Purpose:

the accuracy of risk prediction by ultrasonic control and computerized angiotomography is still far from the optimal diagnostic method for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The objective of this study is to perform a volumetric analysis of the AAA sac to detect alterations and to follow-up the evolution of the volume of the intraluminal thrombus (ILT) and its influence on the overall evolution after the EVAR.

Methods:

a total of 144 AAAs repaired by elective EVAR were analyzed. An angiotomography was carried out in the preoperative period, 6-12 months after the operation. The maximum-diameter, aneurysmal sac volume, and ILT volume were calculated each time. We determined the modification of the diameter, total-volume and intraluminal-thrombus volume (%). We made a comparison between the modification of the maximum-diameter and the total-volume of the aneurysms and between the total-volume of the aneurysm and the volume of ILT.

Results:

the average changes in the maximum diameter of AAA and the volume after EVAR was -2.16 ± 8.20 mm and 84.4 ± 23.32 cc, respectively. There was an increase in AAA-volume of 92.22 % and 57.34 % at 6 and 12 months in patients with endoleaks (22.03 ± 19.03 cc at 12 months of postoperative-period). The means of the ILT and AAA sac ratios were respectively 0.59 ± 0.17 and 0.52 ± 1.8 in AAA in sac growth and in stable or contracted AAA sac groups (p = 0.308).

Conclusion:

volumetric analysis of AAA repaired by EVAR is a more sensitive measure to determine the expansion of the aneurysm sac than the measurement of the maximum diameter of the aneurysm.

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