Early computed tomographic angiography after endovascular aneurysm repair: worthwhile or worthless?

This study evaluated the value of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) early after an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in relation to CTA 3 months after EVAR. We retrospectively reviewed all elective EVAR patients with available postprocedural and 3-month follow-up CTAs who were treated between 1996 and 2006. CTAs were analyzed for EVAR-related complications in terms of endoleaks, migration, and stent graft thrombosis. Secondary procedures and other complications within a 4-month time interval after EVAR were noted and analyzed for any association with the postprocedural CTA. During the study period, 291 patients (275 men), with a mean age of 71 years, underwent elective EVAR. All had postprocedural and 3-month follow-up CTAs, which detected 93 (32%) endoleaks (8 type I, 84 type II, 1 type III) and 1 stent graft thrombosis. These findings resulted in four secondary interventions (one interposition cuff, two extension cuffs, one conversion). All reinterventions were successfully done in an elective setting. During the first 3 postoperative months, five other reinterventions were required for acute ischemia in four patients (three Fogarty procedures, one femorofemoral crossover bypass) or groin infection in one patient. Eight patients died, but none of the deaths were related to abdominal aortic aneurysm or EVAR (four cardiac, two pulmonary, one gastric bleeding, one carcinoma). At 3 months, 43 endoleaks (3 type I, 40 type II), 3 stent graft thromboses, and 1 stent graft migration were seen. In two patients (0.7%), a new endoleak was diagnosed compared with the postprocedural CTAs. In 287 (99%) of 291 patients, the postprocedural CTA did not influence our treatment policy in the first 3 months after EVAR. More than half of the early endoleaks were self-limiting, and new endoleaks were seen in only two patients (< 1%) at the 3-month follow-up CTA. After an uneventful EVAR procedure, it is safe to leave out the early postprocedural CTA.