One-year results of the ANCHOR trial of EndoAnchors for the prevention and treatment of aortic neck complications after endovascular aneurysm repair

Objectives EndoAnchors have been used to address proximal aortic neck complications including type Ia endoleaks and endograft migration after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). Methods The study population included 100 patients with one-year follow-up in the ANCHOR study. A primary cohort (N=73) comprised patients who underwent EndoAnchor implantation at the time of an initial EVAR and a Revision cohort (N=27) included patients treated remote from EVAR. A hostile neck was defined for neck length <10mm, neck diameter >28mm, angulation >60 degrees, conical configuration or significant mural thrombus or calcium. Results Baseline anatomy included neck length of 1714mm, diameter of 27 +/- 5mm, and angulation of 35 +/- 18 degrees; 83% of patients had hostile necks. Over 18 +/- 4 months of clinical follow-up, six patients (6%) underwent aneurysm-related reinterventions. There were no aneurysm ruptures. Over 13 +/- 2 months of imaging follow-up, freedom from type Ia endoleak was 95% in the Primary Arm and 77% in the Revision Arm (P=.006). Aneurysm sacs regressed>5mm within one year in 45% of the Primary cases and in 25% of the Revisions. Aneurysm expansion>5mm occurred in one revision patient. Conclusion Despite a high frequency of hostile neck anatomy, proximal neck complications were relatively infrequent after EndoAnchor use.