Prevention of Endoleaks Using Autologous Platelet Gel on Unruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Overview

The main risk of aortic aneurysms is rupture that leads to a high risk of death. A preventive surgical treatment is thus needed. In order to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with conventional surgery, an endovascular approach (insertion of an endovascular stent graft)is now widely favored. The main problem of this procedure is the occurrence of endoleaks (persistence of a communication between the aneurysm and the aorta). A new approach is proposed to prevent these endoleaks. The principle is to draw blood from the patient, separate the blood from the platelets, and reinject both platelet rich plasma (PRP) and autologous thrombin, in order to form a platelet gel (PRP + autologous thrombin). Before studying the efficacy of this technique, its safety of use and feasibility must be evaluated.

The main risk of aortic aneurysms is rupture. Onset is usually sudden, leading to the death of the patient in 80% to 90% of cases. The elective treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms, therefore, seems to be a priority. In order to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with conventional surgery, an endovascular approach (insertion of an endovascular stent graft using the endovascular aneurysm repair procedure) is now widely favored. The main problem, during follow-up of patients wearing an endovascular stent graft, is the occurrence of endoleaks resulting in retrograde filling of the aneurysm sac. The ideal is to prevent these endoleaks either by new developments in endovascular stent grafts or by using adjuvant therapy during the procedure. The principle is to draw blood from the patient, separate the blood from the platelets, and reinject it into two separate catheters, one with platelet rich plasma (PRP) and the other with autologous thrombin, in order to form a platelet gel (PRP + autologous thrombin). Before studying the efficacy of this technique, its safety of use and feasibility must be evaluated.