'Cracking and paving': a novel technique to deliver a thoracic endograft despite ilio-femoral occlusive disease.

Background: The use of endoluminal grafts to treat thoracic aortic aneurysms has been associated with a decreased morbidity and mortality compared with open thoracic aortic aneurysm repair. High-risk surgical patients with ilio-femoral occlusive disease may not be amenable to general anesthesia and the construction of a retroperitoneal conduit. Methods and Results: We report the use of a novel technique consisting of cracking and paving of the ilio-femoral vessels with balloon angioplasty, followed by deployment of an endoconduit to deliver an endoluminal graft under local sedation to treat a high-risk 80-year-old patient with a thoracic aneurysm. Conclusion: High-risk surgical patients with iliofemoral disease can undergo endoluminal graft therapy to threat thoracic aortic aneurysms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]