Abstract
Glassy carbon stented intraluminal grafts were used for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms. As a stent, glassy carbon tubes of 22 and 24mm in outer diameter were cut to a length of 25mm. The stents were prepared for use in the assembly of sutureless intraluminal grafts, using conventional artificial vascular prostheses. Five cases of thoracic aortic aneurysms were replaced with this method. The location of the stents were always at the distal end of the aorta but every proximal end-to-end anastomosis was performed using a conventional hand suture technique. The maximal follow-up term is 3 years in one case and the others over one year. No complications such as thromboenbolism, graft detachment or pseudoaneurysm have been observed to date. The results were quite satisfactory and our metod has proved to be a great advantage over commercially available intraluminal grafts.
