Long-term results from a 12-year experience with endovascular therapy for thoracic aortic disease

Endovascular approaches promise to revolutionize therapy for thoracic aortic disease. This study describes a long-term analysis of endovascular thoracic aortic repair.

Seventy-three patients (mean age, 67.4 years) underwent endovascular thoracic aortic repair from 1993 to 2005. Indications for intervention included aneurysm (38%), dissection (23%), or penetrating ulcer or pseudoaneurysm (34%). Rupture was present in 16 patients (22%). Seventy-one percent were considered high risk for open surgery for reasons of age or comorbid conditions. Treated segments included ascending aorta (n = 1), distal arch (n = 24), and proximal (n = 50) or distal (n = 55) descending aorta. The total descending thoracic aorta was covered in 31 patients. Procedural success was achieved in 96%. Devices were delivered by femoral (79%), retroperitoneal iliac (18%), or carotid (2.7%) exposure. Devices used included Excluder (n = 30), Talent (n = 23), Zenith (n = 3), AneuRx (n = 5), and custom-fabricated (n = 14). Follow-up was 100% complete.

Thirty-day mortality was 5.5%. Significant morbidity included stroke (8.2%) and need for dialysis (4.1%). Although 3 patients had transient spinal cord ischemia (4.1%), none had permanent sequelae. Intervention for fusiform aneurysm was independently associated with a composite end point of 30-day mortality, need for dialysis, and stroke (p = 0.015). Eight patients (11%) had new or persistent endoleaks, and aortic reintervention was performed in 7 patients (9.6%). Mean survival for the entire cohort was 46.8 +/- 5.1 months. Intervention for penetrating ulcer or pseudoaneurysm (p = 0.045) was independently associated with long-term all-cause mortality.

An endovascular approach produces acceptable results for a broad range of thoracic aortic disease. However, the potential for endoleak or need for reintervention mandates continued close follow-up to achieve satisfactory long-term results.