Objective: Postimplantation syndrome (PIS) is a postoperative syndrome that occurs after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), accompanied by high fever, leukocytosis, and high serum C-reactive protein (CRP). Its pathogenesis and clinical meaning are still under discussion. Here, we evaluate the relationship between postoperative fever after EVAR and graft fabric focusing on Endologix Powerlink® and AFX® (EPL/AFX).Materials and Methods: From January 2015 to July 2017, data on elective EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) using mainbody were retrospectively collected. The primary endpoint was maximal postoperative fever.Results: We identified 128 patients who underwent elective EVAR for AAA (105 males, 82%; aged 57–90, median: 74 years). The median maximal postoperative fever was 37.8°C (36.6–39.7°C): polyester graft, 38.2°C (37.1–39.7°C); Excluder®, 37.8°C (36.6–39.2°C); and EPL/AFX, 37.7°C (37–38.7°C). The maximal postoperative fever with a polyester graft was significantly higher than that with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft (p<0.001). However, there was no difference between Excluder® and EPL/AFX (p=0.214).Conclusion: In this study, it was found that polyester grafts are significantly associated with PIS after elective EVAR for AAA. If patient anatomy is permitted, it may be better to choose the ePTFE graft, especially for patients with a poor general condition.

Background Approaching from the left brachial artery is an important access route in endovascular therapy for complicated aortic and peripheral artery cases. Here, we report two cases of a poor access route from the left brachial artery because of asymptomatic axillary artery occlusion (AAO), despite no preoperative upper arm blood pressure laterality, a normal ankle brachial pressure index, and absence of occlusion of the subclavian artery on CT scan. Case 1 Seventy-six-year-old female. We planned endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for para-renal abdominal aortic aneurysm using the snorkel technique in the renal artery, but we failed to pass through the left subclavian artery when approaching from the left brachial artery because of AAO. Case 2 Seventy-three-year-old female. We planned zone 2 thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) for thoracic aortic aneurysm and embolization of the left subclavian artery via the left brachial artery, but we failed to pass through the left subclavian artery because of AAO, and therefore, we simply covered the orifice of the left subclavian artery using a stent graft without embolization. Conclusions The presence of an asymptomatic AAO may alter the treatment plan but may be difficult to diagnose preoperatively. In those cases in which a brachial or radial artery access is planned, contrast medium should be injected from the contralateral upper extremity during preoperative enhanced CT since the absence of halation of the ipsilateral subclavian/axillary vein provides improved visualization of the AAO which may lead to a better preoperative strategy including the choice of the side of upper extremity access.

BackgroundPrior reports indicate that intentional coverage of the accessory renal arteries (ARAs) with a diameter larger than 3 mm during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) increases risk of additional treatment for type II endoleak. Here, we report a case of prophylactic coil embolization for a 4 mm ARA originating from an abdominal aortic aneurysm.Case presentationA 76-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital after noticing an abdominal pulsatile mass. Computed tomography (CT) imaging revealed an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with a maximum diameter of 53 mm. Preoperative CT scan showed a right ARA, 4 mm in diameter, which was considered likely to lead to type II endoleak following EVAR. ARA coil embolization was performed at the time of EVAR. We observed no endoleaks and no infarct of the inferior pole of the right kidney on completion angiography. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 7 days later. Postoperative eGFR (58.4 ml/min) was not significantly different from preoperative level (56.7 ml/min). After EVAR, blood pressure was under control, and no additional anti-hypertensive medicines were required. Postoperative enhanced CT image showed that the distal portion of the ARA was well perfused without type II endoleak from ARA.ConclusionsProphylactic coil embolization for a large ARA originating from an abdominal aortic aneurysm appears to be safe and effective in preventing type II endoleak following EVAR.

Injury to the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) graft during gastrectomy after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can cause critical coronary failure. A man in his 60s with advanced gastric cancer and a history of CABG was admitted to our hospital. His cardiac blood flow was dependent on RGEA, and a gastrectomy with RGEA preservation was necessary. Robot-assisted distal gastrectomy with real-time vessel navigation using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging and Da Vinci Firefly technology was planned. Intraperitoneal observation revealed severe adhesions around the graft. Two milliliters ICG (2.5 mg/mL) was injected intravenously, and RGEA was visualized. An RGEA-preserving robot-assisted distal gastrectomy was successfully performed. The operation time was 279 minutes, and the blood loss was 5 mL. The postoperative course was good and there were no complications.

Objective: The objective of the study was to develop a better model of prediction after EVAR using the psoas muscle index (PMI). Summary Background Data: The Glasgow Aneurysm Score (GAS), the modified Leiden Score (mLS), the Comorbidity Severity Score (CSS), and the Euro Score (ES) are known prognostic scoring after EVAR. Similarly, sarcopenia measured by PMI has been reported to be an important predictor. This study investigated a new scoring system using PMI predicting short and midterm overall mortality after EVAR. Methods: Three hundred ten patients were retrospectively evaluated. The primary endpoint was all-cause death. One hundred three patients were assigned to the derivation cohort and 207 patients to the validation cohort. Results: The all-cause mortality rates were 8.8% at 1 year, 23.5% at 3 years, and 32.8% at 5 years. In a multivariate analysis, age, aneurysm diameter, eGFR, and PMI were associated with all-cause mortality in the derivation cohort. The SAS system was defined as the sum of the following factors: elderly (75 years), large aneurysm (65 mm), low eGFR (30 mL/min/1.73m2), and low PMI (males: 48.2 cm2/m2, females: 36.8 cm2/m2). We compared the SAS with the other prognostic scoring for 5-year mortality evaluating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves in the validation cohort (GAS: 0.731, mLS: 0. 718, CSS: 0. 646, ES: 0.661, and SAS: 0.785, P = 0.013). Conclusion: We developed the SAS to predict all-cause mortality after elective EVAR and this scoring showed excellent predictive performance.