Thoracic endovascular aortic repair for traumatic injuries of descending thoracic aorta

Abstract

Introduction Traumatic transection of the descending thoracic aorta is a highly morbid injury. In aortic thoracic injuries, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) represents a less invasive alternative to open chest operation. Patients and methods This is a prospective study which included 15 patients presented to the Vascular Unit of Cairo University (Kasr Al aini Hospitals) in the period between June 2016 and April 2018. All patients underwent TEVAR for aortic pseudoaneurysms after the descending thoracic aortic injury. Procedures were performed with standard endovascular techniques. All data were collected included age, sex, mode of injury, associated injuries, timing of intervention, diameter and length of graft, site of access, and postoperative complications. Follow-up included computed tomography at 1 and 6 months. Results This study included 15 patients (10 of them men and five women) with a mean age of 28 years. Nine patients presented due to motor car accident, two patients after balloon dilatation of aorta due to aortic coarctation, and four patients due to fall from a height. All injuries were in the descending aorta distal to the left subclavian artery. The success rate was 100% at intervention without any complications. Conclusion TEVAR is an effective and safe management for the patients presented with traumatic injury of thoracic aorta.