Six years' experience of thoracic endovascular aortic repair in patients with thoracic aortic diseases: A single-center study

Abstract

Aim: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is evolving as a gold standard therapy for treating complex thoracic aortic diseases (TAD). It has evolved as first-line therapy for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (DTAA) and Type B aortic dissection (TBAD) with reduced morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to evaluate clinical profiles, treatment variation, results, and complications of TEVAR. We have also highlighted the feasibility of performing complex procedures under mobile C-arm with certain innovative methods. Materials and Methods: A total of 43 patients (34 men and 9 women), mean age 59 years; age range 23–81 years, with TBAD and DTAA, who underwent TEVAR at tertiary care center from July 2012 to April 2019 were included in the study. Management strategies applied as per existing recommendations requiring TEVAR with or without debranching. The primary endpoints were technical success, 30-day mortality. The secondary endpoints were death, stroke, or spinal cord ischemia (SCI) and graft-related complications such as endoleak, migration, kinking, or thrombosis. Follow-up was done at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and thereafter yearly. Follow-up events included death from all causes, neurological deficits, malperfusion syndrome, and reintervention. Results: Of 43 patients, 14 had TBAD and 29 had DTAA. Sixteen required hybrid repair and rest underwent TEVAR alone. Primary technical and assisted primary clinical success was 96% and 100%, respectively. Three patients developed Type I endoleak, covered with thoracic extender. The mortality rate was 9.5%. One had minor stroke and no SCI. Conclusion: TEVAR is reliable, stable, and safe for the treatment of TAD. It continues to evolve rapidly and will likely establish itself as the first-line procedure with reduced perioperative morbidity and mortality. Utility of hybrid theaters cannot be overemphasized, and the possibilities of performing TEVAR in with portable C-arm will enable the procedure to be performed in the smaller center also.