title: Endovascular repair for penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers of the descending thoracic aorta: early and mid-term results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer is an acute aortic syndrome with a high incidence of complications and rupture. Until now, no generally accepted therapeutic regimen has been established because the natural history of penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers is extremely variable. We investigated the technical feasibility and the early and mid-term results of endovascular stent graft treatment in a consecutive series of patients who had penetrating ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  From July 1997 to December 2006, 19 patients (14 men and 5 women) with a mean age of 71.8 +/- 7.2 years were treated for penetrating ulcers. Seven patients presented with an acute and symptomatic penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, and in 12 patients, the ulcerative process was chronic. Clinical and imaging follow-up was performed in all patients using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technical success (insertion and deployment of the stent graft) was achieved in 18 of 19 cases. Neither paraplegia nor other perioperative complications occurred. Two patients treated under emergency conditions in whom the aortic syndrome was recognized after the acute onset died in the hospital (11.1%) of multiorgan failure. Follow-up has been completed in all patients, with a median time of 22 months (range, 3 to 108 months). Endoleaks occurred in 3 patients: 1 had surgical repair (5.6%), 1 leak sealed spontaneously, and 1 sealed after a second endovascular procedure. Late death occurred in 4 patients from non-aortic causes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular stent graft repair is a low-invasive, attractive, and rational treatment option in aortic ulcers that provides satisfactory perioperative and mid-term results.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery, Cardiothoracovascular Department, University of Bologna, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Botta
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buttazzi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parlapiano
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gostoli
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Bartolomeo
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fattori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*