Initial clinical experience with a new low-profile thoracic endograft

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Medical Devices
• Endovascular Therapy

Background:

• The Zenith Alpha thoracic endograft is a new, low-profile device available in Europe.
• Its reduced profile may benefit patients with small or diseased iliofemoral vessels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Zenith Alpha thoracic endograft for thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Main Methods:

• 42 patients with descending thoracic aortic disease were treated with Zenith Alpha stent grafts.
• Conditions included aneurysms, ulcers, and traumatic injuries, with some patients having aortoiliac occlusive disease.
• Deployment was performed via a single surgical femoral access site.

Main Results:

• 51 endografts were deployed successfully in 42 patients with no major device-related complications.
• No perioperative mortality, paraparesis, or paraplegia occurred.
• 30-day follow-up showed one stroke, two renal failures, and one postimplantation syndrome; 6-month CT confirmed 100% clinical success without endoleaks.

Conclusions:

• The Zenith Alpha endograft is safe and effective for treating various thoracic aortic conditions, including in patients with compromised access vessels.
• Satisfactory endograft conformance and aneurysm exclusion were observed.
• Long-term durability requires further evaluation.