Endografts for thoracic aortic pathologies--uncontested benefits in patient care

Medical and surgical treatment of thoracic aortic pathologies have been associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Conversely, thoracic aortic endografting is proving to be extremely useful for correcting a variety of lesions with few complications. Endovascular intervention avoids sternotomy or thoracotomy, chest tubes, respirators and general anesthesia, and blood loss is limited. Complications such as paraplegia, renal failure and cardiac and pulmonary difficulties are minimized; hospital and rehabilitation times are also reduced. Selection of patients on the basis of favorable anatomy and pathology for a specific device is critical to procedural success. In addition, hybrid procedures combining endovascular and surgical techniques may extend the uses of available devices. Branched and fenestrated grafts are now being developed and are more accessible in Europe and Australia for use in thorac-abdominal aneurysm exclusion; they may be used in the arch and proximal descending thoracic aorta. However, at present, grafting in these regions has been associated with a significant incidence of stroke.