Pulsatile Distension of the Proximal Aneurysm Neck is Larger in Patients with Stent Graft Migration

Purpose: The proximal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) neck expands significantly during the cardiac cycle, both before and after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Clinical consequences of this pulsatility were anticipated but have never been reported. This study investigated whether there is a relation between stent graft migration and preoperatively measured pulsatility of the proximal aneurysm neck. Methods: EVAR patients with a preoperative dynamic computed tomography angiography (CTA), an immediate postoperative, and a CTA at 3 years after EVAR were included. The preoperative dynamic CTAs consisted of eight images per heartbeat. Aortic diameter and area changes per heartbeat were measured at two levels: (A) 3 cm above and (B) 1 cm below the most distal renal artery. Postoperatively, the distance between the most distal renal artery and the most proximal stent graft ring was measured. Two patient groups were distinguished according to whether migration during follow-up occurred (group 1) or had not occurred (group 2). The aneurysm neck dynamics of the two groups were compared by using the t-test for unpaired data and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Mean values are presented with the standard deviation. Results: Included were 26 patients (19 Talent, 6 Excluder and 1 Lifepath). Stent graft migration of >= 5 mm occurred in 11 patients (group 1). The pulsatility of the AAA neck in these patients was compared with the pulsatility in 15 patients with no graft migration (group 2). There were no significant differences in aortic neck characteristics (angulation, length and diameter) or degree of stent graft oversizing between the two groups. At level A in group 1 versus group 2, the diameter increase during the cardiac cycle was 2.0 +/- 0.3 versus 1.7 +/- 0.3 mm and the aortic area increase was 49 +/- 15 versus 33 +/- 12 mm(2). At level B in group 1 versus group 2, the diameter increase per heartbeat was 1.8 +/- 0.3 versus 1.6 +/- 0.4 mm, and the area increase was 37 +/- 10 versus 25 +/- 15 mm(2). The heartbeat-dependent diameter and area changes at both levels were significantly higher in group 1 compared with group 2. Multivariate regression analysis showed suprarenal aortic pulsatility was a significant predictor for stent graft migration after 3 years. Conclusion: The preoperative heartbeat-dependent aneurysm neck distension is significantly associated with stent graft migration after 3 years. The aortic pulsatility in patients with stent graft migration is significantly higher than the pulsatility in patients without stent graft migration. (C) 2010 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.