Exclusion of internal iliac arterial aneurysm concomitant with abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND

To study the long-term outcomes after exclusion of internal iliac arterial aneurysm performed concomitantly with abdominal aortic aneurysm repair in patients with ruptured aortic aneurysm or other high-risk conditions.

METHODS

The 31 patients who participated in this study underwent emergency (N = 9) or elective surgery (N = 22). The abdominal aortic aneurysm and the common iliac artery were excluded together with the internal iliac aneurysm in 7 patients. Forty-three (12 bilateral and 19 unilateral) internal iliac aneurysms were excluded: 35 by proximal ligation only, 5 by proximal and distal ligation, and 3 by partial resection of the proximal part of the aneurysm. The platelet count and fibrinogen level were evaluated pre- and postoperatively. Pelvic organ ischemia, classed as ischemic colitis, buttock claudication and sexual dysfunction, was examined.

RESULTS

The inferior mesenteric artery was reimplanted in 21 patients. The platelet count dropped significantly postoperatively, but the fibrinogen level increased and no bleeding tendency was noted. Ischemic colitis occurred in 7 patients, resulting in colonic infarction in 2 patients. The operative mortality was 16%, and the postoperative observation periods ranged from 4 days to 217 months (mean, 60 months). The incidence of buttock claudication and sexual dysfunction was 12% and 39%, respectively. The excluded aneurysms were all thrombosed at discharge, and no late rupture was noted. The 5- and 10-year survival rate after surgery was 56% and 51%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Exclusion of the internal iliac aneurysm concomitant with abdominal aortic aneurysm repair shows acceptable outcome when performed in patients with high-risk conditions.