Provisional extension to induce complete attachment after stent-graft placement in type B aortic dissection: the PETTICOAT concept.

PURPOSE: To report the use of a technique (PETTICOAT: provisional extension to induce complete attachment) to obliterate sustained abdominal false lumen flow and pressurization despite successful stent-graft sealing of the thoracic entry tear in patients with complicated type B aortic dissection. METHODS: Of 100 initial patients subjected to stent-graft repair for complex type B aortic dissection with thoracoabdominal extension, 12 patients (10 men; mean age 58.7 years, range 44-76) demonstrated distal true lumen collapse and a perfused abdominal false lumen despite successful sealing of the proximal tears. As an adjunctive or staged procedure, a scaffolding stent was placed for distal extension of the previously implanted stent-graft. In each case, a Sinus aortic stent, Fortress stent, or a Z-stent system was customized with maximum 2-mm oversizing versus the original stent-graft diameter. Magnetic resonance or computed tomographic angiography was performed at discharge, at 3 months, and then annually to determine false channel thrombosis, true and false lumen dimensions, and re-entry flow. RESULTS: Delivery was successful in all cases (100%). The compressed distal true lumen (mean 4+/-3 mm) was reconstructed to a mean width of 21+/-3 mm, and malperfusion was abolished without any obstruction of the abdominal side branches. At up to 1-year follow-up, there were no signs of expansion or distal progression of the scaffolded dissected aorta. All patients with complete thoracic thrombosis showed evidence of improved aortic remodeling; 1 patient with no false lumen thrombosis died at 11 months from thoracoabdominal aortic rupture. CONCLUSION: The PETTICOAT technique may offer a safe and promising adjunctive endovascular maneuver for patients with distal malapposition of the dissecting membrane and false lumen flow. The technique can both abolish distal true lumen collapse and enhance the remodeling process of the entire dissected aorta.     

Computed tomography of aortic intramural hematoma and thrombosed dissection

A retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate the appearance of the aortic wall on computed tomography for the purpose of developing criteria for differentiating acute aortic intramural hematoma from thrombosed false lumen seen in aortic dissection. Computed tomography angiography findings of the thoracoabdominal aorta in 23 patients with suspected intramural hematoma and 25 with thrombosed false lumen were reviewed. The more common features of an intramural hematoma were hyperattenuation of the aortic wall, wall thickness less than a quarter of the aortic diameter, intrinsic wall calcification, a lesion extending around the entire aortic circumference, and ulcer-like projections that may be precursors of intramural hematoma. Wall thickness less than a quarter of the aortic diameter, lesion extending around the entire aortic circumference, and ulcer-like projections were the most useful indicators for distinguishing intramural hematoma from the thrombosed false lumen in aortic dissection.     

Endovascular stent-graft repair of aortic dissection

Between October 2000 and January 2002, 9 consecutive male patients with subacute or chronic aortic dissection underwent stent-graft placement. The indication for surgery was continuous pain or aneurysm development. One patient had a type A dissecting aortic aneurysm with a primary tear in the ascending thoracic aorta; the other 8 had type B dissection. Placement of an endovascular stent-graft was technically successful in 8 patients, and one underwent an open procedure for abdominal aortic fenestration. The entry site was sealed and the false lumen disappeared in 8 cases, and thrombosis of the false lumen was obtained. Rupture of an iliac artery dissecting aneurysm occurred in one patient 2 days after stent-graft placement; abdominal aortic fenestration with prosthetic replacement of the distal abdominal aorta was performed. One patient died of myocardial infarction 3 days after the stent-graft procedure. During a mean follow-up period of 7 months (1-16 months), one patient died of acute myocardial infarction at 11 months. It was concluded on the basis of these short-term results that endovascular repair of aortic dissection is a promising treatment, and abdominal aortic fenestration is a useful adjuvant procedure.     

Intramural hematoma of the arch and ascending aorta owing to acute aortic syndrome of the descending aorta: to stent or not to stent?

Purpose: To report thoracic stent-graft repair in patients with acute aortic syndromes, an intramural hematoma (IMH), and intractable pain despite maximum medical therapy. Case Reports: Since January 2002, 4 patients [2 men (40 and 53 years old) and 2 woman (62 and 83 years old)] with type B aortic dissection have presented with an IMH >3 mm in the aortic arch. The patients were treated with a "freeflo" Valiant thoracic stent-graft, which was deployed under "zero aortic pressure" using either adenosine arrest or rapid ventricular pacing. To enhance false lumen thrombosis, a distal extension was inserted when a significant re-entry was observed in the mid third of the descending thoracic. The procedures were successful; over a follow-up ranging to 17 months, the patients have been asymptomatic, with resolution of all the IMHs. Conclusion: Thoracic stent-graft treatment of acute aortic syndromes of the descending aorta complicated by arch IMH is feasible. Success of the procedure may rely on optimal stent-graft selection with minimal graft oversizing, deployment under "zero aortic pressure" using rapid ventricular pacing, and more liberal revascularization of the left subclavian artery.     

