Percutaneous Septectomy in Chronic Dissection with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Creates Uniluminal Neck for EVAR

The intent of this report is to describe the technical details and rationale of endovascular septectomy using a wire saw maneuver in cases of chronic aortic dissection and associated infra-renal aortic aneurysm to allow standard endovascular abdominal aortic graft placement; preliminary clinical experience is also retrospectively reviewed.

Between June 2013 and June 2016, four consecutive patients (mean age 55.3 years; range 52-58 years) with chronic type B aortic dissection and isolated infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) underwent endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) following guidewire septectomy to create a suitable proximal aortic landing zone. Technical success was evaluated by angiography performed at the end of the procedure. Procedural safety was determined by assessing any major adverse events through 30 days of follow-up. Endoleaks and longer-term efficacy were evaluated.

Four patients with chronic aortic dissections had associated AAA with a mean maximum diameter of 60 ± 13 mm (range 50-77 mm). All underwent guidewire saw septectomy to facilitate EVAR. Following successful septectomy, standard abdominal bifurcated endografts were implanted uneventfully. No major adverse events and no endoleaks were noted on CT angiographic examinations through 30 days following the procedure. Also, no rupture, re-intervention or endoleak has been noted during follow-up at a mean of 21.8 ± 15 months (range 4-39 months).

Guidewire saw septectomy is a technique that has the potential to create an anatomically suitable proximal neck for successful EVAR management of AAA in select patients with associated chronic aortic dissection.