Long-Term Outcomes and Late Complications of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Using the GORE TAG or Conformable GORE TAG.

Purpose: Previous clinical studies have reported on the short- and mid-term prognoses of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) using the GORE thoracic aortic graft (TAG) or conformable GORE TAG. We evaluated the long-term prognoses of patients who underwent TEVAR using the GORE TAG or conformable GORE TAG in a real-world setting.

Materials and methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed the data of all consecutive patients aged 20 years or older who underwent TEVAR using either the GORE TAG or the conformable GORE TAG at a single center. The surgical criteria did not deviate from global standards. In principle, TEVAR was performed with the TAG or conformable thoracic aortic graft (CTAG) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The primary outcomes of this study were the 10-year overall survival rate and the rate of freedom from aorta-related deaths at 10 years.

Results: Between January 2011 and December 2021, 331 patients underwent TEVAR, of whom 175 consecutive patients treated with TEVAR using either the GORE TAG or the conformable GORE TAG were enrolled. The mean age of the patients was 72.1 ± 9.3 years. In addition, the aneurysm and chronic dissection were 61.7% and 38.3%, respectively. Of all patients, 157 had a proximal landing zone ≥3, and 18 had a zone <3. The mean follow-up time was 46.5 ± 33.1 months. The 30-day mortality rate was 2.86%. The 3-, 5-, 7-, and 10-year overall survival rates were 76.9 ± 3.4%, 63.4 ± 4.1%, 55.9 ± 4.9%, and 42.4 ± 8.4%, respectively. The rate of freedom from aorta-related deaths at 3, 5, 7, and 9 years was 97.4 ± 1.3%, 95.0 ± 2.1%, 95.0 ± 2.1%, and 95.0 ± 2.1%, respectively. Late complications occurred in 23 (13.1%) patients. Endovascular re-intervention was performed because of endoleak, false lumen enlargement, or stent graft-induced new entry tear in 14 patients. Three patients required open conversion, and 6 were observed without re-intervention.

Conclusions: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair using the GORE TAG or conformable GORE TAG is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection.

Clinical impact: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair using the GORE thoracic aortic graft (TAG) or conformable GORE TAG is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection. The 30-day mortality rate was 2.86%. During 10 years of follow-up, the overall survival rate was low; however, the risk of aorta-related deaths was also low. No significant differences in freedom from late complications and re-intervention are seen between the TAG and conformable thoracic aortic graft (CTAG) groups. Further investigations into the treatment of late complications are required.