Background: Buttock claudication (BC) and erectile dysfunction (ED) are well-known complications of intentional occlusion of the internal iliac artery (IIA) in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The long-term prevalence and impact on the quality of life (QOL) is, however, often not reported.
Methods: We retrospectively identified 347 patients who underwent an EVAR between 2006 and 2016 of which 76 patients (cases) received an intentional occlusion of the IIA. 76 matched controls were found leading to a total of 152 patients. Patient notes were reviewed, a standardized telephonic interview about BC complaints was conducted and questionnaires on QOL (Vascular Quality of Life questionnaire, VascuQol-25), ED (international index of erectile function, IIEF) and walking impairment (walking impairment questionnaire, WIQ) were sent.
Results: Mean age of this cohort was 73 years and 89% were males. The short-term incidence of BC in the cases was 71% (N.=20/28) and the long-term incidence 57% (N.=16/28), compared to 35% (N.=8/23) and 26%(N.=6/23) in the controls (P=0.008 and P=0.024), respectively. ED occurs in 96% (N.=22/23) of the cases and in 86% of the controls (N.=18/21) (P=0.262). Cases did not show a significantly lower mean VascuQoL score (4.8) compared to controls (5.5; P=0.081). No differences were observed in WIQ scores between cases (0.58) and controls (0.60; P=0.840).
Conclusions: Intentional occlusion of the IIA increased the incidence of short- and long-term BC but did not affect the prevalence of erectile dysfunction. The impact of IIA occlusion on VascuQoL and WIQ scores was limited and probably not clinically relevant.