About Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA) Repair

Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) is a minimally invasive alternative to major open surgery for the repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) that results in reduced recovery times and potentially improved survival rates.

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm (TAA)

Aneurysms can occur anywhere in the human aorta. Most occur in the abdominal aorta (abdominal aortic aneurysms or AAA), but they can also occur in the thoracic aorta (thoracic aortic aneurysms or TAA) or in both the thoracic and abdominal segments of the aorta. Like AAAs, TAAs are typically asymptomatic but can lead to life-threatening rupture and hemorrhage.

Thoracic aortic aneurysms are subdivided into 3 categories based on their location: ascending aortic, aortic arch, and descending thoracic aneurysms (or thoracoabdominal aneurysms).

Aneurysmal degeneration occurs more commonly in the aging population. While many TAAs have no known cause, some are thought to be caused by atherosclerosis, noninfectious aortitis, infections, and inherited syndromes.

TAA Repair

The goal of thoracic aneurysm repair is to prevent the aneurysm from life-threatening rupture. Procedures for the repair of TAAs follow along the same lines as those for AAA treatment: open surgery and EVAR. In the surgical method, the thoracic aneurysm is replaced with a synthetic graft. In the less invasive TEVAR procedure, a thoracic stent graft is inserted into the aneurysm through small incisions in the groin.