Early and long-term results of replacement of the descending aorta.

Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate our results of open surgery on the descending thoracic aorta as benchmark to define indications for endovascular treatment.

Methods: Between January 1981 and December 2000, 115 patients underwent replacement of the descending or thoraco-abdominal aorta. Follow-up to 20 years was complete in 98%.

Stent-graft repair versus open surgery for the descending aorta: a case-control study.

Purpose: To compare the clinical outcomes of open surgery versus endovascular repair in patients with pathologies of the descending thoracic aorta (DTA).

Methods: This retrospective study included 44 patients (28 men; mean age 68+/-12 years, range 37-86) treated for DTA pathologies between 1995 and 2003. Twenty-two patients (15 men; mean age 68+/-13 years, range 37-86) undergoing stent-graft implantation were matched for sex, age, emergency operation, and comorbidities (coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) with a 22-patient contemporaneous surgical cohort (13 men; mean age 69+/-11 years, range 41-80).