Abstract:

Objective To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the low permeability GORE EXCLUDER aortic covered stent graft for endovascular treatment of complex abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Methods The data of 21 cases of complicated AAA that underwent the endovascular treatment with low permeability GORE EXCLUDER aortic covered stent graft from April, 2011 to April, 2014 were selected and retrospectively analyzed. Results Among 21 patients, 19 of them were males and 2 of them were females. Their ages were between 55 and 87 and the median age was 72.34. Complex AAA included one or more of the following circumstances: combined iliac artery aneurysm (10 cases), giant aneurysm (4 cases), short neck (3 cases), neck severe twisted (3 cases), approach seriously distorted (4 cases), femoral artery slim (1 case), and mural thrombus and severe calcification (6 cases). Operations of all cases were successful without laparotomy and intraoperative deaths and 2 cases died from complications during postoperative hospital stay. Operation time was (135.43±12.45) min and the intra-operative blood loss was (180.24±21.66) mL. No blood transfusion was conducted. There were 5 cases of intra-operative endoleak typeⅠ, 3 cases of endoleak type Ⅱ, and 2 cases of endoleak type Ⅲ. The intra-operative treatment of all cases was satisfactory. A total of 19 patients were followed up for 3-36 months and 18 of them survived and one patient died from the diabetic complication. All postoperatively followed up patients had undergone the computed tomography angiography (CTA) and no significant complications relevant to stents were found. Conclusion The low permeability GORE EXCLUDER aortic covered stent graft is suitable for the treatment of most patients with complex AAA and the safety and effectiveness are satisfactory due to low surgical risk and less intraoperative and postoperative complications.

Key words: low permeability, GORE EXCLUDER covered stent, complex abdominal aortic aneurysm, endovascular treatment