CClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT00546312Gore ThoracicUpdated May 27, 2010

Clinical Study of Thoracic Excluder Endoprosthesis to Treat Descending Thoracic Aortic Diseases

An interventional study of Thoracic EXCLUDER Endoprosthesis in Descending Thoracic Aortic Disease, sponsored by Arizona Heart Institute. Status unknown at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2010-05-27.

Sponsored by Arizona Heart Institute · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified May 2009), so the status shown — last known as Active, not recruiting — may be out of date.
Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
332
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
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Study summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular repair, using the Thoracic EXCLUDER Endoprosthesis, when used in the treatment of descending thoracic aortic disease as indicated by radiological testing at time of discharge, and 1, 6, 12 months and annually following implantation, and to determine the proportion of patients who experience adverse events during and after the implantation procedure, including disease-specific and overall mortality rates.

Read the detailed description

Thoracic aortic aneurysm, while relatively rare, is a potentially lethal disorder with a poor long-term prognosis if not treated. As the aortic diameter increases, wall tension becomes higher, leading to further expansion of the aneurysm. Consequently, this disease process is a "progressive and self propagating" phenomena, and the natural history of the disease is progressive expansion of the aneurysm with eventual rupture. Patients with descending thoracic aortic aneurysms frequently have concomitant major medical conditions, making them poor candidates for major surgical procedures. Concomitant conditions may include: hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and peripheral vascular disease, including abdominal aortic aneurysm, previous stroke and peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

The accepted treatment for aneurysms deemed to warrant intervention is surgical resection and repair. Operative and post operative complications contributing to early mortality after surgical repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms include low cardiac output, pulmonary insufficiency, myocardial infarction, postoperative hemorrhage, pulmonary embolism and sepsis.

In addition to mortality, two of the gravest complications of this surgical procedure, neurologic complications due to spinal cord ischemia, such as paraplegia and paraparesis, and renal failure or dysfunction, remain common.

Dissections, another disease process of the descending thoracic aorta, are rare. Aortic dissections are thought to start with a tear or disruption of the intimal lining of the aorta, either due to medial degenerative diseases, trauma or rupture of an ulcerated intimal plaque. Blood at systemic arterial pressures invades the underlying medial layer of the aortic wall, dissecting the layers of the aortic wall, and forming a false lumen. The dissection then propagates for varying distances and in varying directions along the length of the aorta.

As the false lumen increases in size, arterial flow to the true aortic lumen and to arteries arising from the aorta may be blocked or disrupted. Depending upon the location of the primary intimal tear and the direction of dissection propagation, various vital organs may loose arterial blood supply, and the aorta may rupture into the pericardial sac or pleural space, leading to cardiac tamponade or free pleural rupture. Blood flow from the false lumen may reenter the true lumen through another intimal tear, which may occur proximal or distal to the first, depending on the direction of dissection propagation.

Medical therapy is the first line treatment for dissections of the descending thoracic aorta, and is aimed at reducing the mean, peak and diastolic recoil arterial pressure and the dP/dt while maintaining sufficient pressure to adequately perfuse all vital organs. Surgical intervention is warranted for patients with progression of dissection, impending rupture, refractory hypertension, a sizable localized false aneurysmal component, or continued pain.

A device has been designed to treat disease processes of the descending thoracic aorta. The Thoracic EXCLUDER Endoprosthesis is a device that allows for primary endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta and is intended to be used as an intraluminal blood conduit. The Thoracic EXCLUDER Endoprosthesis is a flexible, self-expanding endoprosthesis that is constrained on the leading end of a delivery catheter. A separate balloon catheter, the Thoracic EXCLUDER Balloon Catheter, is used to smooth the endoprosthesis following implantation.

Subjects will undergo an evaluation of the endoprosthesis, and will also be evaluated for device and procedure related adverse events that may have occurred during the follow-up period. Follow-up will be completed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months. Subject evaluation at 1 and 3 months will include a complete Physical Examination and a CT with contrast enhancement. Subject evaluation at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months will also undergo a complete Physical Examination, a CT with contrast enhancement, and a Chest X-Ray (AP, Lateral, and 2 obliques).

