title: Endovascular repair for diverse pathologies of the thoracic aorta: an initial decade of experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endovascular grafts have rapidly evolved as a minimally invasive treatment for a variety of acute and chronic disorders of the thoracic aorta. Application of this technology at a single center is reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1998 and 2007, 197 patients underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Primary indications included degenerative aneurysms (n = 121), type B aortic dissection (n = 44), mycotic aneurysms (n = 9), traumatic disruptions (n = 9), intramural hematoma (n = 5), pseudoaneurysm (n = 4), and miscellaneous pathology (n = 5). An analysis of patient demographics, periprocedural records, complications, reinterventions, and survival was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-day mortality was 6%, which was lowest among patients undergoing treatment for a degenerative thoracic aortic aneurysm (2.4%, 3 of 121). Major adverse events included stroke in 3%, spinal cord ischemia in 2%, peripheral vascular repair in 4.5%, renal failure in 4.5%, and open conversion in one patient (0.5%). Both preoperative serum creatinine (odds ratio 1.44, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.04, p = 0.039) and number of endograft components (odds ratio 1.43, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.01, p = 0.043) were predictors of major adverse events. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a reduction in late survival among patients with preoperative creatinine >or=1.8 mg/dL (p < 0.001). One- and 5-year intervention-free survivals were 77%+/-3% and 41%+/-6%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thoracic endovascular aortic repair represents an effective treatment for a variety of pathologic states. But the risk-benefit analysis for thoracic endovascular aortic repair should carefully consider the extent of disease, pathologic condition, and renal function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
authors.forename: Elliot L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Chaikof
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mutrie
authors.forename: Karthik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kasirajan
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milner
authors.forename: Edward P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ravi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Veeraswamy
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Dodson
authors.forename: Atef A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Salam
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000601:surgery; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D002423:Cause of Death; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D018570:Risk Assessment; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine