title: Early and long-term results of replacement of the descending aorta.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this analysis was to evaluate our results of open surgery on the descending thoracic aorta as benchmark to define indications for endovascular treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1981 and December 2000, 115 patients underwent replacement of the descending or thoraco-abdominal aorta. Follow-up to 20 years was complete in 98%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early mortality was 19% and paraplegia rate was 7%. Surgery before 1990 and coronary artery disease were independent predictors for early mortality. Thoraco-abdominal repair and normothermia were independent predictors for paraplegia. Ten years survival rate was 63%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm that replacement of the descending aorta can be performed today with acceptable low mortality and morbidity and with consistent exclusion of the aneurysm or dissection. Long-term results of endovascular stent-grafts in the descending aorta are unclear. In our opinion endovascular stent-grafts should be reserved for high risk patients, acute dissection or acute aortic rupture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hussel
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Walluscheck
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Böning
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cremer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020335:Paraparesis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012086:Reoperation; D015996:Survival Rate