Physician-Modified Endovascular Grafts for Zone-2 Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair

Afiliação

(1)Centro de Doenças da Aorta - CDA, Division of Vascular and Endovascular  Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology and Anesthesia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Hospital Ana Nery, Salvador-Bahia, Brazil.

(2)Division of Vascular Surgery, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Hospital Universitário Professor Edgar Santos, Salvador-Bahia, Brazil.

Resumo

OBJECTIVE:  This study aims to describe our technique and early experience with physician-modified endovascular grafts (PMEGs) for aortic arch diseases in zone 2. We used a total endovascular technique based on a single fenestrated endograft to preserve left subclavian artery (LSA) patency. METHODS:  From December 2019 to August 2020, six consecutive patients with a variety of thoracic aortic diseases were treated with handmade fenestrated thoracic aortic grafts: four aortic dissections, one penetrating aortic ulcer, and one intramural hematoma. The planning, endograft modification, surgical technique, and follow-up of the patients were described. We evaluated immediate technical success and after 30 days, the LSA patency, Type-1 endoleak, and postoperative complications. RESULTS:  Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was performed for zone 2 in all cases. Immediate technical success, defined as successful alignment of the LSA with a covered stent and no Type-1 endoleak, was achieved in all cases. Patients had a 30-day follow-up computed tomography, which demonstrated LSA patency and no Type-I endoleaks. To date, no strokes, left arm ischemia, paraplegia, or conversions to open surgery have been reported; one patient operated for acute Type B dissection died during the early follow-up. CONCLUSION:  TEVAR for zone 2 with a PMEG to maintain LSA patency achieved technical success and early durability. It is expected that with longer follow-up and a larger number of cases, these results will be confirmed.