title: TEVAR for non-aneurysmal thoracic aortic pathology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Management of penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers (PAU), intramural hematomas (IMH), and acute aortic dissections (AD) of the thoracic aorta remain controversial in the endovascular era.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2001 and 2007, patients with PAU (13 patients), and/or IMH (7 patients) were treated with thoracic endografts (TEVAR) in the endovascular suite under general anesthesia. Indications for intervention were intractable chest pain, expanding hematoma or contained rupture, or distal malperfusion. End-points were early morbidity and mortality, incidence of endoleak, device-related complications, and secondary interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 20 patients with a median age of 67 (25-83), 13 (65%) were men, 2 (10%) had contained aortic rupture, and 10 were symptomatic. One patient had carotid-subclavian bypass debranching before endograft implantation. Ten patients had cerebrospinal fluid drainage. Mean length of aorta treated was 122.1 mm (range 36-300). All endografts were technically successful. Average blood loss was 50 mL. Thirty-day mortality was 0%. Symptoms resolved in all patients; there were no neurologic complications. Average length of stay was 5 days. Mean follow-up was 2.0 years (range 0.1-5.8). All patients remained asymptomatic. Three had early (<180 days) endoleaks: Two type II and 1 type I treated successfully with an additional cuff, which was the only patient requiring reintervention. Two patients had late (>180 days) endoleaks (type 2) observed with no aortic expansion. Two deaths at 5.4 and 5.8 years were due to severe aortic valve stenosis and metastatic lung cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TEVAR is a feasible option for repair of non-aneurysmal thoracic aortic pathology with resolution of symptoms, no mortality, and no neurologic complications.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, USA. dsouza.sean@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: Audra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aguila
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oderich
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ricotta
authors.forename: Manju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalra
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gloviczki
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.forename: Thoralf
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sundt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014456:Ulcer / Q000601:surgery