Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate aortic remodelling and associated complications in patients treated by thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) for blunt traumatic aortic injuries (BTAI).
Methods: This was a retrospective, observational, multicentre study. Remodelling was considered as aortic diameter variations of >2 mm and distal graft and aortic axis angle modification measured by computed tomography angiography (CTA). The predefined levels of measurement were the proximal end of the graft (D1: landing in zone [LZ] 2; D2: LZ 3); distal end (D3); and control measurement (D4) 15 mm beyond D3. Survival, procedure, graft, and/or radiation exposure related complications were registered. CTA was required within three months and at one, six, and 10 years post-operatively.
Results: Between 2004 and 2017 52 patients were treated; 47 were included for remodelling analysis (five immediate deaths were excluded); median age was 47 years (range 20-80 years). Mean TEVAR oversizing was 19.6% ± 9.7% (range 5%-35%). Following a median follow up of 67.4 ± 56.1 months (range 14-153 months) survival at one, three, six, and 10 years was 90.4% (standard error [SE] 4.1%), 88.3% (SE 4.5%) 84.8% (SE 5.5%), and 84.8% (SE 5.5%), respectively. There were no procedure/graft related complications except for one late intramural haematoma that required re-intervention. Freedom from aortic remodelling at one, six, and 10 years was 85.1% (SE 5.2%), 30.9% (SE 8.6%), and 24.7% (SE 8.8%), respectively. The increase in D1/D2 and D3 diameters were influenced by time from intervention (both p < .001), age (p < .001 and p = .002, respectively) and sealing in zone 2 (p = .027 and p = .042, respectively). For every 10% increase in oversizing, proximal neck diameter remodelling was 3.4% (p = .05). The distal axis decreased over time (p < .001; significant between three and six years).
Conclusion: TEVAR is safe for BTAI in the mid to long term. This study reports a correlation between time, oversizing, and remodelling, but the level of adverse events was low.
Keywords: Blunt injury; Endovascular technique; Thoracic aorta.
Copyright © 2019 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.