title: MRI assessment of thoracic stent grafts after emergency implantation in multi trauma patients: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of MRI for static and dynamic assessment of the deployment of thoracic aortic stent grafts after emergency implantation in trauma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients initially presenting with a rupture of the thoracic aorta were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). The deployment of the implanted stent graft was assessed by CTA and MRI, comprising the assessment of the aortic arch with and without contrast agent, and the assessment of the motion of the stent graft over the cardiac cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The stent graft geometry and motion over the cardiac cycle were assessable by MRI in all patients. Flow-mediated signal variations in areas of flow acceleration could be well visualised. No statistically significant differences in stent-graft diameters were observed between CT and MRI measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI appears to be a valuable tool for the assessment of thoracic stent grafts. It shows similar performance in the accurate assessment of stent-graft dimensions to the current gold standard CTA. Its capability of providing additional functional information and the lack of ionising radiation and nephrotoxic contrast agents may make MRI a valuable tool for monitoring patients after TEVAR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany. volker.rasche@uniklinik-ulm.de
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rasche
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oberhuber
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trumpp
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bornstedt
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Orend
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Merkle
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rottbauer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000601:surgery*; D012421:Rupture; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA