Video: The Arizona Heart Institute Announces the Largest Worldwide Experience with Endoluminal Grafting to Treat Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Related P...(/p correction) to type IV (graft po...),Health

correction) to type IV (graft porosity, rarely seen with current

devices). In the study, the occurrence of early endoleaks was low and

included 18 (5.5%) type I, four (1.2%) type II, and two (0.6%) type III

endoleaks.

-- Paraplegia: Thoracic ELG repair can cause decreased blood supply to the

spinal cord, leading to paraplegia. In this study, paraplegia occurred

in five (1.5%) patients and paresis (slight or partial paralysis) in

three (0.9%); two of the latter improved and one resolved completely

prior to discharge. Paraplegia remains low as a complication and

expectedly increases with difficult anatomy, specific conditions or

open surgical approach. Associated paraplegia with open repair is

estimated at 4%.

-- Mortality: At short-term follow-up, 18 (5.5%) deaths related to the

underlying thoracic aortic pathology occurred within the first thirty

days of the procedure, including three intraoperative deaths. Late

mortality was 9.6% with 31 deaths unrelated to the procedure or

underlying condition.

-- Complications: The overall complication rate was 22.7%, 14.2% (46) in

elective cases and 8.5% (28) in non-elective cases. The vast majority

of these were minor and easily managed with satisfactory outcomes.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Related Conditions

The aorta is the largest artery in the human body which carries blood away from the heart, with the thoracic aorta being the portion of the aorta coursing through the chest. When a weak area of the thoracic aorta expands or bulges like a balloon, it is called a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). TAAs are often caused by atherosclerosis, or hardening and weakening of the arteries. An aortic dissection, which is often associated with high blood pressure, occurs when blood flow forces apart and weakens the aortic wall layers, often leading to ane
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