PhD defence T.A.L. (Titia) Sulzer

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

An aortic aneurysm is an enlargement of the body’s main artery. When an aneurysm involves the vessels supplying vital organs such as the kidneys and intestines, treatment becomes particularly challenging. Increasingly, these complex aneurysms can be treated through the blood vessels using specially designed stent grafts with fenestrations or branches that maintain blood flow to these organs.
This thesis investigates how the treatment and follow-up of patients with complex aortic aneurysms can be further improved. The studies focus on complications during endovascular procedures, technical aspects of treatment, and changes in the aneurysm after stent-graft implantation.
An important finding is that the behavior of the aneurysm after treatment provides valuable information about a patient’s prognosis. Patients whose aneurysm decreases in size after the procedure have better long-term outcomes. Continued growth or failure of the aneurysm to shrink may indicate an increased risk of later complications and could help identify patients who require closer surveillance.
The research also demonstrates the potential of ultrasound as a less invasive method for monitoring the stents placed in the arteries supplying the kidneys and other abdominal organs. In addition, different treatment strategies and patient-related risk factors were evaluated.
Together, these findings contribute to improved treatment strategies and more individualized follow-up after complex endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.