title: Endovascular repair of the descending aorta and the aortic arch with the Relay stent graft.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of thoracic endovascular aortic repair with a newly designed Relay thoracic stent graft (Bolton Medical, Sunrise, FL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2005 and 2007, 22 patients (71.8 +/- 8.5) received 24 stent grafts. Indications were aneurysms (n = 13), penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers (n = 7), and dissections (n = 2). Due to the proximity of the lesions to the aortic arch, rerouting procedures (ie, subclavian transposition [n = 1], double transposition [n = 12], and total arch rerouting [n = 6] were performed pre-interventionally; three patients did not undergo rerouting). All patients were followed-up with a computed tomographic scan of the entire aorta at discharge, 3 months, 6 months, and annually thereafter (mean follow-up, 13 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary technical success was obtained in 20 of 22 patients, with one persisting type I endoleak and one asymptomatic type II endoleak. One patient died due to malignant arrhythmia 3 days after stent-graft placement. During follow-up, 1 nonaortic related death was observed. No additional endoleaks were observed. Finally, all supra-aortic rerouting procedures remained patent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the treatment of degenerative disease of the descending aorta and the aortic arch, the Bolton Relay stent graft offers acceptable efficacy and safety in short-term follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. martin.funovics@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Funovics
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Langenberger
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Plank
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schoder
authors.forename: Gundula
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Edelhauser
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gottardi
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berzacky
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dorfmeister
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lammer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czerny
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome