Early Outcomes of a Curvature-Guided Strategy for Dual-Branch Revascularization in Zone 1 TEVAR

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and early outcomes of a curvature-guided strategy that guides dual-branch revascularization during Zone 1 Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) based on whether the aortic pathology is predominantly located on the greater or lesser curvature of the arch. Methods: In this retrospective, descriptive study (February 2023-June 2024), 43 consecutive patients were included under a predefined anatomical protocol. Of these, 3 patients (7.0%) were lost to follow-up and were included in the analysis of baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes. The remaining 40 patients constituted the per-protocol follow-up cohort. Pathologies predominantly on the aortic arch's greater curvature (n = 21) were managed with a Castor single-branched stent-graft for the left subclavian artery (LSA) and a left common carotid artery (LCCA) chimney stent. Those on the lesser curvature (n = 22) received a physician-modified endograft (PMEG). The primary outcome was technical success; secondary outcomes included safety, branch patency, and reintervention. Results: The overall technical success rate was 97.7% (100% in the Castor-chimney cohort [21/21] vs. 95.5% in the PMEG cohort [21/22]). No perioperative stroke, spinal cord ischemia, or retrograde type A dissection occurred in either cohort. Two type II endoleaks were observed: one intraoperative in the Castor-chimney cohort and one during follow-up in the PMEG cohort. Among the 40 patients (20 per cohort) who completed a median follow-up of 22.5 months, freedom from aortic-related reintervention was 95% (38/40), with one reintervention occurring in each cohort. Branch patency was 100% (20/20) in the PMEG cohort, whereas it was 95% (one asymptomatic LSA occlusion) in the Castor-chimney cohort. Conclusions: The implementation of a curvature-guided protocol, which rationally matches endograft techniques to arch anatomy, suggests acceptable early safety and efficacy for complex Zone 1 TEVAR. This anatomy-driven framework offers a potential personalized approach to dual-branch revascularization and warrants prospective validation.