[Endovascular deployment of stent graft in the ascending aorta. A systematic review]

The endovascular deployment of stent graft in the ascending aorta was proposed for inclusion in the benefit catalogue of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health. The efficacy and safety of this intervention was unclear, and therefore a systematic review was performed to support evidence-based decision making. Detailed searches for English- or German-language articles published between 2002 and 2008 were performed in a number of electronic databases. Internal validity of studies was judged by two authors independently. A total of 11 case reports but no prospective studies were identified through literature search. The case reports showed the technical feasibility of this intervention but allow no conclusions about its efficacy and safety. Therefore the endovascular deployment of stent graft in the ascending aorta must be considered as experimental and its inclusion in the benefit catalogue cannot be recommended.