The FDA announced approval of the first thoracic endograft device (Gore TAG) on March 23, 2005. It signaled the true beginning of a new era in endovascular therapy, and the unmistakable 'message' that thoracic aortic surgery is about to be transformed in a dramatic and irreversible fashion.

Thoracic aortic diseases, such as aneurysms, dissection, and others, share in common several important features - a relatively high incidence and high lethal potential, among others! Open surgical repair has been the acknowledged standard of care for decades, but it is far from ideal because of continuin

Introduction
Radiation-induced vasculitis (RIV) is a well-documented complication in patients with a history of previous head and neck or mediastinal radiation. Cardiac valves and ostial location lesions of the epicardial coronary arteries are the more common sites of injury.¹ However, areas distant to the heart have also been shown to undergo changes after radiation-induced therapy. These areas are not limited to but include the carotid, vertebral and less commonly, the subclavian arteries. Treatment of RIV has included percutaneous intervention, surgical and medical therap

Introduction
The association of internal carotid artery disease (ICAD) with aortic valve stenosis (AVS) constitutes a very high-risk clinical occurrence of which surgical management is still unclear, because the rate of death and stroke for combined suergry is 3%.¹ Carotid stenting before or after cardiac surgery may be a valuable option in such high-risk patients. An accurate diagnosis of any significant carotid artery stenosis is of paramount importance for a proper combined or staged surgical or endovascular repair, and for immediate results after cardiac valve surgery.

Introduction
Peripheral stents aim to support revascularization procedures of intravascular stenoses by mechanically preventing vessel recoil and counteracting pathophysiologic processes of luminal re-narrowing triggered by procedural injury of the vessel wall. Despite improvements in stenting techniques and concomitant medication, repeated intervention due to target lesion restenosis is necessary on a significant percentage of patients. The permanent presence of an artificial implant plays a prominent role in the discussion of mechanisms causing in-stent restenosis. Permanent metallic