Simple diameter measurements with ultrasound can be safely used to follow the majority of patients after infrarenal endovascular aneurysm repair

BACKGROUND: The optimal imaging follow-up after infrarenal EVAR is still undefined. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcome of a personalized follow-up program after infrarenal EVAR based on ultrasound AAA diameter measurements for low-risk patients.

METHODS: All consecutive patients followed-up locally after elective and acute infrarenal EVAR between 2010 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients underwent CTA at 1-month post-EVAR whereby the attending surgeon defined the subsequent follow-up. Patients considered at low risk were followed with ultrasound only assessing AAA diameter at 1, 2, 3 and every 5 years postoperatively (group A). Low risk required a favorable pre-operative anatomy especially regarding the aneurysm neck, satisfactory intraoperative result and uneventful 1 month CTA (type 2 endoleaks acceptable). Patients not fulfilling the criteria for group A were followed with yearly 3-phase-CTAs (group B).

RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-two patients with a AAA median diameter of 58 (54-68) mm were included. One hundred ninety-one were allocated into group A and 31 in group B. Median follow-up time was 36 (24-59) months. Five-year primary and primary-assisted success was 82±5% and 93±3% for group A and 70±13% and 93±5% for group B, respectively (P=0.042 and P=0.504, respectively). Sixteen late aneurysm-related reinterventions were performed in 12 patients (7 in group A and 9 in group B). In group A, 5 reinterventions were rupture-preventing and 2 were symptomatic. All late reinterventions in group B were performed following findings on follow-up imaging. Five-year late reintervention-free survival was 95±2% and 84±7% for groups A and B, respectively (P=0.046). Five-year survival was 80±3% and 63±10% for group A and B, respectively (P=0.024).

CONCLUSIONS: A customized follow-up program after infrarenal EVAR based on ultrasound AAA diameter measurements in low-risk patients seems to be effective in maintaining a very high mid-term clinical success rate.