Stent-assisted embolization as "bailout" option in aortic aneurysm

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Interventional Radiology
• Endovascular Therapy

Background:

• Aortic pathologies like pseudoaneurysms and fistulas present significant clinical challenges.
• Traditional surgical repair can involve high morbidity.
• Endovascular stent-graft therapy is an established alternative, but other options are explored.

Observation:

• Two distinct cases involving aortic pathologies were treated using stent-assisted embolization (SAE).
• Case 1: SAE for an aortic pseudoaneurysm involved stent placement followed by embolization via stent struts using an AMPLATZER Vascular Plug and coils.
• Case 2: SAE was employed to manage acute bleeding from an aortoureteral fistula, preceded by aortic bifurcation reconstruction with stents.

Findings:

• Stent-assisted embolization was technically successful in both reported cases.
• The procedures effectively addressed the specific aortic pathologies.
• No immediate complications were detailed, indicating procedural feasibility.

Implications:

• SAE represents a potentially valuable endovascular technique for selected aortic conditions.
• It may serve as an alternative to open surgery or standard endovascular stent-graft repair.
• Further investigation into SAE's role in managing complex aortic diseases is warranted.