Durability of Endologix AAA System Published
Data describing the long-term outcomes and durability of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair completed with the Powerlink System was published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery. Endologix manufactures the minimally invasive system.
The results reported were from a clinical trial designed to asses durability of the Powerlink compared to open repair. Average follow-up among patients in the test group was four years. Both shrinkage and strainage of the aortic aneurysm sac were documented. Significant reduction to the sac size was documented in 83 percent of patients in the trial.
Patients treated with this approach had a 97.9 percent rate of freedom from mortality resulting from AAA. In addition, the device was shown to have excellent integrity and performance. During the trial no stent fractures, aneurysm ruptures, or ePFTE graft failures were documented.
The incidence of secondary procedures to treat patients with either a limb occlusion or Type I endoleak was low. The rate for occlusion was 1.6 percent and 3.1 percent for endoleak. Among those patients who had placement based on anatomical fixation, there were no cases of device migration.
Advantages of the Powerlink System noted by the authors include the ability to complete the procedure through a single incision along with the low profile of the device. These features are especially beneficial when treating patients with AAAs in difficult to access locations. In addition, both morbidity and mortality are reduced with this repair method compared to conventional repair.
Endologix intends to expand the array of tools that can be used with the Powerlink to increase the number of patients who are eligible to undergo repair with the system. The company specializes in the development of minimally invasive systems to treat vascular disease.
September 9, 2008 Related topics: Trends, Quality, Safety, Errors, Surgery