Technical tips for thoracic aortic endografting.

Thoracic aortic endografting is proving to be extremely useful for correcting a variety of lesions with few complications. Endovascular intervention avoids sternotomy or thoracotomy, the use of chest tubes, respirators, and general anesthesia, and limits blood loss. Compared with traditional open surgery, complications such as paraplegia, renal failure, and cardiac and pulmonary difficulties are minimized; hospital and rehabilitation times are also reduced. Selection of patients on the basis of favorable anatomy and pathology for a specific device is critical to procedural success. In some cases, a retroperitoneal conduit may be useful. In addition, left carotid-subclavian bypass or a transposition of the left subclavian artery to the left common carotid artery may be necessary before endografting, and spinal cord fluid drainage may be important when there is potential for cord ischemia.