title: Thoracic aortic stents: a combined solution for complex cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The combination of endovascular and standard surgical techniques may facilitate the management of complex aortic disease although the long-term durability of this approach needs to be confirmed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of our experience in the treatment of patients with complex aortic pathology using a combined endovascular and surgical approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1998 and 2001, 27 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm underwent stent-graft implantation. Eight required combined endovascular and surgical procedure because of complex pathology. In 3 cases, combined repair was carried out for a concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm or aorto-iliac-femoral occlusive disease. In the other 5 cases, vessel relocation was performed to obtain safe landing zones: left subclavian artery to left carotid artery translocation in 3 patients, celiac trunk to superior mesenteric artery translocation in one and aorto-celiac-mesenteric bypass grafting in one.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One of the 8 patients died on 12th post-operative day of intestinal bleeding and bowel infarction. No neurological sequelae were reported. The other patients are currently well at 11 months mean follow-up time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simultaneous surgical and endovascular procedure is a feasible and may be a valuable adjunct to the treatment of complex aortic and peripheral vessel anatomy.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra e Divisione di Cardiochirurgia, Università degli Studi, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saccani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicolini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beghi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uccelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Larini
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Budillon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agostinelli
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gherli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome