What are the Characteristics of the Ideal Endovascular Graft for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Exclusion?

PURPOSE: To review the anatomic factors crucial to successful endoluminal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and propose an ideal endograft design for AAA exclusion. METHODS AND RESULTS: The anatomic features of critical importance to endovascular AAA exclusion comprise remote arterial access, proximal and distal fixation sites, AAA morphology, and arterial wall pathology. When designing an aortic endograft, the major components to consider are stent selection, graft material, and the delivery system. The ideal endograft design must be sufficiently versatile to treat a broad range of patients. To meet this requirement, the endograft should display a high degree of dimensional adaptability. A modular bifurcated endograft design permits intraoperative customization to tailor the device to each patient's anatomy and pathology. CONCLUSIONS: The modular stent-graft concept addresses many of the important factors in the evolution toward an ideal aortic endograft. Extensive testing will be needed to determine if the bifurcated stent-graft described here is the optimal design for effective AAA exclusion.