Guest Editorial
Abstract
Jae-SungCho MD University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, chojs@upmc.edu Michel S.Makaroun MD University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania anagement of thoracic aortic pathologic conditions continues to be a challenging Mtask for the vascular surgeon. The open surgical approach, while effective, harbors an inher- ently high risk of complications, thereby limiting its application to high-risk patients. The advent of endovascular technology, and its application to the thoracic aorta, not only has expanded treatment options to once denied groups of patients but also has simplified treatment methods, with decreased morbidity and mortality. In some areas, it has resulted in a paradigm shift making endovascular treatment the first line of therapy. Endovascular management of aortic diseases is in its developing stages and is a new frontier of vas- cular surgery. We are all excited to have witnessed the tremendous progress made in this arena, due largely in part to the authors who graciously con- tributed to this issue of Perspectives in Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. Through this issue, we attempt to provide the reader with a selected review of various thoracic aor- tic diseases and their management from open and endovascular perspectives. The issue begins with