Impact of Stent Graft Design on External Iliac Artery Limb Occlusion Rates After Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: Post-hoc Analysis of a Japanese Multicentre Database

Objective/Background It was hypothesised that a helical stent with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts could provide a preventive effect for external iliac artery (EIA) limb occlusion following endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). Therefore, a post-hoc analysis of a Japanese multicentre database was conducted to assess the impact of the stent graft design on EIA limb occlusion rates. Methods Patients who underwent EVAR with EIA limb deployment between 2008 and 2016 were evaluated. The stent graft limbs were divided into two groups: group A comprised stent graft limbs made of a helical stent with ePTFE grafts (Excluder; n = 255), and group B comprised stent graft limbs made of a Z stent with polyester grafts (Zenith, Flex and Endurant; n = 173). The main outcome was the incidence of limb occlusion and severe limb stenosis (EIA related limb complications). The risk factors for EIA related limb complications were analysed and the midterm results between groups A and B compared. Fine–Gray generalisation of the proportional hazards model was used after propensity score matching to calculate the hazard ratio (HR). Results One complication occurred in group A and 10 complications occurred in group B. The risk factors for EIA related limb complications for the entire group were a stent graft limb size ≤10 mm (HR 5.41; p = .01) and inclusion in group B (HR 14.9; p = .009). After propensity matching, group A (n = 159) was matched with group B (n = 159). The cumulative incidence function of EIA related limb complications at five years was 0.66% in group A and 7.8% in group B (HR 8.67; p = .039). Conclusion Stent graft design can affect limb patency in EIA limb deployment. When EIA limb deployment is necessary for patients with a small EIA, such as Japanese patients, stent graft limbs made of a helical stent with ePTFE should be used to reduce the risk of limb occlusion.