title: Simplified thoracic aortic aneurysm repair.
abstract: Descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic operations still represent a challenge for the cardiovascular surgeon. In recent years, endovascular stent grafting has become a popular alternative to a conventional operation in selected patients, but is not always readily available or is technically contraindicated; also, long-term results are unknown. We describe a simplified surgical technique to secure a standard vascular prosthesis by performing a modified "elephant trunk" operation and discuss potential indications for its application.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra e Divisione di Cardiochirurgia, Università degli Studi di Milano e IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, Milan, Italy. mpocar@milanocuore.org
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pocar
authors.forename: Pino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fundarò
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donatelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans