What is frozen elephant technique?
A relatively new approach is the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique, which potentially allows combined lesions of the thoracic aorta to be treated in a 1-stage procedure combining endovascular treatment with conventional surgery using a hybrid prosthesis.
What is elephant trunk technique?
The “elephant trunk” is a technique whereby excess tubular graft material is inserted during ascending aortic and arch repair to facilitate the subsequent treatment of distal aortic aneurysms.
Why is it called frozen elephant trunk procedure?
The so-called ‘frozen elephant trunk’ technique is adapted from the classical elephant trunk technique first described by H.G. Borst in 1983 and allows the repair of concomitant aortic arch and proximal descending aortic aneurysms in a single stage.
What is Dacron graft?
A synthetic polyester graft (such as Dacron) is sutured to the aorta to repair an ascending aortic aneurysm.
What is the frozen elephant trunk?
The frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure, or open stent grafting, is a tool for the combined open and endovascular treatment via a median sternotomy of extensive aortic disease involving both aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta.
What causes the aorta to widen?
When the aorta is weak, blood pushing against the vessel wall can cause it to bulge like a balloon (aneurysm). A thoracic aortic aneurysm is also called a thoracic aneurysm, and aortic dissection can occur because of an aneurysm.
How long does a synthetic aorta last?
At the Aortic Program, a repaired valve is expected to have a life of ten years or more (comparable to the minimum expectation for a bioprosthesis).
What is an aortic aneurysm?
An aortic aneurysm is a balloon-like bulge in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart through the chest and torso. Aortic aneurysms can dissect or rupture: The force of blood pumping can split the layers of the artery wall, allowing blood to leak in between them.
Which is worse type A or B aortic dissection?
Type A Aortic Dissection Type A is the most common type of aortic dissection and is more likely to be acute than chronic. This makes it more dangerous than type B dissections because it is more likely to cause the aorta to rupture, leading to a potentially fatal heart condition.
Which arm has higher BP in aortic dissection?
After being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, the mean arterial pressure on the left arm was noted to be significant higher. On physical examination, both lower limbs were dusky in appearance because of poor perfusion.
Can you replace the entire aorta?
A staged replacement of the entire aorta from the ascending arch to the hypogastric arteries using a hybrid approach. Combined open and endovascular hybrid procedures can be used to treat complex aortic pathology.