title: Endovascular treatment of penetrating aortic ulcers: mid-term results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate mid-term results of endovascular treatment of penetrating aortic ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 2000 and November 2006, 18 consecutive patients underwent endovascular treatment of the descending thoracic aorta (N=16) and abdominal infrarenal aorta (N=2) for penetrating aortic ulcer, in a single University Hospital. Data were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Mean follow-up was 41 months (range 4 to 77 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technical success was achieved in all patients. No perioperative deaths occurred. No conversion to open repair or secondary procedures were required. Two patients died in the follow-up period for reasons not related to penetrating aortic ulcers. One type II endoleak was observed. It was still present, unchanged, twelve months after the procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular treatment of penetrating aortic ulcers of the descending thoracic and infrarenal aorta were safe and effective in the mid-term in this small series of patients.
authors.affiliation: 1st Unit of Vascular Surgery, Policlinico San Donato, University of Milan, Italy. hdlns@freemail.gr
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dalainas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Medda
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casana
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramponi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stegher
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malacrida
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Inglese
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Tealdi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*