Centerline is Not as Accurate as Outer Curvature Length to Estimate Thoracic Endograft Length

Background

To assess the accuracy of the aortic outer curvature length for thoracic endograft planning.

Methods

Seventy-four patients (58 men, 66.4 ± 14 years) who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair between 2009 and 2011 treated with a Cook Medical endograft were enrolled in this retrospective study. Immediate postoperative CT scans were analysed using EndoSize software. Three vessel lengths were computed between two fixed landmarks placed at each end of the endograft: the straightline (axial) length, the centerline length and the outer curvature length. A tortuosity index was defined as the ratio of the centerline length/straightline length. A Student t test and a Pearson correlation coefficient were used to examine the results.

Results

We found a significant difference between the centerline length (135.4 ± 24 mm) and that of the endograft (160 ± 29 mm) (p < .0001). This difference correlates with the tortuosity index (r = .818, p < .0001), the endograft length (r = .587, p < .0001), and the diameter of the endograft (r = .53, p < .0001). However, the outer curvature length (161.3 ± 29 mm) and the endograft length (160 ± 29 mm) were similar (p = .792).

Conclusion

The outer curvature length more accurately reflects that of the deployed endograft and may prove more accurate than centerlines in planning thoracic endografts.