ABSTRACT

We aimed to present our preliminary single-center experience of the endovascular management of thoracic and abdominal aortic ruptures.

Between September 2010 and May 2012, 11 consecutive patients (nine males, two females; age range, 26–80 years) with thoracic and abdominal aortic ruptures underwent endovascular repair in our unit. Thoracoabdominal computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed for diagnosis and follow-up. Patients were selected for endovascular repair by a cardiovascular surgeon, anesthesiologist, and interventional radiologist. All repairs were performed using commercially available stent-grafts. The patients were followed up with CT angiography before discharge, at six months, and yearly thereafter.

Three patients died by day 30. One patient died due to an unsuccessful procedure and hemodynamic instability; two patients died because of comorbidities. The other eight patients were followed for six to 24 months after the procedure. No endoleaks or late ruptures were observed during the follow-up period. The patient with iatrogenic thoracic aortic rupture developed paraplegia after the procedure.

Reduced mortality due to aortic rupture has been reported with the expanding use of endovascular repair. Reports of small centers are important because of the rarity of these pathologies, and because transferring patients with aortic rupture to a referral center is not usually possible.