Paola Vallerio1, Alessandro Maloberti2, Ilenia D'Alessio3, Alfredo Lista4, Marisa Varrenti5, Samuela Castelnuovo6, Matteo Marone4, Enrico Piccinelli2, Guido Grassi3, Bruno Palmieri4, Cristina Giannattasio7. 1. Cardiology IV, "A. De Gasperis" Department, ASST Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy. 2. Cardiology IV, "A. De Gasperis" Department, ASST Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; School of Medicine and Surgery, Milano-Bicocca University, Milan, Italy. 3. School of Medicine and Surgery, Milano-Bicocca University, Milan, Italy. 4. Vascular Surgery, ASST Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy. 5. Cardiology II, "A. De Gasperis" Department, ASST Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy. 6. Dyslipidemia Center, ASST Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy. 7. Cardiology IV, "A. De Gasperis" Department, ASST Niguarda Ca' Granda, Milan, Italy; School of Medicine and Surgery, Milano-Bicocca University, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: cristina.giannattasio@unimib.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) currently represents the gold standard of treatment for thoracic aortic injury (TAI). Nevertheless, there is an ongoing debate surrounding its safety and subsequent cardiovascular effects. Our aim is to assess heart and vascular structure and function remodeling after TEVAR in TAI young patients. METHODS: We evaluated 20 patients (18 men, age 41 ± 14 years, 11 treated with Gore CTAG, 9 with Medtronic Valiant) with office and 24-hr blood pressure (BP) with specific vascular stiffness analysis (Mobil-O-Graph), aortic diameters (computed tomography scan) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI echocardiogram). Evaluation was done after a median time of 5.0 ± 3.5 years from the trauma. RESULTS: After TAI 12 patients (55%) developed hypertension. When patients were divided according to treating time, those treated for more than 3 years show higher LVMI, PWV, and ascending aorta dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that TEVAR for TAI is associated with heart and vascular remodeling. The presence of TEVAR modifies aortic functional properties and could induce an increase in BP that can promote aortic and cardiac damage, even in young patients.
BACKGROUND: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) currently represents the gold standard of treatment for thoracic aortic injury (TAI). Nevertheless, there is an ongoing debate surrounding its safety and subsequent cardiovascular effects. Our aim is to assess heart and vascular structure and function remodeling after TEVAR in TAI young patients. METHODS: We evaluated 20 patients (18 men, age 41 ± 14 years, 11 treated with Gore CTAG, 9 with Medtronic Valiant) with office and 24-hr blood pressure (BP) with specific vascular stiffness analysis (Mobil-O-Graph), aortic diameters (computed tomography scan) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI echocardiogram). Evaluation was done after a median time of 5.0 ± 3.5 years from the trauma. RESULTS: After TAI 12 patients (55%) developed hypertension. When patients were divided according to treating time, those treated for more than 3 years show higher LVMI, PWV, and ascending aorta dilatation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that TEVAR for TAI is associated with heart and vascular remodeling. The presence of TEVAR modifies aortic functional properties and could induce an increase in BP that can promote aortic and cardiac damage, even in young patients.