title: [Endovascular interventions of the descending thoracic aorta].
abstract: Endovascular interventions of the descending thoracic aorta have been established as an alternative to conventional open surgery. Initially, they were limited to elective patients with a high risk profile for open surgery, but soon their use was extended to emergencies as well. In the elective setting, endovascular interventions significantly lowered short-term morbidity and mortality. These excellent perioperative results were reproducible in the emergency setting, thereby leading to superior outcomes for patients treated by endovascular stent grafts when compared to the conventional open surgical approach. However, some questions regarding long-term durability of these devices remain unanswered. Stent-graft failures at mid and long-term follow-up have been reported in the literature. The progressive nature of stent graft-related mid- and long-term complications stresses the need for continued surveillance of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Herz-, Thorax- und thorakale Gefässchirurgie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt/Main. mirkodoss@aol.com
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doss
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Joern
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balzer
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thalhammer
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wimmer-Greinecker
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vogl
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moritz
mesh_terms: D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D004630:Emergencies; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015607:Stents; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome