The Impact of Endograft Surveillance on a Vascular Imaging Service. (February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Karthikesalingam, Alan; Young, Mark; Powell, Sophie A.; Morshedian, Golnaz; Ramachandran, Veni; D'Abate, Fabrizio; Thompson, Matthew M.; Holt, Peter J. E.
• Is Part Of: Vascular & endovascular surgery. Volume 47:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 92
• Page End: 96
• Publication Date: 2013-02
• Subjects: duplex -- EVAR -- workload -- surveillance -- resource utilization -- endovascular aneurysm repair -- imaging; Blood-vessels -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Blood-vessels -- Endoscopic surgery -- Periodicals; Vascular Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Angioplasty -- Periodicals; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive -- Periodicals; Vascular Diseases -- surgery -- Periodicals; Vaisseaux sanguins -- Chirurgie -- Périodiques; Vaisseaux sanguins -- Chirurgie endoscopique -- Périodiques; 617.41
• DOI: 10.1177/1538574412474497
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1538-5744

Abstract

Background: Surveillance is considered mandatory after endovascular repair (EVR), but its impact on imaging services remains unreported. This study reports the effect of EVR surveillance on imaging resources. Methods: A single-center's duplex database was interrogated from January 1, 2004 to January 1, 2012. All examinations requested by a vascular surgeon were reported, including preoperative abdominal aortic aneurysms, surveillance after EVR, lower limb arterial and venous duplex, and arteriovenous fistulae. Results: A total of 24 309 patients underwent duplex. The EVR surveillance increased from 192 scans in 2004 to 1325 scans in 2011, 9.5% (192 of 2030) and 34.4% (1325 of 3850) of each year's examinations. By 2011, EVR surveillance was the most common indication for duplex. Conclusion: Lifelong EVR surveillance creates a rapidly increasing workload for imaging services. Further research should aim to reduce the burden of EVR surveillance. Targeting surveillance to the minority of patients at greatest risk of endograft failure might optimize the usage of imaging resources.