Chimney grafts: is there a need and will they work?

• Published in: Perspectives in vascular surgery and endovascular therapy Vol. 23; no. 3; p. 149
• Main Authors: Resch, Timothy A, Sonesson, Björn, Dias, Nuno, Malina, Martin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2011
• Subjects: Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - diagnostic imaging; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal - surgery; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic - diagnostic imaging; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic - surgery; Aortography; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - adverse effects; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - instrumentation; Endovascular Procedures - adverse effects; Endovascular Procedures - instrumentation; Humans; Patient Selection; Prosthesis Design; Stents; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1521-5768
• DOI: 10.1177/1531003511408339

Endovascular repair has become the primary treatment option for abdominal aortic aneurysms over the past decade. The favorable results as well as technical evolution have led endovascular repair to include fenestrated and branched technology for complex juxtarenal, suprarenal, and thoracoabdominal aneurysms. These grafts are, however, extensively customized and patient tailored at present precluding their use in emergency situations. Certain aspect of aneurysm anatomy also limits them. The chimney technique uses standard, off-the-shelf endovascular devices that extend the use of standard aortic stent grafts for aneurysms without suitable proximal landing zones particularly in acute situations. Early results are promising and warrant a continued development of the technique until such time that dedicated devices are available for the treatment of these complex aneurysms.