Transfemoral, endovascular stented graft repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm
J. C. Parodi, M. L. Marin and F. J. Veith
Department of Vascular Surgery, Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Endovascular aortic graft implantation is a new procedure for the repair of
arterial aneurysms. We report on the first such case successfully performed
in the United States. A 76-year-old man with severe oxygen-dependent
pulmonary insufficiency, coronary artery disease, and recurrent ventricular
tachyrhythmia was also diagnosed as having a 7.5-cm infrarenal abdominal
aortic aneurysm. Because of the high risks associated with conventional
surgical repair, consent was obtained for compassionate use of an
experimental device. Using local anesthesia, a 22-mm Dacron prosthesis was
inserted under fluoroscopic guidance through an open, left transfemoral
route. Completion arteriography demonstrated aneurysm exclusion. No blood
transfusion was required and there were no perioperative complications.
Further technical refinements and clinical trials will be required prior to
the broad implementation of this technique.
