Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Catheter-Based Interventions

The primary risk factors associated with increased risk for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) include male gender, advanced age, greater height, coronary artery disease (CAD), atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia (HLD), hypertension (HTN), smoking, and genetic predisposition. The primary indications for repair of AAAs are based on the presence of rupture, suspicion of impending rupture, presence of symptomatology, and size. Currently, there are six Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved stent grafts available for the repair of infrarenal AAAs. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for infrarenal AAA with one of the FDA-approved devices requires bilateral common femoral artery access. The management of AAAs is complicated by the presence of concomitant common iliac artery aneurysms (CIAAs). Post-operative complications after EVAR include endoleak, migration, iliac limb occlusion, infection, and rupture. The potential for late complications is significant for patients who have undergone EVAR.