Anesthetic, Sedation, and Analgesic Technique for Successful Local Anesthetic EndoSuture Aneurysm Repair

PURPOSE: We aimed to describe our technique for and experience with elective endovascular aneurysm repair using EndoAnchors under local anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included seven patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms who underwent endovascular aneurysm repair using EndoAnchors with a standard regimen consisting of local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, and analgesia. The procedural and follow-up details were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Six out of seven infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms were successfully treated with endovascular aneurysm repair using primary EndoAnchors under local anesthesia. One patient was converted to general anesthesia due to acute aneurysm thrombosis independent of EndoAnchor deployment during the procedure. Remifentanyl infusions of up to 3.2 mg/min, morphine doses up to 6 mg (median, 0.5 mg), and midazolam doses of up to 4 mg (mean, 1.4 mg) were used. The mean theater time was 83 minutes (range, 60–130 minutes). Two patients were discharged on day 0, and the mean hospital stay was one day. All patients were alive between 484 and 1,128 days post-procedure, with no aneurysm-specific reintervention. CONCLUSION: The combination of local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, and analgesia is a viable strategy for timely and effective endovascular aneurysm repair using EndoAnchors. This technique may allow endovascular repair of more ruptured aneurysms using EndoAnchors with potential survival benefits.