Ten years of endovascular treatment of traumatic aortic transection--a single centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to present the 10-year results after endovascular repair of acute traumatic rupture of the descending aorta in a single centre. METHODS: Forty-eight consecutive patients (35 men and 13 women; mean age 39.8 +/- 18 years) with traumatic lesions of the descending aorta were treated between March 1999 and November 2008. All patients were treated within 24 hours of admission. RESULTS: Thirty-one Gore TAG, 13 Medtronic Valiant, 6 Cook Zenith TX2 were used. The technical success rate was 100%, the conversion rate was 0%. Thirty-day mortality rate was 8.3%; overall procedure-related mortality was 2.1% due an acute stent graft compression syndrome. Infolding endografts were observed in 3 patients (6.25%). The left subclavian artery was covered in 35 cases (70%), in one patient revascularisation was necessary. No neurological deficit was reported. Mean follow-up was 51.9 months (4-116 months). No late complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of acute traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta is a safe method, with a lower morbidity and mortality than open repair.