Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026
A New Murine Model of Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Published on: July 7, 2013
Incidence and Clinical Significance of Renal Infarct After Fenestrated Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Lauren M B Burke1, Jesse M Conyers1, Charles T Burke1
11 Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 101 Manning Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
Insights
Renal infarcts are common after fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (FEVAR), but most patients maintain normal kidney function. Less than a quarter of FEVAR patients with renal infarcts experienced a significant decline in renal function.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Interventional Radiology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (FEVAR) is a minimally invasive procedure for complex aortic aneurysms.
- Assessing potential complications, such as renal infarcts, is crucial for patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of renal infarcts following FEVAR.
- To evaluate the clinical significance and impact of renal infarcts on renal function post-FEVAR.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 90 patients undergoing FEVAR.
- Analysis of pre- and post-procedure CT angiography for renal infarcts.
- Assessment of serum creatinine levels to evaluate renal function.
Main Results:
- Renal infarcts were identified in 26% of patients post-FEVAR.
- Infarcts were due to intentional accessory renal artery exclusion (39%) or presumed emboli (61%).
- Only a minority of patients with infarcts (less than 25%) showed a significant decline in renal function (>0.3 mg/dL increase in creatinine).
Conclusions:
- Renal infarcts are a frequent finding after FEVAR.
- The clinical impact of these infarcts on renal function is generally limited.
- FEVAR can be performed with acceptable renal outcomes despite the incidence of renal infarcts.
Objective:
The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence and clinical significance of renal infarcts after fenestrated endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (FEVAR).
Materials And Methods:
All patients who underwent FEVAR with unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT angiography during a 4-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Two staff radiologists reviewed pre- and post-FEVAR CT examinations for the presence of renal infarcts. Pre- and postoperative serum creatinine levels were examined to determine statistical significance. The incidence of renal infarct and percentage of renal volume reduction were calculated.
Results:
Ninety patients were included for analysis. All patients had a mild progressive increase in serum creatinine level after FEVAR. Twenty-three patients (26%) had a renal infarct identified on post-FEVAR CT, nine (39%) of which were secondary to intentional exclusion of an accessory renal artery and 14 (61%) of which were presumed to be embolic. Two patients with presumed embolic infarcts and three with exclusion of an accessory renal artery had an increase in serum creatinine level of greater than 0.3 mg/dL at 1 month after FEVAR.
Conclusion:
Although renal infarcts are common after FEVAR, the clinical relevance of these events appears to be limited, with less than one-quarter of patients with renal infarcts experiencing a decline in renal function.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Aneurysm III: Interprofessional Care
01:28Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview
01:22Aneurysm IV: Nursing Management
01:30Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention
01:29Acute Kidney Injury II: Pathophysiology
01:21Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies