Laparoscopic inferior mesenteric artery ligation: an alternative for the treatment of type II endoleaks

One of the complications of endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm is endoleak from a patent inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). Between 1995 and 2002, of 213 patients who had endografts placed for abdominal aortic aneurysm, 4 (1.8%) had enlarging aneurysms from type II endoleaks involving a patent IMA and underwent a secondary procedure. Two patients had endovascular embolizations through the superior mesenteric artery, and two patients underwent laparoscopic inferior mesenteric artery ligation. In the laparoscopic group, operative time was 85 minutes (range, 35-136 minutes). One laparoscopic procedure had to be redone due to a missed IMA branch. Length of stay was 0 and 3 days. At mean followup at 16 months (range, 2-42 months), all patients had had successful resolution of endoleaks. Laparoscopic ligation is a minimally invasive treatment for IMA-mediated type II endoleaks.