title: Results of thoracic endovascular grafting in different aortic segments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the results of thoracic endovascular grafting of different aortic segments performed with commercially available stent-grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 1999 and October 2006, 178 patients (150 men; mean age 69.4+/-10.2 years) underwent endovascular grafting of the thoracic aorta (68 hybrid procedures) with commercially produced stent-grafts from 4 manufacturers. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the aortic segment involved: 64 aortic arch cases (37 hybrids for supra-aortic trunks revascularization), 100 descending thoracic aorta (DTA) cases (17 hybrid: 12 for access and 5 for associated abdominal aortic aneurysm), and 14 thoracoabdominal aorta (TaA) patients excluded from conventional repair (14 hybrids for renal and splanchnic revascularization).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The technical success was 93.8% (167/178). Overall 30-day mortality was 5.6% (10/178). There were 10 (5.6%) type I endoleaks. Initial clinical success was 88.2% (157/178). At a mean follow-up of 29.3+/-21.2 months, the midterm clinical success was 89.9% (160/178). In the arch group, the technical success was 85.9% (55/64). Thirty-day mortality was 6.3% (4/64). There were 8 (12.5%) type I endoleaks. Initial and midterm clinical success rates were 79.7% (51/64) and 85.9% (55/64), respectively. In the 100-patient DTA group, the technical success was 98.0%. Thirty-day mortality was 2.0%. The type I endoleak rate was 2.0%. Clinical success was 96.0% initially and 95.0% at midterm. All 14 of the TaA cases were completed successfully, but 30-day mortality was 28.6% (4/14). There were no type I endoleaks. Clinical success rates initially and at midterm were both 71.4% (10/14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over the last 6 years, synergy between endovascular and surgical procedures allowed treatment of all segments of the thoracic aorta. Overall perioperative and medium-term results were reasonably favorable; however, they were more satisfactory when the descending thoracic aorta alone was involved. Hybrid procedures allowed treatment of all aortic segments, but they decreased the success rates significantly. Endovascular grafting is currently our preferred method of treating pathologies involving the DTA and aortic arch, while our data suggest limiting the use of stent-grafts to high-risk patients or compassionate indications when the thoracoabdominal aorta is involved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Vita - Salute University, Scientific Institute H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. g.melissano@hsr.it
authors.forename: Germano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Melissano
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertoglio
authors.forename: Efrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Civilini
authors.forename: Enrico Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Marone
authors.forename: Giliola
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calori
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Setacci
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chiesa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D018579:Patient Selection; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome