Long-Term Outcomes of Endovascular Repair of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms

Abstract

The thoracic aorta is a dynamic structure composed of the aortic root, ascending aorta, aortic arch, and descending aorta. It is subject to the pressure and volume of the cardiac cycle and susceptible to atherosclerotic and aneurysmal changes. With these changes, the risk for acute aortic syndromes increases, thus creating the impetus for earlier interventions. The previous standard of open surgical repair has undergone a transition in recent years toward endovascular repair being favored in the descending and abdominal aortas with ongoing investigation into approaches for the ascending and aortic arch. These therapies have been shown to improve early mortality and morbidity outcomes with the caveat of more interventions compared with open surgery. We undertook this review to analyze the current data available regarding long-term outcomes in patients undergoing endovascular repair for thoracic aortic disease. The data support long-term benefit of endovascular repair for thoracic aortic disease. The primary indications identified for reintervention are endoleak and further aneurysmal degeneration. As the devices available for endovascular repair evolve, ongoing review of these outcomes will be necessary. It will also be important to trend the results as further techniques become available for endovascular repair of the ascending aorta and aortic arch.