Endotension after Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Endovascular Repair in Cirrhotic Patients

Endotension can present a real challenge for the long-term success of endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). Sometimes, it can be associated with liver dysfunction and consequent plasmatic alterations as in the 2 cases reported here.

Significant and progressive abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) sac enlargement, without radiologic signs of endoleak, was observed in 2 patients during a 3-year follow-up after EVAR. The first was a 70-year-old man affected by viral liver cirrhosis and the second was a 71-year-old man with cirrhosis due to alcoholic liver disease.

Both patients underwent successful conversion to open AAA repair; intraoperative findings confirmed the diagnosis of endotension.

Cirrhosis-induced plasmatic alterations may affect long-term efficacy of EVAR and should be considered when weighing endovascular treatment against open AAA repair in these high-risk patients. Surgical conversion is feasible despite the high procedural risk associated with liver disease.