Intra-aneurysm pressure measurements in successfully excluded abdominal aortic aneurysm after endovascular repair.

PURPOSE This study was performed to determine intra-aneurysm sac pressure of abdominal aortic aneurysm after endovascular aneurysm repair in patients considered successfully treated with aneurysm shrinkage and absence of endovascular leakage. METHODS In 10 patients with median aneurysm shrinkage of 12 mm (range, 7 to 22 mm) and median follow-up of 19 months (range, 14-43 months), a percutaneous translumbar intra-aneurysm pressure measurement was made with a 0.014-inch guide wire-mounted pressure sensor and compared with intra-aortic pressure. RESULTS Median intra-aneurysm systolic/diastolic/mean pressure was 19/18/19 (range, 17-35/13-33/17-31) compared with median intra-aortic pressure of 135/75/99 (range, 126-199/60-95/84-129). Mean intra-aneurysm pressure was 20% of mean intra-aortic pressure (range, 13%-33%). Pulsatility was negligible. CONCLUSION Successful endovascular aneurysm repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm results in considerable pressure reduction in the aneurysm sac. The ability to monitor intra-aneurysm pressure provides hemodynamic information within the sac, which can be used in conjunction with imaging to determine whether a secondary intervention is warranted.