A system including: a portion of an auxiliary guide wire; and a branched prosthesis comprising: a graft including a generally tubular body of biocompatible material and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; the graft including: a proximal portion having a first diameter; a distal portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter; a tapered portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion; first and second branches (230, 240) having proximal regions (232, 242) disposed within the tapered portion, distal regions (234, 244) of the first and second branches (230, 240) extending toward the distal end of the graft; and a further branch having a distal region disposed distal to the tapered portion, the further branch extending toward the proximal end of the graft; wherein the portion of the auxiliary guide wire passes in a preloaded configuration through an end opening at the distal region of the second branch to exit the prosthesis and extend distally external to the prosthesis, passes through an end opening at the distal region of the further branch, and extends proximally within a lumen of the further branch that is distally relative to the graft. a portion of an auxiliary guide wire; and a branched prosthesis comprising: a graft including a generally tubular body of biocompatible material and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; the graft including: a proximal portion having a first diameter; a distal portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter; a tapered portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion; first and second branches (230, 240) having proximal regions (232, 242) disposed within the tapered portion, distal regions (234, 244) of the first and second branches (230, 240) extending toward the distal end of the graft; and a further branch having a distal region disposed distal to the tapered portion, the further branch extending toward the proximal end of the graft; wherein the portion of the auxiliary guide wire passes in a preloaded configuration through an end opening at the distal region of the second branch to exit the prosthesis and extend distally external to the prosthesis, passes through an end opening at the distal region of the further branch, and extends proximally within a lumen of the further branch that is distally relative to the graft. a graft including a generally tubular body of biocompatible material and having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween; the graft including: a proximal portion having a first diameter; a distal portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter; a tapered portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion; first and second branches (230, 240) having proximal regions (232, 242) disposed within the tapered portion, distal regions (234, 244) of the first and second branches (230, 240) extending toward the distal end of the graft; and a further branch having a distal region disposed distal to the tapered portion, the further branch extending toward the proximal end of the graft; wherein the portion of the auxiliary guide wire passes in a preloaded configuration through an end opening at the distal region of the second branch to exit the prosthesis and extend distally external to the prosthesis, passes through an end opening at the distal region of the further branch, and extends proximally within a lumen of the further branch that is distally relative to the graft. a proximal portion having a first diameter; a distal portion having a second diameter less than the first diameter; a tapered portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion; first and second branches (230, 240) having proximal regions (232, 242) disposed within the tapered portion, distal regions (234, 244) of the first and second branches (230, 240) extending toward the distal end of the graft; and a further branch having a distal region disposed distal to the tapered portion, the further branch extending toward the proximal end of the graft; wherein the portion of the auxiliary guide wire passes in a preloaded configuration through an end opening at the distal region of the second branch to exit the prosthesis and extend distally external to the prosthesis, passes through an end opening at the distal region of the further branch, and extends proximally within a lumen of the further branch that is distally relative to the graft.