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Type II endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: natural history.

PURPOSE
To retrospectively determine the natural history of type II endoleaks detected at thin-section multi-detector row computed tomographic (CT) angiography.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Neither institutional review board approval nor patient informed consent was required. Between December 1999 and December 2000, 83 patients (73 men and 10 women; mean age, 61 years; range, 55-75 years) underwent endovascular repair of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with an endoluminal stent graft. Postprocedural abdominal CT angiography was performed every 3-12 months for the evaluation of endoleaks and the maximal sac diameter. A retrospective analysis of all postprocedural CT angiographic reports was performed until November 2003 to document the presence and development of type II endoleaks and the maximal orthogonal aneurysmal sac size. Findings at CT angiography were evaluated with regard to clinical outcomes and treatment in all patients in whom type II endoleaks were observed. The postprocedural follow-up period was 1.5-4.5 years (mean, 2.5 years).


RESULTS
Twenty type II endoleaks were identified in 16 (19%) of the 83 patients. Four (20%) of the 20 endoleaks were embolized secondary to an increasing aneurysmal sac size when compared with that at preoperative CT angiography. These four leaks occurred in two patients, each with two separate endoleaks. Sixteen (80%) of the 20 endoleaks in 14 patients were managed with continued observation. In these patients, the aneurysmal sac size was stable or had decreased when compared with the size at preoperative CT angiography. Ten (62.5%) of the 16 endoleaks have sealed spontaneously during the follow-up, and six (37.5%) have persisted with stable or decreased aneurysmal sac size. None of the patients experienced aneurysmal sac rupture.


CONCLUSION
Type II endoleaks with a stable or decreased aneurysmal sac size can be followed up with CT angiography secondary to the high rate of spontaneous resolution and a low risk of rupture.