Mid-term results of elective repair of extensive thoracic aortic pathology by the Evita Open Plus hybrid endoprosthesis only

To describe the early and mid-term clinical and instrumental results of the frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure using the recent Evita Open Plus hybrid endoprosthesis for elective one-stage treatment of extensive thoracic aortic disease. We reviewed 16 patients undergoing FET for post-dissection aneurysm (50%), true aneurysm (31%) or other aetiologies (19%), through median sternotomy and hypothermic circulatory arrest. An average 14 +/- 7.6-month follow-up with regular contrast-enhanced control computed tomography scans was available. Four patients received preliminary carotid-subclavian bypass to improve spinal cord protection. Distal extension through endovascular deployment of stent-grafts into the descending aorta was performed during the same procedure in 3 patients. Concomitant procedures on the ascending aorta/root were done in 25% of cases. There were no cases of operative mortality. Cases of neither cerebral stroke nor postoperative paraplegia were observed. Two cases of transient paraparesis and 1 case of Brown-Sequard syndrome occurred. At follow-up, there were no cases of endoleak or endotension. One patient was reoperated for distal completion (thoracoabdominal aortic replacement). The FET using the Evita Open Plus device is a reliable and versatile treatment for one-step management of extensive disease of the aortic arch and the descending aorta. This strategy should be reserved for patients having limited preoperative comorbidities and good functional status.