Successful endovascular treatment of femoro-popliteal aneurysm and sonographic follow-up with B-Flow™: a case report
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59667/sjoranm.v30i2.16Keywords:
endovascular aneurysm repair, peripheral vascular aneurysm, contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), endoleak detection, B-Flow™, ultrasound surveillanceAbstract
Introduction:
Endovascular repair is an option for selected patients with femoro-popliteal aneurysms. Follow-up assesses graft patency, aneurysm size and possible endoleaks. B-Flow™ provides contrast-free blood-flow imaging, but its role in surveillance after peripheral aneurysm repair remains insufficiently validated.
Case report:
A 77-year-old man with bilateral femoro-popliteal aneurysms declined further open surgery after early occlusion of a right-leg bypass and postoperative lymphedema. Following endovascular recanalization of the right-leg bypass, the left femoro-popliteal aneurysms were treated with two 10 × 150 mm GORE Viabahn™ endoprostheses. A small endoleak was visible on completion angiography. No endoleak was detected by B-Flow™ or contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) at 24 hours or at 3, 12 and 24 months. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) at 6 months showed patent endografts without an endoleak. Fontaine stage IIb symptoms improved to stage I. Primary patency was maintained through 24 months.
Discussion:
In this patient, B-Flow™ findings were consistent with CEUS findings during follow-up. This observation does not establish diagnostic accuracy, non-inferiority or the ability of B-Flow™ alone to exclude endoleaks. Early postimplantation shadowing limited visualization of intragraft flow.
Conclusion:
This case illustrates endovascular repair and multimodal surveillance of femoro-popliteal aneurysms over 24 months. B-Flow™ may offer complementary contrast-free imaging. Further studies are required before recommending it as a replacement for established surveillance methods.
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