Salim Lala1, Martyn Knowles2, David Timaran3, Mirza Shadman Baig4, James Valentine5, Carlos Timaran3. 1. Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex. Electronic address: salimlala1@gmail.com. 2. Division of Vascular Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC. 3. Division of Vascular Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex. 4. Division of Vascular Surgery, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Tex. 5. Division of Vascular Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The Zenith (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind) fenestrated endovascular graft may be designed with single-wide scallops or large fenestrations to address the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Misalignment of the SMA with an unstented scallop or a large fenestration is possible. This study assessed SMA outcomes after fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (FEVAR). METHODS: During an 18-month period, 47 FEVARs were performed at a single institution. For analysis, patients were grouped according to unstented (n = 23) vs stented (n = 24) SMA scallops/fenestrations. The Institutional Review Board approved this single-institution observational study. Because this was a retrospective review of the data, patient consent was unnecessary for the study. RESULTS: Technical success for FEVAR was 100%. The median follow-up period was 7.7 months (range, 1-16 months). Nine of 21 patients (43%) in the unstented group had some degree of misalignment of the SMA (range, 9%-71%). Among these, four patients (44%) developed complications: three SMA stenoses and one occlusion. The mean peak systolic velocity in patients with and without SMA misalignment was 317.8 cm/s vs 188.4 cm/s (P < .08), respectively. No misalignment occurred in the stented group, and only one of 19 patients (5%) developed an SMA stenosis that required angioplasty. Overall, patients with unstented SMAs had significantly more adverse events directly attributable to SMA misalignment than the stented group (44% vs 5%, respectively; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Misalignment of the SMA with the use of unstented unreinforced scallops or fenestrations occurs frequently. Routine stenting of single-wide and large fenestrations, when feasible, may be a safer option for patients undergoing FEVAR.
OBJECTIVE: The Zenith (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind) fenestrated endovascular graft may be designed with single-wide scallops or large fenestrations to address the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Misalignment of the SMA with an unstented scallop or a large fenestration is possible. This study assessed SMA outcomes after fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (FEVAR). METHODS: During an 18-month period, 47 FEVARs were performed at a single institution. For analysis, patients were grouped according to unstented (n = 23) vs stented (n = 24) SMA scallops/fenestrations. The Institutional Review Board approved this single-institution observational study. Because this was a retrospective review of the data, patient consent was unnecessary for the study. RESULTS: Technical success for FEVAR was 100%. The median follow-up period was 7.7 months (range, 1-16 months). Nine of 21 patients (43%) in the unstented group had some degree of misalignment of the SMA (range, 9%-71%). Among these, four patients (44%) developed complications: three SMA stenoses and one occlusion. The mean peak systolic velocity in patients with and without SMA misalignment was 317.8 cm/s vs 188.4 cm/s (P < .08), respectively. No misalignment occurred in the stented group, and only one of 19 patients (5%) developed an SMA stenosis that required angioplasty. Overall, patients with unstented SMAs had significantly more adverse events directly attributable to SMA misalignment than the stented group (44% vs 5%, respectively; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Misalignment of the SMA with the use of unstented unreinforced scallops or fenestrations occurs frequently. Routine stenting of single-wide and large fenestrations, when feasible, may be a safer option for patients undergoing FEVAR.