Overview
AAA characteristics are traditionally measured with computed tomography angiography (CTA), however, three-dimensional ultrasound (3D US) is emerging as a novel imaging method for AAAs. With the use of a US contrast agent, the AAA thrombus can also be distinguished from the lumen on the 3D scans. This enables 3D visualization of the AAA and its thrombus without the need for harmful radiation and nephrotoxic contrast agents, as opposed to CTA. In in vitro measurements, 3D US has already been shown to have clinically acceptable error rate with AAA diameter and volume measurement. However, it is unclear whether this is also applicable to in vivo measurements. Therefore, the aim of this prospective study is to compare preoperative 3D US AAA characteristics as measured by 3D US with contrast enhancement (3D CEUS), 3D US without contrast enhancement (3D non-CEUS) and CTA.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Unruptured infrarenal or juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA);
- Scheduled for elective endovascular repair (EVAR);
- Preoperative CTA with iodine contrast available;
- Informed consent form understood and signed.
Exclusion Criteria:
- BMI>40 kg/m2
- Symptomatic AAA;
- Implanted pacemaker or ICD;
- Unable to hold breath for ≤7 seconds;
- Pregnant;
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance(s) or any of the excipients in Sonovue;
- Known right-to-left cardiac shunt;
- Severe pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary artery pressure > 90mmHg);
- Uncontrolled systemic hypertension;
- Severe pulmonary disease (e.g. COPD GOLD 3 or 4, adult respiratory distress syndrome);
- Clinically unstable cardiac disease (recent, < 3 months, or ongoing myocardial infarction, unstable angina at rest, recent percutaneous coronary intervention, clinically worsening cardiac symptoms, severe cardiac arrhythmia's, endocarditis, etc.);
- Prosthetic valves;
- Loss of renal function (GFR < 31 mL/min), end-stage renal disease;
- End-stage liver disease;
- Sepsis;
- Hypercoagulable status, recent (< 3 months) thrombosis;
- Congestive heart failure (class III or IV);
- Psychiatric or other condition that may interfere with the study;
- Participating in another clinical study that interferes on the primary outcomes of this study;
- 3D US measurement of AAA is impossible because of bowel gasses or other causes.