title: The "elephant trunk" technique made easier.
abstract: In patients with diffuse aneurysmal disease, the "elephant trunk" technique, which uses surplus intravascular graft length to facilitate subsequent operations on the downstream aorta, is an accepted method of treatment. Nevertheless, in the presence of large aneurysms without a definite neck beyond the left subclavian artery, there is an increased risk of rupture at the level of the distal anastomosis. My colleagues and I herein describe a modified elephant trunk technique performed with a new prosthesis, which was conceived to overcome the difficulties and the risks inherent in a large aneurysmal neck.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Siena University School of Medicine, Siena, Italy. nerie@unisi.it
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massetti
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000517:prevention & control; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004867:Equipment Design; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011091:Polyesters; D013536:Suture Techniques
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011091:Polyesters; D005780:Gelatin