Aneurysm pressure following endovascular exclusion

Objectives:To assess the effect of stent-graft implantation on the pressure within an abdominal aortic aneurysm.Methods:Aneurysm exclusion was performed using an aorto-uniiliac stent-graft in eight patients. Following stent-graft implantation, pressure measurements were performed through a catheter adjacent to the graft in the aneurysm. This “aneurysm pressure” was compared with radial arterial pressure.Results:The pressure was lower in the aneurysm than in the radial artery, in all cases. Mean aneurysm pressure was 36.5/33.8 mmHg, while mean radial arterial pressure was 118.5/50.5 mmHg (p < 0.05, for both systolic and diastolic pressures). These findings corresponded with a reduction in the palpable abdominal pulse, and an absence of perigraft perfusion on follow-up computerised tomography.Conclusion:Stent-graft implantation produces a fall in the pressure within an abdominal aortic aneurysm