Open-stent grafting with a GORE TAG thoracic endoprosthesis for an extended severely atheromatous thoracic aortic aneurysm: report of a case.

An 82-year-old man with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experienced sudden back pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) 63 mm in maximum diameter, with severe atheromas, representing "shaggy aorta", extending down to the level of the ninth thoracic vertebra. Emergency surgery was necessitated by the impending rupture of the aneurysm. The patient underwent successful total arch replacement with open-stent grafting using a GORE(®) TAG(®) thoracic endoprosthesis. His postoperative course was uneventful and there were no neurological complications. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using the GORE TAG system for an open-stent graft.