Natural history of the iliac arteries after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and suitability of ectatic iliac arteries as a distal sealing zone.

PURPOSE

To investigate the natural history of dilated common iliac arteries (CIA) exposed to pulsatile blood flow after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) and the suitability of ectatic iliac arteries as sealing zones using flared iliac limbs.

METHODS

Follow-up computed tomograms of 102 CIAs in 60 EVAR patients were investigated. Diameter changes in CIAs < or =16 mm (group 1) were compared with changes in vessels where a dilated segment >16 mm in diameter continued to be exposed to pulsatile blood flow (group 2). Within group 2, cases in which the stent terminated proximal to the dilated artery segment (2a) were compared with those that had been treated with a flared limb (2b).

RESULTS

The mean CIA diameter increased by 1.0+/-1.0 mm in group 1 (p<0.001 versus immediately after EVAR) and by 1.5+/-1.7 mm in group 2 (p<0.001 versus immediately after EVAR) within an average follow-up of 43.6+/-18.0 months. Diameter increase was more pronounced in dilated CIAs (p=0.048), and it was not significantly different between groups 2a and 2b (p=0.188). No late distal type I endoleak or stent-graft migration associated with CIA ectasia was observed.

CONCLUSION

Dilatation of the CIA is significant after EVAR, and it is more pronounced in ectatic iliac arteries. Although ectatic iliac arteries appear to be suitable sealing zones in the short term, continued follow-up is mandatory.