GORE^® TAG^® Conformable Thoracic Stent Graft for the Treatment of Descending Aortic Pathologies

Abstract

Endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta has gained widespread acceptance as a primary treatment modality for thoracic aortic disease due to its minimally invasive approach and improved survival rates. GORE^® TAG^® Conformable Thoracic Stent Graft was designed for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms, penetrating ulcers, aortic transections and type B aortic dissections, which are accepted indications for endovascular therapy. The aim of this review is to summarize the clinical literature, focusing mainly on the publications that came from manufacturer’s pre-market and post-market studies. Including the Global Registry for Endovascular Aortic Treatment (GREAT), sponsored by WL Gore & Associates (Flagstaff, AZ, USA), which is a large database of endovascular repair of various thoracic, abdominal and thoraco-abdominal aortic pathologies to identify and evaluate only those with isolated thoracic aortic pathology (arch and descending thoracic).

Lay abstract

Endovascular repair is a technique used by vascular surgeons to help treat the pathology of the blood vessels. This is a minimally invasive procedure that allows the surgeons to access the major vessels of the body, in this case the descending thoracic aorta, and place an endograft. Endografts are a hollow, fabric-covered tube, surrounding a mesh metal cylinder (or stent). This device remains inside the vessel to provide support and keep the lumen open. Traditionally, prior to the invention of endovascular stents the treatment of descending thoracic aorta pathologies was limited to open surgical repair or medical treatment. GORE^® TAG^® Conformable Thoracic Stent Graft was designed to help repair many descending thoracic aortic pathologies. The aim of this review is to summarize the clinical literature, focusing mainly on the publications that came from manufacturer’s pre-market and post-market studies.

Keywords:

• aortic aneurysm
• arch pathologies
• endograft
• GORE^® TAG^® Conformable Thoracic Stent Graft Aortic
• GORE^® TAG^® Conformable Thoracic Stent Graft with Active Control System
• GREAT and SURPASS
• thoracic endovascular aortic repair
• Type B aortic dissection
• vascular surgical procedure

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Company review disclosure

In addition to the peer-review process, with the author’s consent, the manufacturer of the product discussed in this article was given the opportunity to review the manuscript for factual accuracy. Changes were made by the author at their discretion and based on scientific or editorial merit only. The author maintained full control over the manuscript, including content, wording and conclusions.