Occlusive Shrinkage of Ovation Endograft Presenting as Acute Lower Limb Ischemia

Abstract

The aim of this report is to describe the imaging and successful treatment of an acute shrinkage of the Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft System. The Ovation Prime system utilizes a polymer-filled sealing ring that is cast in situ at the margin of the aneurysm; however, the residual endograft inner volume after ring filling may reduce volume and graft flow. Nevertheless, there are no reports about severe complications using the Ovation Prime system. A 75-year-old male presented to our hospital for acute lower limb ischemia. The patient reported a previous endograft for abdominal aortic aneurysm 1 month previously, which utilized the Ovation device. Computed tomography (CT) angiography demonstrated a critical narrowing of the endograft at the site of the proximal sealing rings. We decided on urgent treatment, delivering a covered stent graft (CP STENT NUMED^™). Intraoperative intravascular ultrasound showed effective compaction of the proximal rings. Nine-month follow-up with CT angiography demonstrated good patency without ring recoil of the endograft. This is the first report of endovascular treatment for an acute and symptomatic shrinkage of proximal rings in the Ovation trivascular endograft. Angiographic and intravascular ultrasound findings showed that covered stenting is effective and that the ring polymer is safely moldable.

Key Words

Endovascular complication - EVAR - Aortic sealing

Introduction

Endovascular technology has significantly changed the field of vascular surgery[1] [2] [3]. However, approximately one-third of patients presenting with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are deemed ineligible for standard endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) because of anatomic constraints[1] [2], the majority of which involve inadequacy of the proximal aneurysmal neck. To cope with these challenges, different endovascular approaches have been developed that either enhance stent graft fixation at the proximal neck or extend the proximal landing zone to allow adequate apposition to the aortic wall and thus aneurysm exclusion. Patients with aortic necks <10 mm have a 4-fold greater risk of proximal endoleak in the first 30 days after operation compared with those with necks >15 mm[1] [2]. Of the available endografts, the Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft System (TriVascular Inc., Santa Rosa, CA, USA) is designed to overcome the limitations of currently available stent grafts. The Ovation graft is suitable for a broad range of aortoiliac characteristics and provides effective sealing for complex proximal infrarenal aortic neck morphology[4] [5]. However, some authors have observed asymptomatic inflow stenosis at the O-rings of the Ovation stent graft[6] [7]. Here, we describe the imaging and treatment of an acute complication in a patient treated for AAA with an Ovation stent graft, leading to acute limb ischemia.

Case Presentation

A 75-year-old man presented to our hospital for acute lower limb ischemia. The patient was referred to our hospital with leg pain at rest as well as foot numbness and hypoesthesia. One month previously, he was treated in another hospital for a rapidly enlarging AAA (from 40 to 48 mm in 6 months) using an Ovation Abdominal Stent Graft System. His comorbidities were mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity (body mass index, 29.3), and hypertension. His symptoms occurred a few hours before he arrived at our emergency room. He complained of severe ankle and calf pain at rest that increased over a 2-hour time span. His femoral arteries were pulseless, and distal bilateral acrocyanosis was present. Blood samples showed increased creatine phosphokinase (4500 U/L). Critical post-stenotic flowmetric findings were evident upon ultrasound scanning of the femoral arteries. Ankle-brachial pressure index was 0.22 bilaterally. Urgent computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed, which showed severe narrowing of the proximal aortic neck where the endograft rings sealed the AAA ([Figure 1A]).

Figure 1. Panel A. Computed tomography angiography showing narrowing of the proximal neck (1 - Bare metal stent of the endograft. 2 - Rings filled with polymer). Panel B. Endograft dimensions.

Based on these clinical and imaging findings, we decided to perform urgent revascularization. We used an endovascular approach with a 14-F mounted covered stent with high radial force characteristics (CP Stent, NuMED Inc., Hopkinton, NY, USA) with a total covered length of 45 mm. The aortic neck measured 20 mm, and the Ovation stent graft was 29 mm ([Figure 1B]). We observed circumferential calcifications surrounding the proximal aortic neck. Under general anesthesia, a 4-F introducer was inserted through the left brachial artery, and an angiogram performed. Intraoperative anticoagulation was achieved using 100 units/kg heparin, with activating clotting time maintained for more than 250 s. The right femoral artery (which was previously used for EVAR) was surgically exposed. An artery pouch was prepared with a 5/0 polypropylene stitch to close the arteriotomy at the end of the procedure. We recorded a clinically significant cycle-averaged pressure drop along the inflow stenosis and further in the endograft main body (45.5 ± 15 mmHg). Mean arterial pressure dropped from 110 to 45 mmHg when measured above and below the stenosis. A Visions PV .035 Digital Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) Catheter was placed to calculate the residual lumen and area close to the ring (39.3 ± 3.5 mm²) and to visualize the echogenicity of the polymer compared with the aortic thrombus ([Figure 2]). The median area above and below the stenosis was 409 mm2. CP stent deployment was performed in a two-stage sequence. Final delivery was obtained with high-pressure second stage ballooning (10 ATM) followed by further post-dilation with a Z-MED II™ Balloon (NuMED Inc., Hopkinton, NY, USA) ([Figure 3A]). Post-implantation IVUS showed good results in terms of restored area (439 ± 22 mm²) and reduced ring polymer volume ([Figure 3B]). The pressure gradient along the endograft neck was eliminated. The patient recovered from limb ischemia and was discharged 5 days after the operation with good bilateral femoral pulses. Nine months later ([Figure 3C] and [3D]), CT angiography showed good patency of the endograft with no neck recoil. Outpatient ultrasound evaluation showed normal flowmetric patterns.

