OBJECTIVESTo analyze the long-term results of fibrin glue embolization to eliminate type I endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), and to assess the feasibility and durability of this technique.

METHODSFrom August 2002 to June 2010, among the 953 EVAR patients, 51 (5.4%) patients underwent intraoperative transcatheter fibrin glue sac embolization to resolve type I endoleak persisting after initial intraoperative maneuvers to close the leak or in necks too short or angulated for cuff placement. Computed tomographic angiography was performed to assess the outcome after 3, 6, and 12 months and annually thereafter. A retrospective study was conducted, and characteristics of the patients, intra-sac pressure, hospital course, and long-term outcomes were recorded.

RESULTSAmong the 51 patients, 19 (37.3%) patients had proximal necks long < 10 mm, and 6 (11.8%) patients had proximal neck angulation > 60°; 22 patients (3 additional iliac extension, 14 cuffs, and/or 8 stents) had been placed with additional devices. After fibrin glue injection, 50 (98.0%) of the 51 endoleaks were successfully resolved, and intra-sac pressure (including systolic, diastolic, mean pressures, pulse pressure, and the mean pressure indexes) decreased significantly in these cases. The patient who failed embolotherapy was converted to open surgery (2.0%); he died 2 months later from multiorgan failure. And other two (4.8%) patients died in the peri-operative period from myocardial infarction. The median of follow-up of 48 patients was 45 months (range 4 - 106 months). The mean maximal aneurysm diameter fell from the baseline (61.5 ± 15.2) mm to (48.8 ± 10.1) mm (P = 0.000). Three (6.2%) patients died in the follow-up duration (1 aneurysm-related, died of renal failure which was caused by the compromised renal artery). Cumulative survival was 97.9% at 1 year, 94.5% at 3 years, and 90.8% at 4 years. No recurrent type I endoleak or glue-related complications were observed in follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSFibrin glue embolization to eliminate type I endoleak after EVAR has yielded promising results in this study, and it can effectively and durable resolve the type I endoleaks. Balloon occlusion of the inflow of the endoleak must be done during glue injection, to enhance the safety and facilitate formation of a structured fibrin clot.