The Canadian journal of cardiology
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Descending thoracic aortic surgery is linked to a high morbidity and mortality. Thoracic endovascular stent grafts were designed to decrease perioperative risks, especially in patients with severe comorbidities. However, procedure-related complications and clinical outcomes remain ill-defined. ⋯ Thoracic endovascular stent grafts show excellent early results in well-selected cases. Extra-anatomical bypass or novel vascular access procedures increase the applicability of thoracic endovascular stent grafts. Meticulous follow-up is essential to identify and treat stent graft-related complications. Data on long-term outcomes are required before applying thoracic endovascular stent grafts to patients with a lower operative risk.