The elephant trunk procedure for aortic aneurysm repair: an illustrated guide to surgical technique with CT correlation.

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of a relatively new surgical aortic procedure, the elephant trunk technique. In conjunction with information from the literature, a series of illustrations provide a detailed description of the surgical procedure and postoperative appearance with CT correlation. This article explains the rationale behind a staged thoracic aortic surgery, describes and illustrates the surgical technique used to perform the elephant trunk procedure and the normal postoperative imaging appearance, and discusses potential complications specific to the elephant trunk procedure.