Endovascular repair of aortic rupture.
OBJECTIVE
To report a single centre experience with endovascular repair of ruptures of the descending thoracic and abdominal aorta.


METHODS
Retrospective non-randomised study in a university hospital.


METHODS
Between February 1997 and October 2002, endovascular repair of the aorta was performed on 125 occasions. In 20 cases, this was done as an emergency (nine ruptured infrarenal aortic aneurysms and 11 descending thoracic aortic ruptures). All patients underwent spiral computed tomographic angiography to assess the feasibility of endovascular repair and the size of the endoprosthesis.


RESULTS
Endovascular repair was successfully completed in all patients. Primary conversion to open repair was not necessary. Postoperative 30-day mortality was 5/20 (25%). There were major complications in 12/20 patients. No ruptures of the aneurysms occurred postoperatively. No primary endoleaks occurred, but in 4/20 (20%) secondary surgical interventions were required after a median follow-up of 12 months (range 1-42 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Our early experience shows the feasibility of this technique with early results that compare favourably to those of emergency open repair. Further studies are required to assess the long-term efficacy.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017130:Angioplasty; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies