Endovascular treatment of aortoiliac aneurysms: made-to-measure stent-grafts increase feasibility

We describe here our preliminary experience with use of a range of made-to-measure stent-grafts made from commercially available components. From January 1996 to June 1998, 94 aortoiliac aneurysms (AIA) were treated with stent-grafts that were made to measure using Z autoexpandable stainless steel stents connected with polyester sutures and covered with commercially available polyester vascular prostheses. These stent-grafts were implanted through 18 to 24 (typically 20) Fr commercially available introducers via a surgical remote access. Made-to-measure tubular, bifurcated, tapered, and/or blind stents combined with extraanatomic bypass designs increased the rate of endovascular treatment (ET) of AIA in this series. This rate was further increased through the use of uncovered proximal or distal stents when dealing with short or tortuous necks near major collaterals and through use of hybrid, partly surgical designs, one with stented and the other with stentless ends, the latter allowing for a surgically made anastomosis. The results of our experience with these techniques show that use of made to-measure stent-grafts greatly increases the feasibility of the ET of AIA among unselected patients while offering enough efficiency and safety to deserve further investigation.