant associations with T2EL were observed for female sex (P = .049), patent inferior mesenteric artery (P = .006), and presence of five or more patent lumbar arteries (P < .001) but not for hypogastric embolization. In addition, compared with the Zenith (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind) endograft, the Excluder (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, Ariz) endograft was significantly related to T2EL (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: No significant association between hypogastric embolization and T2EL was demonstrated in this retrospective study, which lacked adequate statistical power.

The Effect of Hypogastric Artery Revascularization on Ischemic Colitis in Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to examine the effect of hypogastric revascularization maneuvers on the rate of postoperative ischemic colitis among patients undergoing endovascular aortoiliac aneurysm repair. METHODS: Using the 2011-2018 Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Procedure-Targeted American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Files, we analyzed patients undergoing elective endovascular infrarenal aortoiliac aneurysm repairs. Using multivariable modeling techniques, a cohort of patients at high risk for postoperative ischemic colitis was identified. The outcomes of this group were then compared using Pearson's chi-square testing in accordance with whether or not they underwent hypogastric revascularization. RESULTS: Of 4753 patients undergoing endovascular aortoiliac aneurysm repair in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program cohort, 1161 had concomitant hypogastric revascularization procedures. High-risk predictors of ischemic colitis included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and concurrent renal artery or external iliac artery stenting. There was not a significant association between pelvic revascularization and postoperative ischemic colitis [1.0% with versus 0.5% without pelvic revascularization; adjusted odds ratio of ischemic colitis with revascularization 2.07 (0.96, 4.46); P = 0.06] after adjustment for patient- and procedure-related factors. In a subgroup analysis of patients with a distal aneurysm extent beyond the common iliac artery, the incidence of ischemic colitis was significantly lower in patients without pelvic revascularization (0.1% versus 1.6%, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis of patients undergoing elective endovascular repair of infrarenal aortoiliac aneurysmal disease did not find a reduced incidence of postoperative ischemic colitis in patients who received a concomitant pelvic revascularization procedure, suggesting instead that such procedural adjuncts may actually increase risk for this complication.

Hypogastric artery ligation in postpartum haemorrhage: a ten-year experience at a tertiary care centre.

This study investigated patients who underwent bilateral hypogastric artery ligation (BHAL) due to postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). Patients who underwent BHAL because of PPH following a conservative treatment were included in this study. Placental abnormalities were referred to as placenta accreta. A total of 130 BHAL procedures took place at the study hospital as a result of PPH. Of these, 39 (30%) were referred to the hospital. The rate of BHAL requirement was 62 out of 10,000 births. Among the 130 patients, the most frequent indication for BHAL was placenta accreta (58.5%). Haematological parameters were poorer among the referral patients. Four of the exitus patients (80%) were referral patients. The mortality rate among the referral patients was 10.25%, whereas this rate was only 1.01% among the patients who gave birth at the hospital. PPH is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. BHAL, with its fertility-preserving features, is a good option that can be employed in all PPH patients. BHAL not only preserves patients' fertility, but it also gives them a higher chance of survival.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? PPH is a life-threatening condition. Due to the worldwide increase in caesarean sections, placenta accreta has also increased. BHAL is a vital treatment method for PPH.What do the results of this study add? Placenta accreta is one of the most common causes of PPH. Traditional hysterectomy rates can be reduced by replacing this treatment with BHAL in this group of patients. Without early intervention in PPH, a patient's mortality risk can increase by up to 10 times. As research and surgeons' experience grows, PPH can be controlled with treatments with less complex modalities without the need for BHAL.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The need for BHAL should be kept in mind when addressing PPH, especially in cases of placenta accreta. The need for hypogastric artery ligation, which is a more aggressive treatment for the surgical correction of the pathology, can be reduced as surgeons' experience increases. Early intervention and/or referral in cases of PPH is of great importance.

Hypogastric Artery Stenting for Chronic Intermittent Spinal Cord Ischemia After Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

PURPOSE: To report a case of chronic intermittent spinal cord ischemia (SCI) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and its successful treatment using hypogastric artery stenting. CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old patient presented in May 2013 with a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and a contained rupture. He urgently underwent TEVAR that covered 274 mm of descending thoracic aorta without immediate postoperative signs of acute SCI. At 3-month follow-up, he reported repeating incidents of sudden lower extremity weakness leading to a fall with a humerus fracture. A neurological consultation revealed the tentative diagnosis of intermittent SCI caused by TEVAR and initially recommended a conservative approach. During the following year there was no clinical improvement of the symptoms. Computed tomography angiography showed a high-grade stenosis of the right hypogastric artery, which was stented in November 2014 to improve the collateral network of spinal cord perfusion. Following treatment, the patient had no further neurological symptoms; at 32 months after the reintervention, the imaging follow-up documented a patent stent and continued exclusion of the TAA. CONCLUSION: Intermittent neurological symptoms after TEVAR should be suspected as chronic intermittent SCI. The improvement of collateral networks of the spinal cord by revascularization of the hypogastric artery is a viable treatment option.

