[Incidence and risk factors of endoleak in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair]

endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) reduces morbidity and hospital stay compaired with open surgical repair. Endoleak is a common complication of the procedure. The resulting increase of pressure within the sac may expand the aneurysm with the following risk of rupture. The aim of this study was to recognize the incidence of endoleak in tomographic controls of the patients who underwent endovascular repair at our hospital as well as identify the risk factors associated with this complication.

all consecutive patients who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair at our hospital between 2008, February until 2012, February were restrospectively enrolled in the study, excluding those who were lost at follow-up. 43 patients were included, aged 70.5 ± 6 (men: 88%). The endpoint was endoleak incidence at 1, 6, 12th months after the intervention in the control tomography, and its association with underlying risk factors: hypertension, Smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary desease and the diameter of the aneurysm.

eleven (11%) patients developed endoleak (type I 9%, type III 2%). All were infrarrenal aortic aneurysms. The anteroposterior diameter of the aneurysm (more than 60 mm) showed a trend toward statistical significance as a risk factor (30% vs. 6%; p:0.073). No relationship was found with gender, age, COPD, smoking or hypertension.

endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair is a common complication. The size of the aneurysm might be a risk factor of the event.