Customized endovascular repair for complex aortic aneurysms

Duke Customized Aortic Aneurysm Repair With Endovascular Stent-grafts - Duke CARES Trial

This trial tests whether surgeon-modified endovascular stent-grafts can safely treat people with complex abdominal or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms who are high risk for open surgery.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Duke University (Academic / other)
• Locations: 1 site (Durham, North Carolina)
• Trial ID: NCT07064460 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Duke CARES uses commercially available stent-grafts that surgeons modify to match each patient’s anatomy and then place them endovascularly to repair juxtarenal, pararenal, paravisceral, or thoracoabdominal aneurysms. Participants are high-risk for open surgery and will be followed with imaging and blood tests at acute, 30 days, 6 months, 12 months, and annually up to five years to track technical success, treatment success, and major adverse events. The protocol includes a main statistical cohort for standard cases and a non-statistical cohort to collect data on patients with life-threatening aortic disease who lack other options. Investigators will use the data to inform patient selection, device design, operative techniques, and follow-up regimens.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults with juxtarenal, pararenal, paravisceral, or thoracoabdominal aneurysms who are considered high risk for open surgical repair and have anatomy suitable for a physician-modified endovascular graft.

Not a fit: Patients whose aortic anatomy is unsuitable for endovascular repair, who are good candidates for standard open repair, or who have prohibitive comorbidities or limited life expectancy are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a less invasive repair option for high-risk patients, lowering perioperative complications and shortening recovery compared with open surgery.

How similar studies have performed: Surgeon-modified endografts and physician-modified fenestrated/branched approaches have shown promising results in registries and case series but lack large randomized trials comparing them to commercial devices.

Eligibility criteria

MAIN COHORT

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

* A participant may be entered into the study if the participant has at least one of the following: An aneurysm with a maximum diameter of \> 5.5 cm or 2 times the normal diameter just proximal to the aneurysm using orthogonal (i.e, perpendicular to the centerline) measurements; Aneurysm with a history of growth \> 0.5 cm in 6 months; Saccular aneurysm deemed at significant risk for rupture; Symptomatic aneurysm; Ruptured aneurysm

AND

* Extent of aorta to be treated: juxtarenal, pararenal that include 1 or 2 renal and/or accessory renal arteries, paravisceral that includes celiac artery and/or superior mesenteric artery, and/or thoracoabdominal
* High risk of morbidity and mortality with open surgical repair as defined by:

  a. Anatomic Criteria (Previous abdominal surgery; Previous thoracotomy; Previous aortic surgery) b. Physiologic Criteria (ASA Category III or higher; Age \>70 years; Previous myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, or coronary artery stent; Coronary stress test with a reversible perfusion defect; Congestive heart failure (CHF); Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD))
* Iliac or femoral access vessel morphology that is compatible with vascular access techniques, devices or accessories, with or without use of a surgical conduit
* Nonaneurysmal aortic segment proximal to the aneurysm (neck) with a minimum neck length of 25 mm (Diameter in the range of 18 mm - 42 mm; Angle less than 60o relative to the axis of the aneurysm; Angle less than 60o relative to the axis of the suprarenal aorta);

  * Minimum branch vessel diameter greater than 5 mm
  * Iliac artery distal fixation site greater than 20 mm in length and diameter in the range of 9 mm - 21 mm (for use of ZFEN)
  * Contralateral iliac artery distal fixation site greater than 20 mm in length and diameter in the range of 7.5 mm - 20 mm.
  * Age: ≥ 18 years old
  * Life expectancy: \> 2 years

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

GENERAL EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

* Able to be treated in accordance with the instructions for use with a currently marketed endovascular prosthesis
* Unwilling to comply with the follow-up schedule
* Inability or refusal to give informed consent by subject or legal representative
* Pregnant or breastfeeding
* Prefers to receive treatment at another hospital with access to a non-physician modified endovascular prosthesis
* Refusal of blood transfusions for religious or personal reasons
* Participation in another investigational clinical or device trial, with the exception of another investigational endovascular stent-graft protocol or percutaneous aortic valve protocol, not encompassed by the IDE protocol and performed remotely from the fenestrated procedure (\> 30 days). Examples include remote (\>30 days) participation in a thoracic, abdominal or iliac branch device trial, or participation in a percutaneous aortic valve trial.
* Mycotic aneurysm or evidence of active systemic infection

MEDICAL EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

* Known sensitivities or allergies to the materials of construction of the devices, including nitinol (nickel, titanium), polyester, polypropylene, gold, stainless steel, and/or solder (tin, silver).
* Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to anticoagulation or contrast media that cannot be adequately medically managed
* Uncorrectable coagulopathy
* Body habitus that would inhibit x-ray visualization of the aorta or exceeds the safe capacity of the equipment

  • Morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40 or BMI 30-39.9 with comorbidities)
* Major surgical or interventional procedure unrelated to the treatment of the aneurysm planned \< 30 days of the endovascular repair
* Unstable angina (defined as angina with a progressive increase in symptoms, new onset at rest or nocturnal angina)
* Baseline creatinine greater than 2.0 mg/dL
* History of connective tissue disorders (e.g., Marfan Syndrome, Ehler's Danlos Syndrome)
* Deemed a high risk due to significant comorbidities, adjudicated by severity according to the Society for Vascular Surgery reporting standards for endovascular aortic repair involving the renal-mesenteric arteries

ANATOMICAL EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

* Thrombus or excessive calcification within the neck of the aneurysm
* Presence of significant thrombus and/or excessive calcification within the intended proximal or distal seal zone of the aneurysm.
* Branch stenosis \> 75% (if left untreated)
* Anatomy that would not allow maintenance of at least one patent hypogastric artery

  * Inadequate femoral or iliac access to accommodate the required delivery systems.
  * Requirement for iliac conduit in cases of inadequate femoral/iliac access
  * Absence of a suitable non-aneurysmal segment of distal thoracic aorta and significant aortic tortuosity.
  * Target vessel anatomy not compatible with fenestrated or branched stent graft incorporation, including vessels with severe stenosis, tortuosity and/or insufficient size to accommodate stent graft placement.
  * Early target vessel bifurcation precluding safe or effective stent graft placement.
  * Unsuitable iliac artery fixation site and/or anatomy for iliac limb extension or iliac branch device placement, as defined by the device instructions for use

Note: Patients with life-threatening aortic disease who have no acceptable surgical or endovascular alternatives will be allowed to receive treatment under this IDE in the non-statistical cohort

Non-statistical Cohort

This cohort will include patients who meet the inclusion criteria and meet any of the above exclusion criteria\* with the exception of the following:

* Able to be treated in accordance with the instructions for use with a currently marketed endovascular prosthesis
* Subject prefers to receive treatment at another hospital with access to a custom-made endovascular prosthesis
* Refusal to give informed consent by the subject or legal representative. Note: Inability to consent prior to surgery will not be exclusionary if it is for life-saving measures.
* Known sensitivities or allergies to the materials of construction of the devices will be allowed in a life-threatening situation where the patient would not survive open surgery.

Where this trial is running

Durham, North Carolina

• Duke University Health System — Durham, North Carolina, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Chandler Long, MD — Duke University
• Study coordinator: Ellen R Burkett, MSHS

Conditions Aortic Disorders; aortic disorders; endovascular grafts