Influence of Thoracic Endovascular Repair on Aortic Morphology in Patients Treated for Blunt Traumatic Aortic Injuries: Long Term Outcomes in a Multicentre Study

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate aortic remodelling and associated complications in patients treated by thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) for blunt traumatic aortic injuries (BTAI). Methods This was a retrospective, observational, multicentre study. Remodelling was considered as aortic diameter variations of >2 mm and distal graft and aortic axis angle modification measured by computed tomography angiography (CTA). The predefined levels of measurement were the proximal end of the graft (D1: landing in zone [LZ] 2; D2: LZ 3); distal end (D3); and control measurement (D4) 15 mm beyond D3. Survival, procedure, graft, and/or radiation exposure related complications were registered. CTA was required within three months and at one, six, and 10 years post-operatively. Results Between 2004 and 2017 52 patients were treated; 47 were included for remodelling analysis (five immediate deaths were excluded); median age was 47 years (range 20–80 years). Mean TEVAR oversizing was 19.6% ± 9.7% (range 5%–35%). Following a median follow up of 67.4 ± 56.1 months (range 14–153 months) survival at one, three, six, and 10 years was 90.4% (standard error [SE] 4.1%), 88.3% (SE 4.5%) 84.8% (SE 5.5%), and 84.8% (SE 5.5%), respectively. There were no procedure/graft related complications except for one late intramural haematoma that required re-intervention. Freedom from aortic remodelling at one, six, and 10 years was 85.1% (SE 5.2%), 30.9% (SE 8.6%), and 24.7% (SE 8.8%), respectively. The increase in D1/D2 and D3 diameters were influenced by time from intervention (both p  Conclusion TEVAR is safe for BTAI in the mid to long term. This study reports a correlation between time, oversizing, and remodelling, but the level of adverse events was low.