Follow-up of iliac diameter in patients after open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with an aorto-aortic prosthetic graft

Introduction: Iliac artery aneurysms are uncommon and there is current no protocol for the follow-up. Aim: To evaluate the progress of the diameter of the iliac arteries by echo-doppler in patients undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) open repair with an aorto-aortic prosthetic graft. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study of patients undergoing AAA between January 1999 and March 2008, on whom an echo-doppler was performed to assess the diameter of iliac arteries. A total of 45 patients were included. The variables studied were: pre-and post-operative iliac diameter (angio-computerized tomography), vascular risk factors and comorbidities. Student t test, Chi-square test were performed and survival tables constructed. Results: The mean age was: 69 years (SD 6.8). Follow-up: 4.5 years (1.89). Preoperative mean size of iliac arteries: 13 mm (0.45), follow-up: 17 mm (0.52), p = 0.001. Overall, the diameter increased in 19 % iliac arteries during growth monitoring. There was a lower expansion rate in diabetic patients (0 %/24 %, relative risk [ RR] 0.76, 95 % confi dence interval [ CI]: 0.7-0.9). We were unable to determine a time/expansion rate correlation. No patient required a repeat operation during the follow-up. Conclusion: Although our series showed a significant growth, the iliac arteries ultrasound follow-up is not justifi ed, in this context, due to the low/no need for a subsequent surgical procedure. (C) 2010 SEACV. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.