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DOI: 10.12945/j.aorta.2016.16.013
Chimney Technique with Nellix EndoVascular Aneurysm Sealing System in a Patient with Single Kidney and Juxtarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Corresponding Author
Publication History
23 March 2016
29 June 2016
Publication Date:
24 September 2018 (online)
Abstract
We present a saccular asymptomatic juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm in a 70-year-old male with a very short left renal artery supplying the only kidney. The case was successfully treated with the Nellix EndoVascular Aneurysm Sealing system combined with a chimney technique.
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Key Words
Abdominal aortic aneurysm - Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair - Chimney technique - Single kidney - EVASIntroduction
Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the method of choice for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, especially in patients deemed intermediate or high risk for open aneurysm repair[1].
The Nellix EndoVascular Aneurysm Sealing (EVAS) System (Endologix, Inc., Irvine, CA, USA) is a relatively new endoluminal device designed to treat infrarenal AAA by obliterating the aneurysm sac, thus eliminating the potential endoleak space while maintaining normal flow to the lower extremities. The endograft blood-flow lumens are supported with balloon-expandable endoframes surrounded by polymer-filled endobags, and do not require proximal and distal fixation[2] [3]. The goal of the EVAS method is to treat AAAs while preserving side branches.
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Case Presentation
A 70-year-old male presented with several years of abdominal and back pain associated with a pulsatile abdominal mass. Computed tomography-angiography (CTA) was performed, showing a 4.7 × 2.7-cm pararenal saccular AAA and a very short 0.8-cm left renal artery. Both common iliac arteries were non-aneurysmal ([Figure 1]). The patient’s comorbidities included right kidney tumor and subsequent right adrenalectomy and nephrectomy three years previously, which may have caused the formation of the pseudoaneurysm in the aorta at the renal artery level. He also had hypertension and was previously a smoker. The patient had also experienced abdominal trauma 15 years previously caused by a falling tree. The other patient history was unremarkable.
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The decision to offer an endovascular solution for this patient was based on the risk/benefit assessment of open surgery, which would involve suprarenal clamping and re-implantation of the single left renal artery. A chimney technique was selected to be combined with EVAS, because this method would preserve the single renal artery. The procedure was performed under spinal anesthesia in a hybrid operating theatre.
Percutaneous access was gained via the common femoral artery to introduce the Nellix system. We used two 160-mm Nellix stent endoframes. Devices were introduced into the abdominal aorta above the left renal artery to fully exclude the aneurysm. Renal artery access was gained via a left brachial artery cutdown using a 7 F catheter ([Figure 2]). A 7 × 80-mm percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon was placed into the left renal artery to preserve a flow channel in this very short vessel during polymer injection into the endobags ([Figure 3]). Both endoframes were deployed and the endobags were filled with a polymer under pressure guidance. The EVAS procedure was carried out according to standard procedures[2] [3]. After polymer curing and exclusion of the aneurysm, the PTA balloon was removed and the flow channel between the endobags and the aortic wall was supported by introducing an 8 × 50-mm Gore Viabahn stent graft (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) ([Figures 4] and [5]). Access sites in the femoral arteries were closed using two Proglide vascular closure devices (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA) and the brachial artery was closed by direct suture.
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The patient had recovered fully and was discharged three days after the procedure with dual antiplatelet therapy for one year. No renal complications or deterioration of renal function were observed at the time of discharge or during follow-up at one or six months. One-month follow-up CTA showed fully patent renal arteries without branch artery thrombosis or renal infarctions. Six-month follow-up CTA scans showed full exclusion of the AAA with no change in diameter, and patent left renal artery ([Figure 6]). Renal function continues to be normal.
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Discussion
Successful results have been reported for the chimney technique with EVAR stent grafts[4]. Nevertheless, Type-I endoleaks are frequently seen after treating patients with self-expanding stent grafts. The Nellix EVAS system can be used successfully for the treatment of challenging AAAs involving side branches[5]. This is a promising technology for performing chimney grafts with lower risk for Type-1 endoleaks due to the polymer filling of the space around the stents.
Special difficulties were present in the case described here: the very short side branch posed a potential risk of intra-procedural stent migration from the side branch to the aorta. We present in this report a successful strategy for the creation of a flow channel at the time of EVAS and implantation of a supporting stent graft after the procedure.
This case shows that the Nellix EVAS system combined with a chimney technique can successfully treat AAA and preserve the renal artery, opening new horizons for EVAS in the treatment of juxtarenal aneurysms.
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Conflict of Interest
Dainis Krievins and Janis Savlovskis are paid consultants for the Endologix Nellix scientific medical advisory board.
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References
- 1 Brewster DC, Cronenwett JL, Hallett Jr JW, Johnston KW, Krupski WC, Matsumura JS. , et al. Guidelines for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Report of a subcommittee of the Joint Council of the American Association for Vascular Surgery and Society for Vascular Surgery. J Vasc Surg 2003; 37: 1106-1117 . DOI: 10.1067/mva.2003.363
- 2 Donayre CD, Zarins CK, Krievins DK, Holden A, Hill A, Calderas C. , et al. Initial clinical experience with a sac-anchoring endoprosthesis for aortic aneurysm repair. J Vasc Surg 2011; 53: 574-582 . DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2010.09.009
- 3 Krievins DK, Holden A, Savlovskis J, Calderas C, Donayre CD, Moll FL. , et al. EVAR using the nellix sac-sealing endoprosthesis: treatment of favourable and adverse anatomy. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2011; 42: 38-46 . DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2011.03.007
- 4 Ronchey S, Serrao E, Kasemi H, Pecoraro F, Fazzini S, Alberti V. , et al. Endovascular treatment options for complex abdominal aortic aneurysms. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2015; 26: 842-854 . DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2015.02.021
- 5 Bockler D, Reijnen MM, Krievins D, Peters AS, Hayes P, De Vries JP. Use of Nellix EVAS system to treat post-EVAR complications and to treat challenging infrarenal necks. J Cardiovasc Surg 2014; 55: 601-612 . PMID: 25175947
Corresponding Author
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References
- 1 Brewster DC, Cronenwett JL, Hallett Jr JW, Johnston KW, Krupski WC, Matsumura JS. , et al. Guidelines for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Report of a subcommittee of the Joint Council of the American Association for Vascular Surgery and Society for Vascular Surgery. J Vasc Surg 2003; 37: 1106-1117 . DOI: 10.1067/mva.2003.363
- 2 Donayre CD, Zarins CK, Krievins DK, Holden A, Hill A, Calderas C. , et al. Initial clinical experience with a sac-anchoring endoprosthesis for aortic aneurysm repair. J Vasc Surg 2011; 53: 574-582 . DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2010.09.009
- 3 Krievins DK, Holden A, Savlovskis J, Calderas C, Donayre CD, Moll FL. , et al. EVAR using the nellix sac-sealing endoprosthesis: treatment of favourable and adverse anatomy. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2011; 42: 38-46 . DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2011.03.007
- 4 Ronchey S, Serrao E, Kasemi H, Pecoraro F, Fazzini S, Alberti V. , et al. Endovascular treatment options for complex abdominal aortic aneurysms. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2015; 26: 842-854 . DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2015.02.021
- 5 Bockler D, Reijnen MM, Krievins D, Peters AS, Hayes P, De Vries JP. Use of Nellix EVAS system to treat post-EVAR complications and to treat challenging infrarenal necks. J Cardiovasc Surg 2014; 55: 601-612 . PMID: 25175947
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