ABSTRACT
Degenerative aneurysms of the thoracic aorta are increasing in prevalence; open repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Repair of isolated descending thoracic aortic aneurysms using stent grafts was introduced in 1995, and in an anatomically suitable subgroup of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm, repair with endovascular stent graft provides favorable outcomes, with decreased perioperative morbidity and mortality relative to open repair. The cornerstones of successful thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair are appropriate patient selection, thorough preprocedural planning, and cautious procedural execution, the elements of which are discussed here.
KEYWORDS
Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) - aneurysm - endograft - stent graft - aorta
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Laura K FindeissM.D.
Chief of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiological Sciences, UCI Medical Center, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
101 The City Drive South, Route 140, Orange, CA 92868
eMail: lfindeis@uci.edu
