Lessons learned from the endovascular management of blunt XXXX : A single-centre experience.

@entity1 @entity449 @entity130 @entity764 @entity204 @entity2849
BACKGROUND: Blunt @entity764 (BTAIs) remain a leading cause of @entity204 after blunt @entity130 . In severe @entity130 , thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has provided a less invasive alternative to conventional open repair. OBJECTIVE: To report the TEVAR-related complications and uncertainties in @entity1 who presented with traumatic @entity2849 (grade III BTAI). METHODS: From April 2004 to February 2012, 55 @entity1 (42 male, mean age 34.7 years) with severe BTAI were treated with stent grafts. Computed tomography (CT) was used to diagnose the @entity130 , and follow-up scans were planned at 6 and 12 months. We report the complications and the technical uncertainties related to the procedure. RESULTS: Successful sealing of the injury sites was achieved in all @entity1 , either with a thoracic stent graft (53/55) or infrarenal @entity449 extender cuffs (2/55). During hospitalisation, 13 @entity1 died after TEVAR (mean 14 days). Procedure-related complications included left common carotid artery coverage (1/55), ischaemic left leg (1/55) and graft collapse (1/55). The procedurerelated uncertainties included excessive graft oversizing (15/55), poor graft apposition to the inner curve of the aorta (19/55) and left subclavian artery coverage (24/55). CONCLUSION: Stent grafts appear safe and effective in treating @entity2849 caused by BTAI. However, they are likely to be associated with long-term complications and monitoring strategies of >30 years may be necessary.
