title: Endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms.
abstract: The standard technique for the treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms is elective open surgical repair with graft interposition. This standard approach, although steadily improving, is associated with high morbidity and substantial mortality rates and implies a major surgical procedure with lateral thoracotomy, use of cardiopulmonary bypass, long operation times and a variety of peri- and postoperative complications. This and the success of the first endoluminal treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms by Parodi et al. prompted the attention to be thrown on the treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms with endoluminal stent-grafts in many large centres. The aim of this new minimally invasive technique is to exclude the aneurysm from blood flow and in consequence to avoid pressure stress on the aneurysmatic aortic wall, by avoiding a large open operation with significant perioperative morbidity. The potentially beneficial effect of this new treatment approach was evaluated in the course of this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiography and Interventional Radiology, University Clinics Vienna, General Hospital, Austria. Fabiola.Cartes-Zumelzu@akh.rad.magwien.gv.at HYPERLINK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cartes-Zumelzu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lammer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kretschmer
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoelzenbein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grabenwöger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thurnher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000497:Alloys; D000792:Angiography; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation; D002404:Catheterization; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; C013616:nitinol; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene