The treatment of acute traumatic aortic injuries with TEVAR: a retrospective analysis of 19 cases in a level-1 trauma center.

Introduction: Blunt traumatic aortic injury (TAI) is a critical condition and a leading cause of mortality in trauma patients, often resulting from high-speed accidents. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has developed into the preferred therapeutic approach due to its minimally invasive nature and promising outcomes. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of TEVAR for managing TAI over a 10-year period at a Level-1 trauma center.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 19 patients with acute TAI treated with TEVAR between 2012 and 2022 at the University Hospital Zurich. Data were collected from digital records and analyzed according to the Fillinger TEVAR reporting framework. Outcomes included technical success, perioperative complications, and long-term graft durability.

Results: The cohort had a mean age of 39 years and included patients with severe polytrauma. Technical success was achieved in 95% of cases, with no intraoperative deaths or need for open surgical conversion. Perioperative complications were minimal, and the reintervention rate was 5.3%. This study evaluates 10 years of clinical experience managing TAI with TEVAR. Long-term follow-up, with a median duration of 29 months, revealed no graft-related complications or secondary interventions. Imaging confirmed sustained graft integrity, and clinical outcomes were favorable.

Conclusion: TEVAR is a reliable and effective treatment for traumatic aortic injuries, offering excellent technical success rates and minimal perioperative and long-term complications. This study highlights TEVAR's advantages in managing polytrauma patients and its role as a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery. Additionally, the findings emphasize the need for comprehensive long-term follow-up protocols. Future research should aim to address challenges related to device durability and the integration of advanced imaging techniques to further enhance patient outcomes and broaden the applicability of TEVAR in trauma care.