Endovascular stent grafting versus open surgical repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms in low-risk patients: a multicenter comparative trial.

Objective: Results are presented from the first completed multicenter trial directed at gaining approval from the US Food and Drug Administration of endovascular versus open surgical repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Methods: Between September 1999 and May 2001, 140 patients with descending thoracic aneurysms were enrolled at 17 sites and evaluated for a Gore TAG Thoracic Endograft. An open surgical control cohort of 94 patients was identified by enrolling historical and concurrent subjects.