Endoluminal grafting of abdominal aortic aneurysms: experience with the Talent endoluminal stent graft

The aim of this study was to evaluate the Talent endoluminal stent graft (TESG) in treating abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The TESG is a polyester-covered nitinol endograft (proximal diameters 20-38 mm and iliac limb diameters 8-22 mm). Twenty-two men were treated with the TESG via bilateral femoral arteriotomies. Pre-implantation, coil embolization of various vessels arising from the aneurysm was performed in 6 patients. Plain radiographs and spiral CT angiograms (CTA) were carried out at 7 days, 3, 6, and 12 months following TESG implantation or re-intervention. Median aortic and iliac diameters were 27 mm (range 20-34 mm) and 14 mm (range 10-19 mm). The corresponding graft diameters were 30 mm (range 24-38 mm) and 14 mm (range 12-20 mm). No patient was rejected purely on the basis of too large aortic or iliac diameters. Eight patients required custom-made grafts. Graft implantation was successful in all patients. There were no blood transfusions, distal embolic episodes, or conversions to open surgery. Re-intervention was necessary in 1 patient. Complications included one fatal myocardial infarction, one inguinal hematoma, and two superficial wound infections. The aneurysm thrombosed completely following implantation in 14 patients and at 3 or 6 months in 4 other patients. One patient with endoleak is awaiting his 3-month control and 2 patients show tiny endoleaks but reduction of aneurysm size. The mean aneurysm size decreased significantly from 58 +/- 10 to 53 +/- 13 mm (p < 0.0005). Due to the large sizes available and the option of custom-made grafts, the TESG helps widen the spectrum of patients who can be treated with endoluminal grafting. The treatment is associated with a significant reduction in aneurysm size.