Combined frozen elephant trunk and endovascular repair for extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms

We describe a 1-step treatment of extensive arch and descending aortic aneurysm by combination of frozen elephant trunk (FET) (hybrid endoprosthesis) and of conventional endoprosthesis deployment.

In a single-center, prospective, treatment-only study, the clinical data of 4 patients receiving combined FET and distal endoprosthesis deployment in the descending aorta were prospectively collected. Thoracic endoprostheses were deployed either retrogradely (off-pump from the femoral arterial access) or antegradely (from the aortic arch during hypothermic arrest). A distal-first approach was used ("trombone" mechanism). Spinal cord protection was achieved by transposition of the left subclavian artery to the left common carotid artery and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. Preoperative computed tomography scan was performed to identify the collateral circulation. Preoperative planning was assisted by a sizing software (Endosize, Therenva Inc.).

The aortic coverage was extended down to the orifice of the celiac trunk in one case and to the T8 level in the remainders. There was no operative mortality, 1 transient paraparesis, and 1 case of renal insufficiency. Follow-up results were satisfying (no device migration, no endoleak, no endotension, and no late neurologic complications).

The present strategy may abolish the risks connected with the waiting time between the surgical first step and the later completion (aortic-related adverse events and drop-out) and deserves further investigations to determine its safety and feasibility profile.