Objective To observe the occurrence condition of endoleak after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) operation for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and to analyze the factors of the endoleak. Methods Between July 2005 and June 2013, 210 cases of AAA were treated with EVAR. Of 210 patients, 175 were male and 35 were female, aging 42-89 years (mean, 65.7 years). The patients were all proved to have infrarenal AAA by computed tomography angiography (CTA). The disease duration ranged from 1 week to 2 years (median, 11.3 weeks). The maximum diameter of the aneurysms was 44-72 mm (mean, 57.3 mm). The proximal landing zone was longer than 1.5 cm. CTA was performed routinely at 2 months after operation to detect the endoleak of contrast agent. If endoleak was found, CTA was performed again at 6 months. If obvious endoleak still existed, digital subtraction angiography (DSA) would be performed to clarify the character and the degree of the endoleak, and EVAR should be done if necessary. Results Endoleak occurred in 31 cases (14.8%) during operation, including 11 cases of type I endoleak (8 cases of type IA and 3 cases of type IB), 18 cases of type II endoleak, and 2 cases of type III endoleak (type IIIB). The patients were followed up 2-8 months (mean, 3.1 months). At 2 months after operation, contrast agent endoleak was found in the remnant aneurysm cavity of 12 cases (5.7%). At 6 months after eperation, contrast agent endoleak was found in 10 cases (4.8%) by CTA. In 8 patients receiving DSA, there were 4 cases of type I endoleak (3 cases of type IA and 1 case of type IB), 3 cases of type II endoleak, and 1 case of type III (type IIIB) endoleak. In 5 patients having type I and type III endoleak, collateral movement of stent graft was observed in different degree; after increased stent graft was implanted, the endoleak disappeared after 2-4 months. The patients having type II endoleak were not given special treatment, endoleak still existed at 2 months after reexamination of CTA, but the maximum diameter of AAA had no enlargement. Conclusion The collateral movement of stent graft is a very important factor to cause type I and type III endoleak in the patients of AAA after EVAR, and endoleak can be plugged by EVAR again.
Objective To compare the early compl ications of carotid stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in treatment of carotid artery stenosis. Methods Between January 2005 and December 2007, 63 patients with carotid artery stenosis were treated with CEA in 36 cases (CEA group) and with CAS in 27 cases (CAS group). There were 42 males and 21 females with an average age of 67.5 years (range, 52-79 years). The locations were the left side in 28 cases and the rightside in 35 cases. The carotid stenosis was 60%-95% (mean, 79%). The major cl inical symptoms were stroke and transient ischemic attack. The cranial CT showed old cerebral infarction in 24 cases, lacunar infarction in 22 cases, and no obvious abnormal change in 17 cases. The encephalon, heart, and local compl ications were compared between 2 groups within 7 days after operation. Results In CEA group, encephalon compl ications occurred in 3 cases (8.3%), heart compl ications in 2 cases (5.6%), and local compl ications in 5 cases (13.9%); while in CAS group, encephalon compl ications occurred in 8 cases (29.6%), heart compl ications in 1 case (3.7%), and local compl ications in 3 cases (11.1%). The encephalon compl ication ratio of CAS group was significantly higher than that of CEA group (χ2=4.855, P=0.028); and there was no significant difference in other compl ications ratios between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion CEA is the first choice to treat carotid artery stenosis.