Current challenges in endovascular therapy for thoracic aneurysms

Surgical treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms can be associated with high mortality and complication rates, resulting in prolonged hospital stay. Endovascular techniques for treating thoracic aortic disease have been rapidly embraced, showing limited mortality and major adverse events. Its wide availability and relative ease of application has changed and extended management options for thoracic aortic disease, including inpatients deemed unsuitable for open surgery. Rapid technical evolution has allowed it to be applied to even hostile anatomy and complex cases. However, as it is still a young technology, many unknowns remain, including long-term outcomes with respect to conservative treatment and open surgical repair.