Snorkel Technique for Inferior Mesenteric Artery During Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

PURPOSE

The snorkel technique is commonly used to preserve renal arteries in juxta renal aneurysm during endovascular repair. Herein, we present a patient who underwent bifurcated endograft implantation with snorkel technique for inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) in order to preserve the major source of bowel circulation.

CASE REPORT

A 69-year-old male patient was diagnosed with abdominal aortic aneurysm. His history revealed that he had bowel resection due to a car accident 30 years ago. In addition, he was given relaparotomy 4 times due to intestinal complications. Computed tomography showed fusiform aneurysm with a maximal diameter of 60 mm and chronical occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. Inferior mesenteric artery was found to be hypertrophic. During EVAR, 6 mm × 10 cm covered VIABAHN Endoprosthesis (Gore Medical) was implanted to the IMA over a 0.018 guidewire via puncture of the left axillary artery. Initially, the main body of the aortic stent-graft (Gore C3, size 23-14-16) was implanted to the infra renal segment of the aorta (below the renal arteries and the orifice using VIABAHN) via the right femoral artery. Next, the contralateral leg (Gore, 14-12-00) was implanted. Computed tomography was examined at 1- and 32-month postoperatively, and no endoleak or patency of IMA stent was detected.

CONCLUSION

In this case of IMA-dependent circulation of the intestinal system, the protection of IMA via snorkel technique was successful.