Post-implantation syndrome following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: preliminary data

Objectives: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), may elicit an unexpected systemic inflammatory response, which has been named post-implantation syndrome (PIS). The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the association of PIS with clinical and laboratory parameters in patients who underwent EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Methods: Forty consecutive patients who underwent EVAR for AAA were studied. Complete blood count, fibrinogen, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1, tumor necrosis factor-alpha were determined before and after surgery. Several parameters regarding the operation, as well as the hospitalization days were recorded. Results: PIS was diagnosed in 35% of the patients. Patients with PIS showed significant greater changes of inflammation marker levels, including hs-CRP and IL-6, as compared with the non-PIS group. PIS was associated with longer hospitalization. Conclusion: PIS is a relatively common complication of EVAR used to treat AAAs and it is associated with features of a systemic inflammatory response and prolongation of hospitalization. Further studies are necessary towards understanding the underlying pathophysiology and evaluating effective preventive strategies. (C) 2011 Published by European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.