Figure 2. Intravascular ultrasound scanning of the proximal neck. Panel A1. True lumen of the upper part of the endograft just above the ring. Panel B1. Superior ring filled with polymer. Panel B2: Endograft residual lumen. Panel C1 Inferior ring filled with polymer almost occluding the lumen, and the 6-F intravascular ultrasound occupying the residual lumen. Panel D1. True lumen of the lower part of the neck below the inferior ring. The aneurysmal thrombus showed similar echogenicity as the polymer.

Figure 3. Final result and 9-month computed tomography angiography. Panel A. Angiography results after high-pressure ballooning (10-15 ATM). Panel B. Intravascular ultrasound showing the (Panel A) inner endograft lumen and (Panel B) proximal ring. Panel C and Panel D. Nine-month follow-up showing good patency and sealing of the device.

Discussion

The management of juxtarenal aortic aneurysms with EVAR remains controversial due to the high risks involved. Therefore, several endovascular techniques have been proposed to ensure a secure proximal landing zone[1] [2] [3]. The morphology of the aneurysm neck is especially important in this process[1] [3]. New technologies have expanded the applicability of endovascular aneurysm treatment to cases with anatomically adverse conditions. However, as the indications for mini-invasive techniques have expanded, complications and technical failure rates have also increased[4] [5] [8].

In our case, we observed a complication originating from the technical core of the endograft. The Ovation stent graft was conceived to accommodate a broader range of aorto-iliac anatomy with a proximal aortic neck seal mechanism designed to conform to and accommodate the aortic neck[4] [5]. The aortic body contains a network of inflatable channels that fill dedicated rings during deployment with a low-viscosity, radiopaque fill polymer that remains in situ to create an effective seal to the aortic neck. Therefore, aortic neck size and circumferential calcification must be critically evaluated before choosing this endograft. Moderate stenosis has been previously described as a normal finding after Ovation stent graft implantation[6], but the present report appears to be the first to describe a critical narrowing of the aortic neck causing lower limb ischemia.

The sealing mechanism occurs via radial force expressed by the polymer-filled rings. This aortic volume expands externally even though a residual volume occupies the endograft lumen[6] [7]. If the neck is heavily and circumferentially calcified, the rings may fail to expand outside and converge toward the center of the endograft, narrowing the aortic lumen. Moreover, in our case, ring oversizing (typically about 20% of the anchoring neck) appeared to be excessive If we consider an original aortic neck of 20 mm, the proper oversizing for the endograft would have been 23 mm. In our patient, the proximal neck of the implanted endograft measured 29 mm. Considering these factors, we speculate that the narrowing had two causes: a calcified neck that pushed the rings inward and an excessive ring oversizing that almost completely filled the device lumen.

Mehta et al. reported that 2% of patients showed aortic body stenosis without re-intervention at 1-year follow-up[6]. Other authors who observed 49 consecutive patients (48 men; mean age, 71.2 ± 7.7 years) successfully treated with the Ovation abdominal aortic stent graft at a single center concluded that its unique sealing mechanism comes at the expense of a median area inflow stenosis of ∼60%[6]. Moreover, some authors suggest that the coexistence of stenotic wall regions exposed to a high shear rate and post-stenotic recirculation zones may lead to platelet activation and a predisposition to thrombus formation and thromboembolic complications[7].

In our experience, we had concerns about the fate of the rings. Would we have to deal with a dislocation or a rupture of the neck? Was the polymer fairly moldable to achieve an effective reduction in ring volume? With these considerations, we decided to use a covered stent for protecting the aortic neck and maintaining long-term radial force. Although we are reporting an isolated experience, we believe that aortic stenting for severe neck narrowing following use of the Ovation Endograft is safe and feasible. IVUS technology facilitates proper delivery of the stent and permits evaluation of the final squeezing of the ring polymer.

The Ovation stent graft may help expand the patient population eligible for EVAR by accommodating a wider range of aortoiliac anatomies, especially a large neck. However, its advantages are offset by inflow stenosis and increased risk of thrombotic complications when the sizing of the endograft is suboptimal. Our experience shows that polymer rings are moldable, and a bail-out procedure is feasible when severe stenosis appears.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this publication.

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