A novel method of endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm

Background: Endovascular stent graft therapy of abdominal aortic aneurysms is sometimes complicated due to unusual anatomy of the aorta and adjacent arterial regions, an irregular or short proximal neck, numerous patent branches originating from the aneurysm, or tortuous iliac arteries. Endovascular aneurysm sealing is a new method designed to overcome certain limitations of current stent grafts.

Methods: At the Department of Vascular Surgery of Na Homolce Hospital, we implanted 51 stent grafts in the subrenal aorta and iliac arteries. Most of them were regular bifurcated stent grafts. Two patients were treated with the new Nellix stent graft, in one case due to a short subrenal neck of only 13 mm, and due to a considerably conical neck in the second case.

Results: The post-operative course was uneventful in both patients and they were discharged on the 5th postoperative day. CT angiography after six weeks proved that the stent graft had sealed well. The polymer filled the aortic lumen completely.

Conclusions: This new method of endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) of abdominal aortic aneurysm makes it possible to treat patients whose anatomy would normally require technically complex and more expensive endovascular methods. We aim to follow long-term results of the method in larger patient cohorts.