Biomarkers Predicting Postimplantation Syndrome After Endovascular Aortic Repair (EVAR) and Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR)

Endovascular repair of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR/TEVAR) has become a preferred alternative to open surgical repair due to its association with reduced perioperative morbidity and mortality. However, a notable proportion of patients undergoing these procedures may develop postimplantation syndrome (PIS), a systemic inflammatory response first described in 1999. Despite its clinical relevance, PIS remains poorly defined, with varying diagnostic criteria across the literature.

PIS is typically characterized by postoperative fever, fatigue, and an increase in inflammatory markers such as white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a readily obtainable marker from complete blood count tests, has also gained attention as a reliable indicator of systemic inflammation. In contrast, procalcitonin levels in PIS patients often remain within normal limits, helping differentiate PIS from bacterial infections.

In this prospective observational study, 200 patients undergoing elective EVAR or TEVAR procedures under general anesthesia were included. All procedures were performed via bilateral femoral artery access using open femoral incisions. Patients were followed postoperatively and assessed for the development of PIS based on clinical and laboratory parameters.

Body temperature was measured at regular intervals, and inflammatory markers-including CRP, WBC count, IL-6, NLR, and procalcitonin-were recorded preoperatively and at 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. PIS was defined as the presence of fever (>38°C) in association with elevated CRP and/or leukocytosis, in the absence of any clinical or microbiological evidence of infection.

Preliminary results showed that patients who developed PIS had significantly higher postoperative levels of WBC, CRP, IL-6, and NLR, while procalcitonin levels remained normal, supporting a non-infectious inflammatory etiology. Imaging and laboratory evaluations ruled out alternative sources of infection. No significant differences were observed in operative time or graft type between patients with and without PIS.