INFRARENAL ABDOMINAL AORTIC-ANEURYSMS - IMPLICATIONS OF CT EVALUATIONOF SIZE AND CONFIGURATION FOR PLACEMENT OF ENDOVASCULAR AORTIC GRAFTS

PURPOSE: To measure infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms and assess t he implications and potential obstacles for placement of an endovascul ar aortic graft undergoing clinical testing in Europe. MATERIALS AND M ETHODS: Helical computed tomography was used to measure 77 infrarenal aortic aneurysms (77 patients) and the distances between the aneurysms and the renal arteries and the aortic bifurcation. RESULTS: Mean leng th of the aneurysms was 8.2 cm; mean distance to the renal arteries, 2 .7 cm; mean aortic diameter 1.5 cm distal to the renal arteries, 1.9 c m; and mean minimal diameter of perfused lumen, 2.5 cm. Thirteen aneur ysms extended into the common iliac artery; 40 reached the bifurcation . The mean minimal luminal diameter of the iliac artery was 1.1 cm. CO NCLUSION: Sufficient nonaneurysmal segments below the renal arteries a nd distal to the aneurysms are necessary for stent fixation. The large diameter of the delivery introducer in relation to the iliac arteries may be a major obstacle to graft delivery. At best, 33 patients could have benefited from use of the graft evaluated.