title: Early experience of thoracic endovascular aortic repair: a local single hospital experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short- to mid-term results of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in Wonkwang University School of Medicine & Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 2009 and May 2011, 8 consecutive patients had undergone endovascular stent-grafting for thoracic aortic diseases. Five patients were treated for traumatic thoracic aortic injuries, two patients were treated for thoracic aneurysms and one patient was treated for a pseudoaneurysm due to penetrating aortic ulcers. Attempted stent-graft deployment was performed electively in 6 patients and emergently in 2. Follow-up was performed at 1-month, 6-month, 1-year, and annually thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technical success rates were achieved in 87.5% and the 30-day mortality rate was 0%. Mean hospital length of stay after TEVAR was 30 days in traumatic thoracic aortic injuries and 10 days in thoracic aneurismal diseases. Intra-operative Type I endoleak due to migration at deflation was visualized in 1 patient, which was treated by insertion of another stent-graft. During follow-up, a major complication was encountered in one patient who received carotid-subclavian bypass to relieve left arm ischemia. After 5 months he was treated with arch replacement for aortic arch aneurysm with type I endoleak at proximal site after endovascular treatment. The 30-day mortality rate was 0%. However, 1 case of mortality (12.5%) was observed during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The short and mid-term results of endovascular repair of thoracic aortic diseases are promising. TEVAR is an effective procedure in the management of thoracic aortic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Wonkwang University School of Medicine & Hospital, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Yun
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Kyeong Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Sam Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dae Woong
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Sang Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Byung Jun
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: So