Two-Year Results of a Multicenter Prospective Observational Study of the Zenith Spiral-Z Limb Deployed in the External Iliac Artery During Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

BACKGROUND: Limited data is available on the use of a polyester graft limb with a helical stent configuration deployed in the external iliac artery (EIA) during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), so we prospectively analyzed the efficacy of the Zenith Spiral-Z limb deployed in the EIA.Methods and Results:Patients undergoing EVAR using a Zenith stent-graft and Spiral-Z limb deployed in the EIA were prospectively registered in 24 Japanese institutions from June 2017 to November 2017. In total, 65 patients (74 limbs) (mean age: 77.1±8.0 years, 87.7% men, mean abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) diameter: 51.9±7.2 mm, mean iliac artery aneurysm (IAA) diameter: 38.3±10.0 mm) were registered and followed up. The most common reason for deployment in the EIA was a common IAA (43 limbs, 58.1%), and 8 limbs (10.8%) had a bare nitinol stent placed at the Spiral-Z limb. A total of 61 patients (70 limbs) completed a 24-month follow-up. There were 2 Spiral-Z limb stenoses and 1 occlusion, leading to a primary patency of 95.5% and a secondary patency of 100%, at 24 months. Buttock claudication occurred in 24.3% of the limbs treated at 1 month but decreased to 4.3% at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our multicenter prospective study showed that Spiral-Z limb deployed in the EIA was associated with satisfactory results and seems to be a durable option, even in the era of iliac branch devices.

Prospective Study of the Iliac Branch Device E-liac in Patients with Common Iliac Artery Aneurysms: 12 Month Results.

OBJECTIVES: At 12 months follow up of the PLIANT study, clinical success and efficacy of the E-liac Stent Graft System (JOTEC GmbH, Hechingen, Germany) were evaluated. Clinical success was defined as aneurysm exclusion (no type I, III, IV endoleak) with primary patency of the internal iliac artery (IIA) and external iliac artery (EIA) on the E-liac implantation side. METHODS: In this prospective multicentre European observational study, clinical and morphological data of 45 patients (93% male, mean age 72 y) were prospectively collected in 11 European centres between July 2014 and June 2016. Forty patients underwent an aorto-iliac (three patients bilaterally) treatment and five an isolated iliac treatment. RESULTS: At 12 months follow up, data were available for 42 patients. Overall clinical success at 12 months was 90%, with a survival rate of 100%. Four patients (10%) did not achieve clinical success, one with an internal iliac artery (IIA) occlusion on the E-liac implantation side, one with an infrarenal type Ia endoleak, and two with type Ib endoleaks in IIA. At 12 months the primary patency rate in the internal iliac artery on the iliac side branch implantation side was 98%. Two patients (5%) received E-liac related re-interventions: one caused by an edge stenosis at the distal end of the graft limb in the external iliac artery (EIA) and one caused by thrombo-embolism in the external iliac artery. Thus, for the EIA, primary and secondary patency rates were 98% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The low device related re-intervention rate of 5%, the high survival rate of 100%, and the high primary patency rates of 98% for the IIA and EIA at 12 month follow up demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the E-liac Stent Graft System. Long term 36 month results are awaited to confirm the efficacy and durability.

Prospective study of the E-liac Stent Graft System in patients with common iliac artery aneurysms: 30-Day results.

OBJECTIVES: To study the safety and feasibility of the E-liac Stent Graft System® in patients with aorto/iliac aneurysms. METHODS: A prospective multicentric European registry of patients receiving the E-liac Stent Graft System® was conducted. Endpoints of the study included the technical success as well as periprocedural events and 30-day endoleaks, reinterventions, internal and external iliac artery patency and mortality. RESULTS: Between July 2014 and June 2016, a total of 45 patients (93% men, mean age 72 years, range 53-90 years) were enrolled at 11 sites in four European countries. Five patients received an isolated iliac treatment. Thirty-seven patients were treated with a combination of an abdominal stent graft and a unilateral E-liac and three in combination with bilateral E-liac. All E-liac Stent Grafts (48) were implanted in the intended position and the internal iliac arteries were successfully bridged. Two patients did not receive clinical success, due to endoleak type Ia of the aortic stent graft. At 30-day follow-up, clinical success rate was 96%. Three successful endovascular reinterventions were performed within the 30-day follow-up: one due to a type Ia endoleak in the common iliac artery, one due to type Ia endoleak of the aortic stent graft, and one due to bilateral lower limb claudication provoked by stent graft limb stenosis. At 30-day, a 100% survival rate and complete absence of pelvic or buttock ischemia/claudication were reported. Primary patency at 30 days was 100% for the internal iliac artery and 98% for the external iliac artery with an assisted patency of 100% in the latter. CONCLUSIONS: The high clinical success rate, low rates of device-related reinterventions (2%), and excellent patency rate demonstrate the safety and feasibility of the E-liac Stent Graft System. Long-term results are awaited to state efficacy and durability. Clinical Trials.gov. Identifier no. NCT02209194.

Ovarian reserve after internal iliac artery ligation.

AIM: Ligation of major vessels supplying ovaries may alter hormones and ovarian reserve due to disturbances of vascular circulation. Our purpose is to measure serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels and ovarian volume in patients who had internal iliac artery ligation (IIAL) and/or IIAL plus hysterectomy due to uterine atony. METHODS: Patients who underwent IIAL and IIAL+ hysterectomy were evaluated 6 months after their operations and were compared with the control group. The hormones, ovarian volume and antral follicle count (AFC) were measured in each group. RESULTS: Serum AMH levels in the post-partum 6th month interval were lower in the IIAL group than in the control group and were the lowest in the IIAL+ hysterectomy group. Similar to AMH results, AFC and ovarian volumes were also lowest in the IIAL+ hysterectomy group. CONCLUSION: IIAL and hysterectomy are lifesaving interventions during peripartum hemorrhage; however, they might alter ovarian reserve in the short term.

Hypogastric artery aneurysm - a case report.

Isolated hypogastric artery aneurysm (internal iliac artery aneurysm) is a rare disease, more often associated with the occurrence of aneurysms in other localities. It typically occurs in older men. Rupture as the most serious complication is associated with high mortality, which is many times higher than the mortality in case of elective repair. Nearly half of the patients are asymptomatic and eventual symptoms tend to be very diverse. Therefore, in the diagnostic process, it is necessary to consider this disease even in case of symptoms apparently unrelated to the arterial system. Treatment is surgical or endovascular. The report presents the case of a female patient with an isolated aneurysm of the hypogastric artery treated endovascularly. Key words: aneurysm hypogastric artery - stentgraft diagnosis.

Embolization or Simple Coverage to Exclude the Internal Iliac Artery During Endovascular Repair of Aortoiliac Aneurysms? Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies.

PURPOSE: To compare results of simple coverage vs preemptive embolization to exclude the internal iliac artery (IIA) during endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted by searching MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and OpenGray databases until March 2016. Primary outcome measures were safety and efficacy of the 2 strategies. Safety was determined by 30-day mortality and the minor and major complication rates. Efficacy was determined by absence of endoleak from the target IIA. Secondary outcomes of any endoleak, reintervention, operative time, fluoroscopy time, blood loss, contrast volume, and length of hospitalization were also examined. The random effects model was used to calculate combined overall effect sizes of pooled data. Data are presented as the odds ratio (OR) or mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Forest plots and inconsistency ( I2) statistics were used to evaluate the heterogeneity of the included studies. RESULTS: Eight observational studies were included in the analysis. Overall, 284 and 255 subjects underwent IIA coverage or embolization, respectively. IIA coverage resulted in a significantly lower major complication rate (6% vs 29%; OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.46 to 6.04, p=0.003; I2=0%) and shorter hospitalization (MD 0.48 days, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.89, p=0.02; I2=0%), while differences in all other outcomes were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: In the presence of limited data, available evidence suggests that simple coverage of the IIA may result in significantly fewer major complications compared to preemptive embolization; at the same time, the rates of endoleaks and/or reinterventions are similar between groups.

Endovascular Treatment of Common Iliac Artery Aneurysms With an Iliac Branch Device: Multicenter Experience of 140 Patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy, feasibility, and long-term outcomes of the Zenith ZBIS iliac branch device (IBD) to preserve internal iliac artery (IIA) perfusion in a large Dutch multicenter cohort. METHODS: Between September 2004 and August 2015, 140 patients (mean age 70.9±7.4 years; 130 men) with 162 IBD implantations were identified in 7 vascular centers. The indication for IBD implantation was an abdominal aortic aneurysm >55 mm with a concomitant common iliac artery (CIA) aneurysm >20 mm (n=40), a CIA aneurysm with a diameter >30 mm (n=89), or revision of a type Ib endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (n=11). RESULTS: Technical success (aneurysm exclusion, no type I or III endoleak, and a patent IIA) was obtained in 157 (96.9%) of 162 IBD implantations. Six (4.3%) patients developed major complications; 2 (1.4%) died. Mean follow-up was 26.6±24.1 months, during which 17 (12.1%) IBD-associated secondary interventions were performed. Including technical failures and intentional IIA embolizations, 15 (9.3%) IIA branch occlusions were identified; buttock claudication developed in 6 of these patients. The freedom from secondary intervention estimate was 75.9% (95% confidence interval 59.7 to 86.3) at 5 years. CONCLUSION: CIA aneurysms can be treated safely and effectively by IBDs with preservation of antegrade flow to the IIA. Secondary interventions are indicated in >10% of patients during follow-up but can be performed endovascularly in most.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effect of Internal Iliac Artery Exclusion for Patients Undergoing EVAR.

OBJECTIVE: Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) sometimes requires internal iliac artery (IIA) coverage to achieve a landing zone in the external iliac artery. The aim of this study was to determine complication rates following IIA exclusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of key journals was undertaken from January 1980 to April 2016. Studies detailing occlusion (using coils or plugs) or coverage of the IIA with outcome data were included. Weighted means were calculated for continuous variables. Meta-analysis was performed when comparative data were available. Quality was assessed using the GRADE system. RESULTS: Sixty-one non-randomised studies (2671 patients; 2748 IIAs) were analysed. Fifteen per cent of EVARs require IIA sacrifice. Buttock claudication (BC) occurred in 27.9% of patients, although 48.0% resolved after 21.8 months. BC rates were 32.6% with coils, 23.8% with plugs, and 12.9% with coverage alone, and less with unilateral (vs. bilateral) IIA treatment (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.36-0.91). More proximal coil placement resulted in lower rates of BC (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.03-0.48). Erectile dysfunction occurred in 10.2% of males, with higher rates after coiling. Type II endoleaks were more frequent after covering alone; however re-interventions were rare. Significant ischaemic events (bowel/gluteal/spinal ischaemia) were very rare. Plugs were quicker to place and required less radiation (p < .001) than coils. GRADE scoring was very low for all outcomes. CONCLUSION: Overall the quality of reported data on IIA sacrifice is poor. Buttock claudication and erectile dysfunction occurred frequently after IIA sacrifice. Where both options are technically possible, plugs could be considered preferential to coils, and placed as proximally in the IIA as possible.

Common Iliac Artery Aneurysm Repair Using a Sac-Anchoring Endograft to Preserve the Internal Iliac Artery.

PURPOSE: To report the application of the Nellix endovascular aneurysm sealing system to successfully treat a unilateral common iliac aneurysm and preserve the internal iliac artery. CASE REPORT: An 85-year-old man presented with right-sided necrosis of the third and fourth toe. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed a right 40-mm popliteal aneurysm and a 38-mm left fusiform common iliac artery aneurysm. After endovascular exclusion of the popliteal aneurysm, the Nellix device was positioned to exclude the common iliac artery aneurysm while preserving the internal iliac artery. Postoperative CTA showed no endoleak and a patent internal iliac artery. At 1 year, duplex ultrasound documented a common iliac aneurysm diameter of 32 mm without complications. CONCLUSION: Endovascular sealing using the Nellix device can be applied to exclude selected common iliac artery aneurysms with an adequate length and a minimal distal neck, with preservation of the internal iliac artery. The endobag can be positioned such that the aneurysm is completely excluded while the orifice of the side branch is not endangered.

Clinical impact of hypogastric artery occlusion in endovascular aneurysm repair.

PURPOSE: To report the long-term results for patients treated with endovascular aneurysm repair and additional embolization and coverage of the hypogastric artery compared with patients treated with simple endovascular aneurysm repair. METHODS: A database of our endovascular aneurysm repair patient cohort was reviewed to find patients with iliac artery aneurysms. The baseline characteristics, the procedural data and the results for patients treated with endovascular aneurysm repair and concomitant hypogastric artery embolization were compared with those for patients treated with simple endovascular aneurysm repair. The results were analyzed for significant differences. RESULTS: Of 106 endovascular aneurysm repair patients treated at our vascular unit from 2001 to 2010, 24 had undergone additional hypogastric artery embolization. The complication rate was significantly increased in this group (12.5% vs. 2.4%; p = 0.041), and the long-term results were significantly poorer. Additional hypogastric artery embolization resulted in late rupture (1.2% vs. 12.5%; p = 0.036), buttock claudication (8.6% vs. 43.8%; p = 0.001) and new onset erectile dysfunction (17.3% vs. 42.9%; p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Endovascular aneurysm repair with extension of the stent graft to the external iliac artery and embolization of the hypogastric artery was associated with more complications and worse long-term results compared with simple endovascular aneurysm repair.