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Short and Long Term Complications of Endovascular Stents: MDCT Findings and the Importance of Volumetric Visualization with 2D MPRs and 3D Rendering for Detection and Characterization

Elliot K. Fishman, MD, FACR

Type I Endoleak

Aneursymal blood flow through poorly apposed attachment sites
- A: Proximal landing zone
- B: Distal landing zone
- C: Failure of iliac occluder
Occurs in 10% of EVAR procedures
Direct communication with arterial circulation
- Best visualized on arterial phase imaging
- Contrast in aneurysm sac is apposed to attachment zones
Chimney Grafts are predisposed to gutter leaks; however, many times spontaneously resolve
Very few Type I are self limiting, with most requiring treatment
- Balloon Angioplasty
- Stent-Graft Extension
- Convert bifurcated devices into aorto-uniliac device with fem-fem bypass
- Embolization

Type I Endoleak

60 year old woman with EVAR presented to ED with pain. Coronal IV CECT images show a new Type I endoleak (red arrows) and stent deformity (yellow arrows) in setting of infection (see slide 24)

Type II Endoleak

Aneurysmal blood flow retrograde from collateral vasculature
- Inferior Mesenteric Artery – enters anteriorly
- Lumbar Arteries – enters posterolateraly
- Contrast appears peripherally in aneurysm sac
Most common type of endoleak, occurring in 10-25% of cases
Reportedly, 40-80% spontaneously resolve due to low pressure system within one year.
Delayed or persistent appearance after 1 year heralds sac growth.
Treatment remains controversial with most centers treating once sac growth exceeds 5 -10 mm.
- Embolization
  - transarterial and translumbar
- Laparoscopic vs Open approach

Type II Endoleak

Small type II endoleak (circle) in anterior sac. Search for feeding vessel, which is typically the inferior mesenteric artery (arrow) with anterior endoleaks.

Type III Endoleak

Aneurysmal blood flow through the body of the stent graft
- Fabric tear, device fracture, dissociation
- Device migration
- Device kinking/occlusions may result in leak
High arterial pressures require emergent treatment, similar to type I
Contrast is seen adjacent to the body of the endograft
Subtle erosions of the graft may only be seen with multiplanar reformations
Repair depends on cause of leak
- Additional stent/limb extension
- Conversion to aortouniliac with bypass
- PTA +/- stent
- Thrombectomy +/- stent
- Open conversion

Type III Endoleak

75 Year old male with history of EVAR presenting with back pain. MDCT shows kinked stent graft (yellow arrow) causing type III endoleak (circle), which resulted in rupture (red arrow).

Type IV Endoleak

Aneurysmal flow through stent-graft pores
Identified at implantation as “blush” on immediate post angiogram
Require no intervention

Type V Endoleak

Endotension is referred to as expansion of the aneurysm without presence of endoleak
May be related to occult type I, II, or III endoleak
Pressure transmission from the graft, infection or hygromas
May be present when aneurysm sacs do not shrink in size

Migration and Kinking

Migration leads to
- Endoleak
- Kinking
- Rupture
Risk factors for migration
- Duration
- Degree of oversizing
- Neck diameter
- Length landing zone
Treatment
- Stent graft extension
- Open repair
Kinking leads to
- Endoleak
- Migration
- Thrombosis
Risk Factors for kinking
- Severe angulation
- Migration
- Narrow aortic bifurcation

Dissociation of components

77 year old male s/p EVAR for AAA. Routine IV CECT at 1 year follow up revealed stent graft dissociation (yellow arrows), aneurysm sac increase (circle) to 10 cm and large type III leak (E) in the absence of symptoms, probably sequela of recent fall.

