title: Early and midterm outcomes after endovascular treatment of degenerative aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta: a Finnish multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate results of endovascular stent-graft placement for aneurysms of the descending aorta in 3 Finnish university hospitals during 1998-2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 158 consecutive patients treated with stent-graft placement for disease of the descending thoracic aorta, all 69 patients (58 men; mean age 71.7 years, range 54-90) with an aneurysm were included in the analysis. Medical records, radiological images, and national death records were collected and analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 30-day mortality rate was 3.7% in 54 elective patients and 46.7% in 15 urgently treated acute patients. The paraparesis rate was 4.3%, and the major stroke rate was 4.3% after the operation. There were 4 aneurysm ruptures, all in the urgent group, two of whom had access failure. The other two died despite seemingly good initial results. The mean follow-up was 34.8±29 months. Two late ruptures occurred in patients who were lost to follow-up. In all, 12 type I (10 early, 2 late) and 1 late type III endoleaks were encountered in the observation period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our findings, endovascular treatment of aneurysms of the descending aorta is relatively safe. To reduce the risk of postoperative complications, optimal preoperative imaging is mandatory. Postoperative regular imaging controls are indicated for early detection and prompt treatment of late type I or III endoleaks and to reduce the risk of late ruptures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. petri.saari@kuh.fi
authors.forename: Petri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saari
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Biancari
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ihlberg
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jaakkola
authors.forename: Terhi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nevala
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perälä
authors.forename: Wolf-Dieter
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Manninen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome