Delayed open conversions after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Secondary interventions after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) remain a concern. Most are simple catheter-based procedures, but in some instances, open conversions (OCs) are required and carry a worse outcome. We reviewed our experience to characterize these OCs.

A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who underwent an OC after a previous EVAR for an aneurysm-related indication from 2001 to 2010. Clinical outcomes are reported.

Data were reviewed for 44 patients (77% men) with a mean age of 74 years (range, 55-90 years). The average time from EVAR to the first OC was 45 months (range, 2-190 months). In six patients (14%), the initial EVAR was at another institution. The endografts used were Ancure in 16, Excluder in 13, AneuRx in eight, Zenith in three, Lifepath in one, Renu in one, and undetermined in two. Twenty-two patients had previously undergone a total of 32 endovascular reinterventions before their index OC. Indications for OC were aneurysm expansion in 28 (64%), rupture in 12 (27%), and infection in four (9%). The endograft was preserved in situ in 10 patients (23%). Explantation was partial in 18 (41%) or complete in 16 (36%). Endograft preservation was used for type II endoleak in all but one patient by selective ligation of the culprit arteries (lumbar in four, inferior mesenteric artery in five, and middle sacral in one). Proximal neck banding was performed in one type Ia endoleak. Overall morbidity was 55%, and mortality was 18%. No deaths occurred in a subgroup of patients who underwent endograft preservation with selective ligation of culprit vessels for type II endoleak. Intraoperative complications included bowel injury in two, bleeding in two, splenectomy in one, and ureteral injury in one. At a mean follow-up of 20 months, two patients underwent additional procedures after the index OC: one after endograft preservation and one after partial explantation. None of the patients who underwent elective OC with endograft preservation required subsequent endograft explantation.

Most OCs after EVAR are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, except when electively treating an isolated type II endoleak with ligation of branches and preservation of the endograft.