Amplatzer Plugs versus Coil Embolization of the Hypogastric Artery Prior to Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Differences in Quality of Life

Purpose: To determine if there were differences in quality of life (QOL) within the first year following EVAR for patients undergoing internal iliac embolization depending on the type of device used. Methods: Patients who underwent endovascular AAA repair were identified using a Vascular surgery database at a tertiary care center from 2002-2008. The Radiology Information System and Image Viewer were then used to identify patients who underwent preprocedural embolization prior to endovascular aneurysm repair. Nine patients had embolization with nester coils, 9 had embolization with the amplatzer vascular plug, a type of nitinol based self expanding device. Another group of 8 patients who did not undergo preprocedural embolization was used as a comparator group. These patients were contacted via telephone and answered questions regarding QOL post procedure. The Australian Vascular QOL was the tool used to measure QOL. Differences in QOL were tabulated between the groups of patients. Results: Of the 9 patients who underwent embolization with amplatzer plug, the median QOL score was 60 (p value 0.575), the median QOL for the nester coil group was 52.5 and the comparator group was 58. Separate analysis was done dividing patients into two groups, with and without comorbidities without statistical significance. Conclusion: Patients who underwent preprocedural embolization using amplatzer plugs compared to coils had higher overall QOL scores although the difference was not significant.