Infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair: New developments and decision making in 2016

New developments in infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm stent-graft devices have made more patients eligible for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Recent US Food and Drug Administration approval for fenestrated endograft repair and impending approval for iliac branch devices extend the proximal and distal landing zones. Better deployment systems allow for partial deployment of endografts to facilitate repositioning, and more flexible designs allow for treatment of angulated infrarenal aneurysm necks and tortuous iliac arteries. New iterations of endografts have smaller delivery catheter diameters, which facilitate traversal of smaller access vessels. Long-term outcomes data are still accumulating and it remains to be seen whether EVAR for this expanded-indication abdominal aortic aneurysms anatomy has the same durability as standard EVAR. More options for repair also mean vascular surgeons must select the best EVAR device based on each patient's abdominal aortic aneurysm anatomy.