Branched and Fenestrated Aortic Endovascular Grafts

Abstract

Endovascular repair of abdominal and descending thoracic aortic aneurysms has become the standard of care due to improvements in morbidity and mortality compared to open surgical repair. Late durability, however, remains an issue because persistent endoleaks can lead to continued aneurysm expansion and eventual rupture, sometimes years following the original repair. Branched, fenestrated, and physician-modified endografts in the thoracic arch and thoracoabdominal aorta have extended the seal zone in order to mitigate the risks of proximal and distal endoleaks. This review summarizes the current state of branched, fenestrated, and physician-modified endografts used in complex aortic pathologies.