Combined open and endovascular techniques for the treatment of complex vascular disease
Carroccio, A.; Spielvogel, D.
Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine new York 71(1): 12-16
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-2507 PMID: 14770246 Document Number: 579939
In an attempt to improve the outcome following aortic aneurysm repair, there has been an increased focus on endovascular technology as a minimally invasive means of treating various vascular pathologies. Stent-grafting of aortic aneurysms is an area where a less invasive approach may decrease the morbidity seen with conventional aneurysm repair. As with other technologies, increased experience and improvements in instrument design allow for applicability to a broader population of patients. However, despite such improvements, some patients' anatomic characteristics may make endovascular repair unsuitable or too risky. When complex anatomy prohibits repair by endovascular means alone, a combination of conventional surgery and endovascular therapy may be utilized in an effort to minimalize the invasiveness. Using adjunctive surgical procedures, complex anatomy may be modified to allow for a safe and successful endovascular aneurysm repair. In this paper, we describe the modification of access vessels as well as fixation sites to facilitate the endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms.