Endovascular Repair of Inflammatory Aortic Aneurysms: Experience in a Single Center

Inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm (IAAA) remained a rare cause of aneurysmal aortic disease, with incidences between 5% and 10%. The current treatment for IAAA consists of open surgical repair and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Avoiding an inflamed, fibrotic retroperitoneum is the driving force behind the desire to repair IAAA endovascularly. The latest published works confirm the promising results after EVAR for IAAA, but there is still a paucity of data regarding hydroureter and hydronephrosis. In this article, we describe our experience with 5 patients diagnosed with IAAA and treated by EVAR, of whom 3 presented with associated hydronephrosis.

A retrospective review of our endovascular database identified five patients who underwent EVAR for IAAA. Unilateral ureteral involvement in the inflammatory process was seen in 3 patients, accompanied by secondary hydronephrosis. One patient presented retroperitoneal fibrosis with duodenal stenosis. Primary outcomes were primary technical success, aneurysm-related mortality, change in aneurysm size, perianeurysmal fibrosis (PAF), and hydronephrosis. Secondary outcomes were requirement for reintervention, progression/resolution of symptoms, and short-term clinical success.

Follow-up duration ranged from 3 to 61 months. No patients were lost to follow-up. Primary technical success was obtained in all patients. One patient died three months after the operation due to persistence of the duodenal stenosis in spite of subsequent endoscopic treatments and corticotherapy. The aneurysm sac progressively reduced in 4 patients and remained unchanged in one patient. PAF regressed in 2 patients, reduced in two, and remained unchanged in one patient. Hydronephrosis persisted in all three patients preoperatively diagnosed with this condition. No patient required subsequent intervention. Four patients had complete resolution of their symptoms at a follow-up visit at 1 month.

This series suggests that EVAR for IAAA is technically feasible, excludes the aneurysm effectively, and reduces PAF with an acceptable morbidity and mortality rate. EVAR does not seem to offer any benefits for hydronephrosis, and closer follow-up in patients presenting renal or ureter involvement treated by EVAR is necessary.