A 20-Year Experience With Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair

This retrospective review summarizes a single institution experience with thoracic aortic endovascular stenting in 420 pts over 20 years.  Indications were aneurysm (238), dissection (100) and trauma (39).  78% of pts were deemed to be at high risk for open repair.  Mortality was 4.8%, stroke incidence was 5%, and cord ischemia was temporary in 7.9% and permanent in 1.7%.  10 year freedom from failure was 63%; failure was predicted by pre-existing renal failure, presentation with rupture, or need for arch intervention. 15 year survival was 32%.