Wallgraft Endoprosthesis for the Percutaneous Treatment of Femoral and Popliteal Artery Aneurysms

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Wallgraft Endoprosthesis for the treatment of femoropopliteal artery aneurysms. Methods: From October 1997 to April 2000, 17 patients (13 men; mean age 73.5 ± 7.1 years) with 7 femoral and 13 popliteal artery aneurysms underwent percutaneous aneurysm exclusion using the Wallgraft Endoprosthesis as part of a larger clinical trial. The mean aneurysm diameters were 37.6 ± 12.9 mm and 22.3 ± 8.7 mm, respectively. Results: Acute procedural success was 100% for femoral aneurysms and 92.3% (12/13) in the popliteal artery owing to one endoleak that resolved after 1 month. There were no complications, and the mean length of stay was 2.2 ± 3.8 days. Six-month and 1-year aneurysm exclusion rates were 100% for both locations, but 4 (31%) popliteal stent-grafts thrombosed in follow-up. Three were recanalized, but the fourth underwent bypass grafting after 3 thrombotic episodes. The 1-year primary and secondary patency rates were both 100% for the femoral aneurysms and 69% and 92%, respectively, for popliteal repairs. No procedure or device-related deaths occurred. Conclusions: Treatment of aneurysms in the femoropopliteal segment appears to be safe and effective with the Wallgraft Endoprosthesis, although longer follow-up in a larger patient group will be needed to determine this technique's potential versus surgical repair.