Purpose: A method of achieving successful completion of endoluminal repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in the presence of intraoperative iatrogenic rupture of the aneurysm is reported.
Methods: An 83-year-old woman with an AAA that was 7 cm in diameter was treated electively by means of endoluminal repair with a Vanguard bifurcated prosthesis (Boston Scientific, Natick, Mass). No difficulty was experienced with the introduction of the delivery catheter, despite extreme angulation in the aneurysm. An acute episode of hypotension prompted an aortogram to be performed. Extravasation of contrast outside the aneurysm sac was demonstrated. The balloon on the delivery catheter was immediately advanced to the suprarenal aorta and inflated. Hypotension was reversed, and hemodynamic stability was restored, thus enabling deployment of the prosthesis to proceed and the repair to be completed by means of the endoluminal method.
Results: The patient's blood pressure remained stable after deflation of the balloon, allowing a postprocedure aortogram to be performed. Exclusion of the aneurysm sac was demonstrated. Exclusion of the aneurysm sac from the circulation and a large retroperitoneal hematoma were confirmed by means of a postoperative contrast computed tomography scan. Convalescence was complicated by acute renal failure, pneumonia, and prolonged ileus. The patient remained well and active at the follow-up examination 6 months after operation.
Conclusion: Iatrogenic perforation of an AAA during endoluminal repair may be treated by endovascular means and does not necessarily require conversion to open repair, although this may be the safest option.