Purpose: To confirm that first follow-up CT after 12 months from endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm is acceptable on the basis of analysis of the aneurysmal sac size evolution, endoleaks and eventual presence of sac rupture during first year after stent-graft implantation. Materials and methods: A total of 48 patients with AAA underwent endovascular treatment using Ella stent-graft system between June 2002 and June 2005. Twenty-seven patients (8 women and 19 men, median age 68.9 years, range from 62 to 85 years) were followed-up one year and more after the treatment. The follow-up protocol included angiography at the fifth postoperative day and CT 12 months after the procedure and yearly thereafter. An abdominal X-ray was performed yearly. In 27 patients the followup time was 1 year, in 14 patients 2 years and in 10 patients 3 years. Results: In a group of 27 patients, shrinkage of the aneurysmal sac size was found in 44.4 % of patients after one year, in 57.1 % after 2 years and in 60 % after 3 years. Enlargement of aneurysmal sac was not found in any patient. In this group of patients no endoleak was detected, no patient died for aneurysmal sac rupture during first oneyear follow-up. Conclusion: With regard to the development of the aneurysmal sac size, endoleaks and minimal risk of sac rupture, the first follow-up CT after 12 months is acceptable.

        Key words: aneurysm of abdominal aorta – endovascular treatment – sac size – followup