Physician-Modified Reversed Iliac Branch Device to Prevent Spinal Cord Ischemia in an Urgent Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair

Abstract

Purpose:

Repair of pararenal aneurysms poses a challenge, especially in an urgent setting. Despite the minimally invasive nature of the fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic repair, the technique may require extensive coverage of the aorta, increasing the risk of spinal cord ischemia.

Technique:

A 68-year-old man was admitted with a rapid enlargement of an asymptomatic juxtarenal aortic aneurysm. A minimally invasive treatment with an off-the-shelf branched endovascular graft was planned. Before completing the aneurysm exclusion, an angiography highlighted a large lumbar artery, potentially significant for the perfusion of the spinal cord collateral network. Owing to this finding and an unsuccessful placement of the cerebrospinal fluid drainage, the procedure was staged and completed 5 days later using a physician-modified iliac branch device (IBD) for the segmental artery. The device was shortened and reversely loaded to obtain a cranially-oriented branch. A balloon-expandable covered stent was used to connect the retrograde branch (8 mm) to the lumbar artery (4 mm). Pre-discharge computed tomography (CT)-angiography confirmed the vessel patency. No neurological symptoms occurred.

Conclusion:

The use of a reversely-loaded IBD for segmental artery preservation appears feasible and safe.

Clinical Impact

Intraoperative modification of an iliac branch device during an urgent branched endovascular aortic repair enabled preservation of a potentially critical segmental artery, thus reducing the risk of spinal cord ischemia. This adaptive interventional technique may also offer a strategy for preserving other anatomically significant vessels, such as accessory renal arteries, during complex aortic reconstructions in urgent settings.