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The aim of the study was to review the results of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair with the Powerlink Bifurcated endovascular graft, when compared with open AAA repair. A prospective, controlled, multicenter trial of the Powerlink System for endovascular abdominal repair (EVAR) was conducted at 15 sites as part of a pivotal FDA trial. Between July 2000 and March 2003, 258 patients were enrolled (192 test and 66 control patients). Stent grafts were oversized by 10-20% relative to computed tomography (CT)-based diameter measurements. All repairs were performed in the operating room through one surgically exposed femoral artery and a contralateral 9 French sheath percutaneously placed. Results were assessed using contrast-enhanced CT and plain abdominal X-rays at 1, 6, and 12 months and annually postoperatively. Mean follow-up of 36 months was available. Technical success was achieved in 97.9% of patients, with 4 failed insertions: 3 early conversions for deployment issues and one access failure. There was a significant difference in 30-day mortality between Powerlink (1%) and control (6.1%) patients and only 1 death was procedure-related (P=0.0389). Blood loss (341 mL vs 1 583 mL, P<0.0001), operative time (136 min vs 222 min, P<0.0001), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay (0.78 days vs 4.1 days, P<0.0001) and hospital length of stay (3.3 days vs 9.5 days, P<0.0001) were significantly less in the Powerlink cohort compared with controls. Secondary procedures have been performed on 16 patients post-implant to 48 months follow-up. At the time of the first month CT scan, endoleaks were noted in 25 patients, yielding a 30-day endoleak rate of 22.3%. Type II endoleaks predominated and there were no type III or IV endoleaks. The 4-year endoleak-free survival rate was 73%. No Type I, III or IV endoleaks were reported at 48 months post-implant. There have been no ruptures, graft fabric defects or wire fractures. Sac regression was noted in 83% of patients. Significant reduction in mean AAA diameter and volume was noted over every follow-up interval. In comparison to the 1-month post-implant CT scan, 2 patients had an increase in AAA diameter 5 mm at 48 months. The Powerlink system appears to be safe, and effectively protects patients from AAA rupture over the follow-up period. The graft and stent materials are still free from failure and fatigue. Contralateral limb access (9 Fr) facilitates graft placement in patients with disadvantaged access routes. EVAR performed with the Powerlink produces significantly less early adverse events than open AAA repair. Continued follow-up over the longer term is necessary to assure the durability of these results.

Patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) require an alternative antithrombotic treatment to heparin during arterial reconstruction. Ancrod and Iloprost have been employed but are not readily available and carry the risks of systemic side effects (depletion of fibrinogen, hypotension). A patient with HIT in whom intraoperative intraarterial urokinase (UK) was successfully utilized to enable safe arterial reconstruction is described. An 80 year old white female with diffuse arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease and multiple vascular reconstructions had thrombotic complications following use for heparin during two of her prior operations associated with documented thrombocytopenia and anti-platelet antibodies. She presented with limb-threatening ischemia which was evaluated with angiography revealing severe stenosis of the proximal left superficial femoral artery, occlusion of both anterior tibial and peroneal arteries and several digital vessels, with intact posterior tibial runoff. A common femoral to mid-superficial femoral artery bypass was performed, utilizing contralateral reversed greater saphenous vein, while being treated with aspirin and a continuous intravenous infusion of low molecular weight dextran. During the procedure the clamped arteries were locally perfused with a high volume of dilute UK solution to prevent blood stasis, and enable local delivery of a thrombolytic agent. Although clot formation was observed in the operative field, none occurred within the clamped arteries. A total of 191,200 units of UK were employed with no bleeding complications. Following surgery the patient had a palpable pedal pulse and markedly improved perfusion of her toes. She was discharged on aspirin and coumadin on postoperative day five. It is concluded that for patients with HIT, systemic aspirin and dextran combined with local intraarterial UK are a simple and effective substitute for systemic anticoagulation with heparin during arterial reconstruction.

The treatment of choice for the septic aortic prosthesis remains graft excision and extra-anatomic revascularization usually with axillofemoral bypass. Several recent retrospective series report secondary graft infection rates in these remedial procedures that range from 5-10%. In this setting, proximal axillary artery anastomotic disruption with pseudoaneurysm formation poses an especially vexing problem for the surgeon. We report a case of secondary graft infection presenting as unusually large, perianastomotic pseudoaneurysm formation. Our desire to avoid thoracotomy and the potential intrathoracic spread of infection prompted us to achieve proximal control by endovascular means. Balloon occlusion of the axillary artery proximal and distal to the graft anastomosis was achieved angiographically by percutaneous puncture of the ipsilateral brachial artery at two separate sites. This facilitated prompt removal of the infected graft with minimal intraoperative blood loss. Our favorable experience with this approach suggests a role for its more general application in the management of infected perianastomotic pseudoaneurysm.

Unlabelled: Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) provides detailed morphologic and flow information that demonstrates complex changes at sites of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and atherectomy. The purpose of this study is to examine the appearance of the vessel by MRA in the initial post-procedural and early follow-up periods., Methods: MRA was performed to evaluate 35 infrainguinal endovascular procedures (20 patients), including PTA (20), atherectomy (4), and combination PTA/atherectomy (11). MRA imaging was performed within 24 hours of the procedure and at a mean follow-up interval of 3.5 months (range 1-8)., Results: Abnormalities in the immediate post-procedural MRA were seen in 55% of the PTA group and 93% of the atherectomy group (p = 0.04). Importantly, three of 35 lesions (9%) were shown by MRA to harbor > 50% stenoses despite angiographically "successful" procedures. Follow-up MRA showed abnormalities in 25% of those undergoing PTA, and in 67% of those with atherectomy (p = 0.01). At the time of follow-up MRA, four areas showed > 50% stenosis and four areas showed occlusion, revealing unfavorable outcomes in 22%., Conclusions: MRA provides a detailed noninvasive image of the sites of endovascular interventions and reveals vessel wall abnormalities not appreciated by conventional arteriography. Continued observation may allow prediction of segments at increased risk for restenosis.