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Conditions studied

  • Descending Thoracic Aortic Disease

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03

In context

Aortic Diseases

99 studies on the registry are indexed under Aortic Diseases; 42 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 332 is above the median of 69 across 35 interventional studies indexed under Aortic Diseases.

Browse Aortic Diseases studies →

Lead sponsor

Arizona Heart Institute is the lead sponsor of 8 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Thoracic aortic disease deemed to warrant exclusion in order to prevent rupture or extension including dissection and transections.
  • Anatomy meets Thoracic EXCLUDER Endoprosthesis specification criteria.
  • Minimum 2 cm non-aneurysmal segment proximal and distal to the aneurysm.

    • \< 60 angle in the aortic arch may require additional length of non- aneurysmal segment if the arch is included in the treatment segment.
  • The patient is of a "high risk" status for surgical repair. The patient is characterized by the presence of co-morbid factors and/or thoracic aortic pathology that place the patient in a category of prohibitive risk for open repair, and, without intervention, and adverse event could be anticipated within days or weeks. The patient has an ASA score of IV or V.
  • Ability to comply with protocol requirements including follow-up.
  • Signed Informed Consent Form.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • > 4 mm aortic taper and inability to use devices of different diameters, to compensate for the taper, in the treatment area of the aorta.
  • Significant thrombus at the proximal or distal implantation sites.
  • Planned occlusion of the left carotid or celiac arteries, unless supplemental conduit provided.
  • Myocardial infarction within six weeks.
  • Degenerative connective tissue disease, e.g. Marfan's or Ehler Danlos Syndrome, unless the proximal and distal implantation sites of the Thoracic EXCLUDER Endoprosthesis are located within previously placed surgical grafts.
  • Female of child bearing potential with positive pregnancy test.
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
332 participants (estimated)

Interventions

  • DeviceThoracic EXCLUDER Endoprosthesis

    Stent-graft endoprosthesis is inserted by Delivery System via a surgical cutdown (e.g., external iliac artery, femoral artery, common iliac artery conduit, etc.) approach. The insertion method depends on each patient's anatomy and is determined by the Clinical Investigator.

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Technical success

    Successful completion of the treatment at the initial time of the procedure defined by successful access to the arterial system, deployment, placement and patency of the Thoracic TAG Endoprosthesis at time of procedure.

    Time frame: following procedure

  2. Treatment Success

    Initial technical success and exclusion of the appropriate portion of the descending thoracic aortic disease from the blood circulation, defined as the absence of aneurysm enlargement (if aneurysm present) and avoidance of rupture, without major complications within 30 days of the procedure.

    Time frame: 30 days

  3. Clinical Success

    Treatment success followed by patency of the graft, and continued exclusion of the appropriate portion of the descending thoracic aortic disease from the blood circulation, without reintervention, rupture, and any major complications through twelve months.

    Time frame: through 12 months

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Study locations

1 site
  • Arizona Heart Institute
    Phoenix, Arizona 85006, United States
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References and documents

