Objective: To prevent and manage frequent complications after endovascular repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).
Methods: The data of 71 cases of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) treated by endovascular repair were analysed retrospectively. The reasons, managements, results and prognosis of frequent complications were investigated.
Results: Seventy-one cases of infrarenal AAA were treated by endovascular repair with 100% success rate. There was no surgical conversion to open aneurysm repair. There were 8 cases of primary endoleak, 1 case of nervous complication and acute thrombosis. An average follow-up period was 26 +/- 5 months. Three persistent endoleaks and 4 secondary endoleaks were found during the follow-up period. The endoleak rate was 9.8% (7/71) within 1 month postoperatively and mortality rate was 1.3% (1/71). Total mortality rate was 4.2% (3/71). Two patients died from acute myocardial infarction and one from acute heart failure.
Conclusions: Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm is technically feasible and can effectively exclude aortic aneurysms from the circulation. Endoleak is a chief complication after endovascular repair of infrarenal AAA.Additional procedures and follow up are very important. Endoleak with enlarged aneurysm should be treated actively.