Midterm Changes in Aortic Aneurysm Morphology After Endovascular Repair

l l Purpose: To study midterm changes in aortic aneurysm morphology after endovascular aneurysm repair. Methods: Of 94 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) treated with endografts between November 1993 and August 1998, 84 were available for follow-up. Patients were evaluated preoperatively by spiral computed tomography (CT) and aortography; in follow-up, spiral CT scanning was performed at 1, 3, and 6 months and semiannually thereafter. Measurements of the aneurysm neck diameter, maximum aneurysm diameter, and the distance from the lowermost renal artery to the aortic bifurcation were made preopera-tively and in follow-up. Results: Mean follow-up was 17.5 6 1.1 months; 56 (67%) patients were followed for 1 year and 28 (33%) for $2 years. There was a median 2-mm increase (interquartile range [IQR] 0 to 3) in neck diameter at 18 months. However, a $3-mm increase was seen in 18 (46%) of 39 patients examined at 18 months (median 4 mm, IQR 3 to 4, p 5 0.0001). The maximum AAA diameter decreased by 9 mm (IQR 4 to 16, p 5 0.0003) at 24 months, bu