Publications

  • Fann JI, Miller DC. Endovascular treatment of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. Surg Clin North Am. 1999 Jun;79(3):551-74. doi: 10.1016/s0039-6109(05)70024-4. PubMed 10410687 ↗
  • Bickerstaff LK, Pairolero PC, Hollier LH, Melton LJ, Van Peenen HJ, Cherry KJ, Joyce JW, Lie JT. Thoracic aortic aneurysms: a population-based study. Surgery. 1982 Dec;92(6):1103-8. PubMed 7147188 ↗
  • Clouse WD, Hallett JW Jr, Schaff HV, Gayari MM, Ilstrup DM, Melton LJ 3rd. Improved prognosis of thoracic aortic aneurysms: a population-based study. JAMA. 1998 Dec 9;280(22):1926-9. doi: 10.1001/jama.280.22.1926. PubMed 9851478 ↗
  • McNamara JJ, Pressler VM. Natural history of arteriosclerotic thoracic aortic aneurysms. Ann Thorac Surg. 1978 Nov;26(5):468-73. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)62927-x. PubMed 753161 ↗
  • Najafi H. 1980: descending aortic aneurysmectomy without adjuncts to avoid ischemia. 1993 update. Ann Thorac Surg. 1993 Apr;55(4):1042-5. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(93)90150-g. PubMed 8466324 ↗
  • von Segesser LK, Killer I, Jenni R, Lutz U, Turina MI. Improved distal circulatory support for repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. Ann Thorac Surg. 1993 Dec;56(6):1373-80. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(93)90684-a. PubMed 8267439 ↗
  • Hamerlijnck RP, Rutsaert RR, De Geest R, Brutel de la Riviere A, Defauw JJ, Vermeulen FE. Surgical correction of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms under simple aortic cross-clamping. J Vasc Surg. 1989 Apr;9(4):568-73. PubMed 2709524 ↗
  • Culliford AT, Ayvaliotis B, Shemin R, Colvin SB, Isom OW, Spencer FC. Aneurysms of the descending aorta. Surgical experience in 48 patients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1983 Jan;85(1):98-104. PubMed 6848892 ↗
  • Carlson DE, Karp RB, Kouchoukos NT. Surgical treatment of aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta: an analysis of 85 patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 1983 Jan;35(1):58-69. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)61432-4. PubMed 6849582 ↗
  • Cooley DA, Baldwin RT. Technique of open distal anastomosis for repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. Ann Thorac Surg. 1992 Nov;54(5):932-6. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(92)90652-k. PubMed 1417289 ↗
  • Dake MD, Miller DC, Mitchell RS, Semba CP, Moore KA, Sakai T. The
  • Borst HG, Jurmann M, Buhner B, Laas J. Risk of replacement of descending aorta with a standardized left heart bypass technique. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1994 Jan;107(1):126-32; discussion 132-3. PubMed 8283874 ↗
  • Lawrie GM, Earle N, De Bakey ME. Evolution of surgical techniques for aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta: twenty-nine years experience with 659 patients. J Card Surg. 1994 Nov;9(6):648-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.1994.tb00899.x. PubMed 7841645 ↗
  • Laschinger JC, Izumoto H, Kouchoukos NT. Evolving concepts in prevention of spinal cord injury during operations on the descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. Ann Thorac Surg. 1987 Dec;44(6):667-74. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)62163-7. PubMed 3318742 ↗
  • Rutherford RB; editor; Vascular Surgery, Fourth Edition; 1995, W. B. Saunders Co.
  • Bergan JJ, Yao JST; editors; Aneurysms, Diagnosis and Treatment; 1982, Grune and Straton
  • Fann JI, Miller DC. Aortic dissection. Ann Vasc Surg. 1995 May;9(3):311-23. doi: 10.1007/BF02135293. No abstract available. PubMed 7632561 ↗
  • Torchiana DF, Shin RD, Akins CW, Hilgenberg AD, et. al. Delayed management of traumatic thoracic aortic disruption. Poster abstract presented at the 35th annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, San Antonio, Texas, January 1999
  • Fann JI, Mitchell RS, Dake DC, Miller DC. Results of endovascular stent-grafting in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm. Progress in Vascular Surgery chapter 19
  • Kato M, Matsuda T, Kaneko M, Kuratani T, Mizushima T, Seo Y, Uchida H, Kichikawa K, Maeda M, Ohnishi K. Outcomes of stent-graft treatment of false lumen in aortic dissection. Circulation. 1998 Nov 10;98(19 Suppl):II305-11; discussion II311-2. PubMed 9852919 ↗
  • Sacks D, Marinelli DL, Martin LG, Spies JB. Reporting standards for clinical evaluation of new peripheral arterial revascularization devices. Technology Assessment Committee. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 1997 Jan-Feb;8(1 Pt 1):137-49. doi: 10.1016/s1051-0443(97)70530-x. No abstract available. Erratum In: J Vasc Interv Radiol 1997 Jul-Aug;8(4):658. J Vasc Interv Radiol 1997 May-Jun;8(3):492. PubMed 9025054 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 27, 2010, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00546312
Lead sponsor
Arizona Heart Institute
First posted
Oct 18, 2007
Start date
Feb 2000
Primary completion
Jun 2012 (estimated)
Completion
Jun 2012 (estimated)
Last update
May 27, 2010

Study contacts

Edward B Diethrich, M.D.
principal investigator · Arizona Heart Institute

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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