title: Stent-grafting of the thoracic aorta: feasibility and early results in acute and chronic lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Conventional surgery of the thoracic aorta is frequently associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Here we present treatment of surgical pathologies of the thoracic aorta using a less invasive endovascular approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2000 to May 2004, 51 patients (mean age 62.7 +/- 12.8 years, 36 men) underwent endovascular repair of thoracic aortic lesions in our institution. All patients underwent computed tomography scan at discharge, 6 and 12 months and annually thereafter. Clinical follow-up was carried out by outpatient clinic visit or by telephone contact with the patients or their referring physicians. Mean follow-up was 15.8 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-day mortality rate was 3.8%, one death in the group of chronic (1.9%) and one in the group of acute lesion (1.9%). The survival rate in the follow-up period was 92.4% at 6 months. Computed tomography angiography confirmed exclusion of the lesion in 25 out of 27 chronic patients, whereas type I and II endoleaks were detected in two patients treated with a secondary procedure. In addition, two patients with an acute type B aortic dissection presented with early endoleaks. The overall rate of complications was 10%. No other endoleaks or deaths were observed at later follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The early and mid-term results of endovascular stent-grafting for the treatment of chronic and acute thoracic aortic diseases showed a good outcome and low rate of complications. Stent-grafting of the thoracic aorta is still an investigational procedure that needs further validation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences, General Hospital S. Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Ugolino
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Livi
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciccarese
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vendramin
authors.forename: Romeo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frassani
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vit
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sponza
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marzio
authors.forename: Nevio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gonano
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gasparini
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional