Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2025
Microsurgical Creation of Giant Bifurcation Aneurysms in Rabbits for the Evaluation of Endovascular Devices
Published on: September 8, 2023
ELECT: prospective, randomized trial comparing microvascular plug versus platinum-fibered microcoils for embolization
Manuela Konert1,2, Andrej Schmidt3, Daniela Branzan4,5
1Division of Angiology, Department of Angiology, University Hospital Leipzig, Liebigstraße 18, 04103, Leipzig, Germany. manuelakonert@yahoo.de.
Background:
Preemptive selective embolization of aneurysm sac side branches (ASSBs) has been proposed to prevent type II endoleak after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). This study aimed to explore if an embolization strategy using microvascular plugs (MVP) reduces intervention time and radiation dose compared to platinum-fibered microcoils. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the devices in occluding the treated artery was assessed.
Methods:
Sixty patients scheduled for EVAR underwent percutaneous preemptive embolization of ASSBs using MVPs or coils after a 1:1 randomization. Follow-up imaging was performed during aortic stentgraft implantation.
Results:
Overall, 170 ASSBs were successfully occluded (83 arteries by MVPs and 87 by coils) and no acute treatment failure occurred. The mean procedure time was significantly lower in the group treated with MVPs (55 ± 4 min) compared to coil occlusion (67 ± 3 min; p = 0.018), which was paralleled by a numerically lower radiation dose (119 Gy/cm2 vs. 140 Gy/cm2; p = 0.45). No difference was found for contrast agent use (34 ml MVP group vs 35 ml coil group; p = 0.87). At follow-up, reopening of lumbar arteries was seen in nine cases (four after coil embolization; five after MVPs).
Conclusion:
Both microvascular plugs and coils can be effectively used for preemptive embolization of aneurysm sac side branches before EVAR. Use of plugs offers a benefit in terms of intervention time.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03842930 Registered 15 February 2019.
