Is Inferior Mesenteric Artery Embolization Indicated Prior to Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

Type II endoleak is a common condition occurring after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR), and may result in aneurysm sac growth and/or rupture in a small number of patients. A prophylactic strategy of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) embolization before EVAR has been advocated, however, the benefits of this strategy are controversial. A clinical vignette allows the authors to summarize the available data about this issue and discuss the possible benefits and risks of prophylactic IMA embolization before EVAR. The authors performed a meta-analysis of available data which showed that the pooled rate of type II endoleak after IMA embolization was 19.9% (95% CI 3.4–34.7%, I2 93%) whereas it was 41.4% (95% CI 30.4–52.3%, I2 76%) in patients without IMA embolization (5 studies including 596 patients: p < .0001, OR 0.369, 95% CI 0.22–0.61, I2 27%). Since treatment for type II endoleaks is needed in less than 20% of cases and this complication can be treated successfully in 60–70% of cases resulting in an aneurysm rupture risk of 0.9%, these data indicate that embolization of patent IMA may be of no benefit in patients undergoing EVAR.