title: Endovascular treatment of traumatic thoracic aortic injuries: short- and medium-term Follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Successful thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with low rates of complications has been referred to in the treatment of traumatic thoracic aortic injuries; however, we still do not know the long-term behavior. In this series, short- and intermediate-term results of TEVAR of traumatic aortic injuries are analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical charts and courses of 20 patients (mean age, 31.8 years; age range, 15-65 years; 14 [70%] men) with traumatic thoracic aortic injuries treated with TEVAR were retrospectively reviewed. Mean delay from trauma to intervention was 15 days (range, 0-180 days).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial success rate was 100%, with no deaths or intraoperative leaks, although in 4 (20%) patients, injuries were repaired in the arterial access site. The mean postoperative follow-up was 43.53 months (range, 5.5-108.0 months). Four (20%) patients required reintervention: 2 postoperative revascularizations of the left subclavian artery (20% of the patients in whom the ostium was intentionally occluded) and 2 aortic reinterventions (endovascular treatment of a collapsed stent graft and open repair after thrombosis of another stent graft). All reinterventions were successfully performed and no additional complications were registered during follow-up. Asymptomatic findings related to the stent graft included lack of proximal device-wall apposition in 8 patients (40%), intragraft mural thrombus formation during the first 6 months in 7 patients (35%), and an asymptomatic fracture of the longitudinal reinforcing bar of the stent graft 4 years later in 1 patient (5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although not completely exempt of complications, TEVAR provides a reliable method for the treatment of traumatic thoracic aortic injuries with good results in the short- and medium-term follow-up. All complications have been treated successfully. Long-term evolution of lack of proximal device-wall apposition and intragraft mural thrombus formation should be closely monitored to prevent long-term complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Angiology, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Valentín
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Gaspar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mestres
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maeso
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Domínguez
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aloy
authors.forename: Manel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult