End-to-side aortoprosthetic anastomoses: long-term computed tomography assessment.

Fifty-two asymptomatic patients underwent routine computed tomographic evaluation of aortobifemoral bypass grafts implanted end-to-side on the aorta five to 10 years after operation. Anteroposterior diameters were measured at the level of the stem and the limbs of the graft, the aortoprosthetic anastomosis, and the infraanastomotic aorta. The stems of the prostheses were found to be dilated between 30 and 110% (mean 58%) of initial values. The limbs of the graft were dilated between 15 and 150% of initial values, the mean being 52%. The anteroposterior diameter of the aortoprosthetic anastomosis measured between 27 and 48 mm with a mean of 32 mm. Eight patients (15%) had an anastomotic false aneurysm. The aorta distal to the prosthetic anastomosis was completely occluded in 48 cases (92%). A mural thrombus was encountered at the level of the aortoprosthetic anastomosis in 21 (40%) patients. These findings raise questions as to the possible role of side-to-end aortoprosthetic anastomoses in the genesis of anastomotic dilatations, false aneurysms, intraprosthetic thrombosis, and thrombosis of the branches of aortofemoral bifurcation prosthetic grafts.