The Heart As Access to the Aorta†

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is an accepted treatment option for patients with thoracic aortic pathologies regarded as unfit for open surgery. Nevertheless, a subgroup of these patients is ineligible for classic TEVAR due to the lack of access vessels. We describe the transapical TEVAR technique enabling surgeons to perform TEVAR even in these patients.