Dissociation of components

Thrombosis, Occlusion and Stenosis

Risk Factors
- Migration, Kinking
- Oversizing, Infolding/Twisting of graft material
- Tortuous, diminutive iliac arteries
Typical treatment for stenosis and occlusion includes
- Aortouniliac devices with fem-fem bypass
- Thrombectomy or bypass for thrombosis
- Ballon angioplasty +/- stenting for stenosis

Infection

Occurs in less than 1%, however associated with high mortality.
Sources include procedure contamination (perioperative) vs disseminated infection (late)
- Kidney stone, appendicitis induced peritonitis, inflammatory aneurysm, pneumonia
Important to identify inflammation adjacent to the stent graft
- Peri-graft fluid collections
- Abnormal enhancement
- Gas bubbles
Aneurysm expansion may lead to erosion into bowel, fistulization and infection
Requires surgical repair

Infected EVAR and Type I Endoleak

60 year old woman with EVAR presented to ED with pain (same patient as slide 14). Coronal IV CECT images show a new Type I endoleak (red arrows) in the setting of lung infection. Note infected left lower lobe (L), left pleural effusion (P) and small gas bubbles (yellow arrows).

Infected EVAR and Type I Endoleak

Aortoenteric Fistula

An endovascular stent does not protect against aneurysm sac leak or rupture if sac continues to expand in presence of endoleak.
In addition to frank rupture, the aneurysm sac may fistulize to adjacent bowel, commonly the duodenum as it drapes over the sac.
Often the patient experiences a herald bleed that brings them to the emergency department, which is intermittent so that active bleeding from the aneurysm sac is not seen at the time of imaging.
While contrast extravasation from the aorta to the bowel is not often NOT visualized in these cases, it provides definitive diagnosis when identified and mandates immediate intervention.
Adherence of the thickened colon to the anterior sac wall and stranding are clues to the diagnosis, strengthened by the presence of gas in the aneurysm sac.

Aortoduodenal Fistula

Patient with fractured stent (yellow arrow) status post replacement stent. Two years later, the patient presented to ED with melena due to aortoduodenal fistula from the aneurysm sac (red arrows).

Aortoduodenal Fistula

87 year old female with CAD, AAA s/p endoluminal repair and revision who presented with progressive weakness. She was found to be severely anemic with baseline hemoglobin of 6 due to fistula between aneurysm sac and adjacent duodenum. In this case, gas bubbles (red arrows) are identified in the aneurysm sac, confirming fistulous connection (yellow arrows) to the adjacent duodenum. Heterogeneity within the sac reflects hematoma due to sac rupture.

Aortoduodenal Fistula

Aortocolonic Fistula

78 year old male s/p aortoiliac EVAR with chronic occlusion of left limb and chronic endoleak who presented with LGIB. CECT revealed aortocolonic fistula (arrows) from transverse colon to anterior sac.

Retrograde Aortic Dissection

Rare catastrophic complications include retrograde aortic dissections
Sanford type A dissection (retrograde ascending aorta) after thoracic EVAR
- Incidence ranges from 2-6%
- Cause is often related to the procedure itself
- Associated with the use of proximal bare spring stent grafts, previous type B dissection
- Can be asymptomatic in up to 25%, underscoring importance of surveillance
Sanford Type B dissection after repair of AAA
- Very rare, typically with fatal outcomes
Pre-existing atherosclerotic disease including ulcerated plaques or ectasia increase risk
Other etiologies likely related to difficulties in stent placement
- Intimal calcifications
- Angulated necks
- Oversizing stents
- Unstable plaques

TEVAR with Retrograde Dissection

82 year old female status post aortic arch and descending thoracic EVAR who presented with cardiac arrest due to ruptured retrograde Type A dissection (circle). Note extensive mediastinal hematoma (H) markedly narrowing the pulmonary arteries. This is a potential complication of a stent positioned in the aortic arch.

TEVAR with Retrograde Dissection

Rupture

Delayed rupture is rare, ranging from 0.5% to 2% per year.
Refractory or occult Type II endoleaks and Type V endoleaks increase sac pressure leading to rupture
May also occur without increasing aneurysm size
- Likely due to sudden pressurization from type I/III endoleak
Imaging findings are important for treatment planning
- Redo EVAR vs open repair

Ruptured Aneurysm Sac

Post AAA EVAR with endoleak seen best on venous phase (large arrow), which led to aneurysm sac rupture (small arrows).

Ruptured Aneurysm Sac

References

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References

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References

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References

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References

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