Impact of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair on Pulsatile Circumferential and Longitudinal Strain in Patients With Aneurysm

Purpose: To quantify both pulsatile longitudinal and circumferential aortic strains before and after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), potentially clarifying TEVAR-related complications. Methods: This retrospective study assessed the impact of TEVAR on pulsatile aortic strains through custom developed software and cardiac-gated computed tomography imaging of 8 thoracic aneurysm patients (mean age 71.0±8.2 years; 6 men) performed before TEVAR and during follow-up (median 0.1 months, interquartile range 0.1–5.8). Lengths of the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, and the descending aorta were measured. Diameters and areas were computed at the sinotubular junction, brachiocephalic trunk, left subclavian artery, and the celiac trunk. Pulsatile longitudinal and circumferential strains were quantified as systolic increments of length and circumference divided by the corresponding diastolic values. Results: Average pulsatile longitudinal strain ranged from 1.4% to 7.1%, was highest in the arch (p