Endovascular repair of lesions of descending thoracic aorta: aneurysms and dissections

The morbidity and mortality of open repair of descending thoracic aortic lesions remains uncomfortably high. Shortly after the advent of an endovascular approach for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms, attempts have been made to apply similar technologies to the thoracic aorta. Early experiences with endovascular grafts for thoracic aortic aneurysms have met with good to moderate success but have provided a framework for development of improved technologies specifically designed for this anatomic region. Early studies with second generation devices have shown more promise. Aortic dissections, a disease state associated with an exceptionally high morbidity and mortality, represent another condition that is readily treated with an endovascular approach. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.