Carlota Fernandez Prendes: Endovascular Treatment of Complex Aortic Pathologies – The Importance of Adequate Patient Selection and Thorough Evaluation of Novel Techniques

Abstract

Aortic pathologies include a broad spectrum of diseases, whose inci-dence, prevalence and mortality typically increases with age. Traditional-ly, open surgery was the only viable treatment solution. However, endo-vascular repair has revolutionized aortic treatment, with ever-increasing available devices, more developed techniques, and improved patient outcomes. The combination of an aging population and improving out-comes has led to an ever-increasing number of patients being offered - and ultimately undergoing – treatments, for which 20 years ago they would have been considered too “high-risk”. The past years have also seen significant strides in innovation and technical device feasibility. However, in conjunction with the development of new systems and technologies, an increase in the number of device recalls from the mar-ket has occurred. Is the broadening of patient selection criteria and novel devices really associated with improved outcomes? As these techniques continue to break new boundaries, adequate patient selection and thor-ough assessment of novel technologies becomes only more vital.

The aim of this PhD is therefore to 1) evaluate the effect of age on the outcomes of aortic endovascular treatment; and 2) to expand our knowledge of outcomes following the implementation of novel technolo-gies used for endovascular aortic treatments.