Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair: Review of Current Devices and Treatments Options

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair is a minimally invasive approach to repairing a number of mechanical defects of the thoracic aorta utilizing an intraluminally deployed stent graft, usually without the need for open surgery. A number of manufacturers have developed endograft systems, utilizing various stent materials (ie stainless steel vs nickel titanium [nitinol]), cover material (ie polytetrafluoroethylene vs woven polyester), radial force, flexibility, and seal zone attachment methods. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the four FDA-approved endografts currently used in the United States for descending thoracic aortic pathologies and compare their most salient features. This overview is aimed to assist the vascular interventionalist in further guidance of device selection on a case-by-case basis.