Midterm Follow-up of Fenestrated and Scalloped Physician-Modified Endovascular Grafts for Zone 2 TEVAR

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the midterm outcomes of scalloped or fenestrated physician-modified endovascular grafts (PMEGs) for zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repairs (TEVAR). Materials and Methods: Between November 2013 and May 2019, 54 consecutive patients (mean age 63 years; 41 men) were treated with thoracic PMEGs modified with 7 scallops or 47 fenestrations for the left subclavian artery (LSA). Indications for aortic repair were acute complicated type B aortic dissection (17, 31%), degenerative aneurysm (13, 24%), acute traumatic rupture of the aortic isthmus (9, 16%), post chronic dissection aneurysmal evolution (8, 15%), penetrating aortic ulcer (3, 6%), intramural hematoma (2, 4%), and floating thrombus (2, 4%). Results: Technical success was 94%; 3 (6%) LSAs were unintentionally covered. An intraoperative type Ia endoleak was treated during the index procedure. One (2%) patient suffered spinal cord ischemia, with irreversible bilateral paraplegia. Three (6%) patients experience postoperative minor strokes with full neurological recovery. Four (7%) patients died in the perioperative period; 2 (2%) were due to aneurysm rupture. Mean follow-up was 26±16 months; 15 (28%) patients had at least 3 years of follow-up. Two (4%) type II endoleaks were identified and successfully treated (4% reintervention rate); no other endoleaks were identified. All the LSAs remained clinically and radiologically patent. There were no conversions to open repair, ruptures, retrograde dissection, stent fracture, migrations, or other aortic complications. Conclusion: Scalloped or single-fenestrated PMEGs for the LSA appear to be durable and safe in the midterm. Combined with low periprocedural morbidity and mortality, these results suggest that this approach can be considered as an off-label alternative to extend proximal seal to zone 2 for TEVAR. Further studies with a larger number of patients and long-term outcomes are needed to fully validate this approach.