title: Penetrating ulcers of the thoracic aorta: results from a single-centre experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report our mid-term results of stent-graft (SG) placement for the treatment of penetrating thoracic aortic ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the last 30 months, 11 patients (9 men; mean age 73 years; range 55 to 81) were treated for 12 penetrating thoracic aortic ulcers using SGs. Five patients were symptomatic: 2 had ruptured ulcers and 2 cases were complicated with dissection. Mean European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) was 10. Three patients had concomitant endovascular repair for an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Follow-up included periodic computed tomography angiography (CT-A) scans at 1, 4, and 12 months after the intervention, and yearly thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary technical success was achieved in 100% of patients; no conversion was required. In-hospital mortality did not occur. Paraplegia was not observed. Mean follow-up was 15 months (range 2 to 36). One patient died of respiratory failure 2 months after the intervention. Radiologic follow-up did not detect endoleaks. Survival was 90% at 1 and 3 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience confirms the feasibility of SG treatment for elective and urgent repair of penetrating aortic ulcers. Our current attitude is to treat all the ulcers of the descending aorta using an endovascular technique, since SG treatment represents a good treatment option, as the morbidity and mortality are low.
authors: Vascular Surgery-Department of Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. gabriele.piffaretti@tiscali.it
authors: Gabriele
authors: G
authors: Piffaretti
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Tozzi
authors: Chiara
authors: C
authors: Lomazzi
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Rivolta
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Riva
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Maida
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Caronno
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Laganà
authors: Giampaolo
authors: G
authors: Carrafiello
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Cuffari
authors: Patrizio
authors: P
authors: Castelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D014456:Ulcer / Q000601:surgery*