Complications of Endovascular Aortic Repair: Prevention and Management

In June 2008, 2 additional endografts were approved for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms in the United States. Their addition to the armamentarium of the aortic specialist allows for the expansion of anatomic criteria in the treatment of patients. Furthermore, additional experience has been obtained in centers of excellence with respect to off-label use of these prostheses. While early complications have been well recognized and documented through rigorous clinical-trial methods, additional late complications (beyond 1 year) are now being seen. It is important to acknowledge these issues and to develop strategies for the prevention and management of these rare but significant aspects of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Complications can generally be divided into 2 categories: implantation and postimplantation