Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta.

The emergence of endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta (TEVAR) quickly followed the development of technology for the exclusion of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Stent grafts comprised of metal struts covered with fabric made of Dacron/polyester or polytetrafluoroethylene were developed for the purpose of achieving an adequate seal at the proximal and distal aspects of thoracic aneurysms, thus excluding sac flow. The recognition of the decreased morbidity of this approach compared with open repair was readily apparent, as it avoided left thoracotomy, aortic cross-clamping, and left heart bypass. Since then, TEVAR is increasingly being used for other aortic pathologies such as complicated type B dissection, traumatic aortic transection, and aneurysmal disease extending into the arch or visceral segment, requiring debranching procedures.