Evaluation of Delayed Endoleak Compared with Early Endoleak after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair

To identify prevalence and evaluate outcomes of delayed endoleak (DEL) compared with early endoleak (EEL) after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Data of 164 patients who underwent elective EVAR at a single center were retrospectively analyzed. DEL was defined as any type of endoleak that was first detected ≥ 12 months after EVAR. Patients who had < 1 year of follow-up were excluded. Endoleak was classified into a more aggressive category if a patient had > 1 type of endoleak. Analysis included 81 patients (82.7% male). Mean age was 73.1 years ± 9.3. Median follow-up duration was 43 months (range, 12-135 months).

Endoleak was present in 32 patients (39.5%), including 21 EEL (25.9%) and 11 DEL (13.6%). DEL consisted of 2 type I, 5 type II, 1 type III, and 3 type V (endotension). Median time to detection was 45 months (range, 15-60 months), and median follow-up duration was 62 months (range, 37-104 months). Compared with EEL, DEL had larger aneurysm diameters and higher rates of non-type II endoleak and reintervention. Type II DEL also required more reintervention procedures than type II EEL.

DEL had a noteworthy incidence and occurred late after EVAR. It predominantly consisted of non-type II endoleak and appeared to have more reinterventions than EEL. Meticulous long-term imaging surveillance to identify and manage DEL is critical.