Geometric study of various chimney graft configurations in an in vitro juxtarenal aneurysm model.

PurposeTo determine gutter size and stent-graft geometry in an in vitro juxtarenal aneurysm model using various chimney graft (CG) configurations.MethodsTwo silicone juxtarenal aortic aneurysm models were constructed combining different diameters of the aorta and renal artery. In a single-branched CG configuration, 2 sizes (23 and 28.5 mm) of Excluder stent-grafts were tested individually with 2 sizes of 2 types of CGs: Advanta balloon-expandable (BE) stent-grafts (6×59 and 12×61 mm) and Viabahn self-expanding (SE) stent-grafts (6×50 and 13×50 mm). All combinations were tested with a short (10-mm) and long (20-mm) sealing zone between the CG and main graft (total 16 configurations). Immediately after deployment, the CG configuration was scanned using a 64-slice computed tomography scanner. Gutter sizes were measured at different levels of the sealing zone.ResultsAt the top of the sealing zone, the gutters were significantly larger in the BE CGs compared to SE CGs in combination with the 23-mm main graft (...