Value of transesophageal echocardiography combined with computed tomography for assessing repaired type A aortic dissection.

Thirty-two patients with repaired type A aortic dissection were examined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) (n = 32), transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) (n = 30), computed tomography (CT) (n = 29), or a combination of all 3, to assess course and complications as a function of the surgical procedure. The mean follow-up period was 55.7 months (range 3 to 132). Surgery consisted of a replacement of the ascending aorta in 25 patients (group 1) with extension to the transverse aorta in 7 (group 2). The transverse diameter of the aorta, the persistence of the false lumen, thrombus formation and flow dynamics in the false lumen were evaluated by TEE. Ten patients (31%) had a dilation in the initial ascending aorta (sinus of Valsalva aneurysm in 6 patients, and a false aneurysm in the other 4). Three of 4 patients with a proximal pseudoaneurysm underwent operation after TEE and CT evaluation. In the descending thoracic aorta, there was good agreement between TEE and CT scan determinations of transverse vessel diameter. Persistence of flow within the false lumen was significantly more frequent in patients with a dilated aorta (p < 0.05), whereas thrombosis was seen more often and false lumen less often in patients with nondilated aorta. No significant differences in vessel status or outcome were observed between the 2 groups, although this may have been due to the small size of group 2. TEE is thus a well-tolerated method for postoperative follow-up of type A aortic dissection whatever the type of surgery. For the upper ascending aorta, CT provided sufficient data.     

Elective stent-graft treatment of aortic dissections.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively review 8 years' experience with stent-graft treatment of aortic dissections at a single institution. METHODS: Forty-six patients (31 men; mean age 59 years, range 38-88) underwent stent-graft treatment for 9 Stanford type A and 37 type B aortic dissections (9 acute phase, 13 subacute, 24 chronic). Custom-designed self-expanding stainless steel Z stents covered with polytetrafluoroethylene were used (n=20) until low-profile modular stent-grafts became available for percutaneous delivery (n=26). RESULTS: Endovascular stent-graft deployment was technically successful in 44 (96%) patients; the 2 failed cases owing to intraprocedural migration and graft torsion were converted to surgery. There were 5 type I endoleaks for a clinical success (entry tear exclusion) of 85% (39/46). Complications included 3 cases of transient renal failure, 2 puncture site pseudoaneurysms, 1 guidewire-induced new intimal tear (converted), and 2 cases of stent-induced saccular aneurysms (1 converted). Follow-up at a mean 34 months (range 12-96) showed complete resolution of the thoracic false lumen in 14 (74%) of 19 acute/subacute patients treated successfully; 3 (16%) showed a reduced thoracic false lumen diameter. In the 23 chronic-phase patients treated successfully, 8 (35%) had complete resolution of the thoracic false lumen, and 11 (48%) showed size reduction. Enlargement of the abdominal aortic false lumen due to persistent flow into re-entry tear(s) occurred in 3 (13%). CONCLUSIONS: Stent-graft treatment is a feasible and effective treatment modality in aortic dissection. However, close follow-up is mandatory to monitor new intimal tear, saccular aneurysms, or enlargement of the abdominal aortic false lumen.     

Percutaneous coronary intervention following repair of type B aortic dissection:a report of 8 cases

Objective Patients with aortic dissection have a significant incidence of coronary artery disease.The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and feasibility of percutaneous coronary stent in patients who have undergone endovascular stent,and to assess the effect of anti-coagulant and anti-platelet treatment on patients' thrombosis process.Methods From January 2005 to July 2007,8 patients who had undergone endovascular stent-graft during the past 1 to 7 months for type B aortic dissection repair,underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) because of coexisting coronary artery disease.Anti-coagulant and anti-platelet treatments were administrated after PCI according to the standard protocol.Patients were followed up for a mean period of 23 months.Clinical and false lumen status data were collected during the follow-up.Results PCI were technically successful in all 8 patients and no severe complications such as death,paraplegia,renal failure occurred during hospitalization.Complete false lumen thrombosis was observed in 5 patients and incomplete false lumen thrombosis in the remained 3 patients at the end of follow up.There were no major complications such as death,dissection rupture or aneurysm development occurred during the follow-up period.Conclusion Our data implied that PCI can be safely performed in patients with type B aortic dissection who have undergone endovascular stent-graft,without interrupting the thrombosis process.     

Expanding false lumen in the abdominal aorta 5 years after endovascular repair of a type B aortic dissection: successful exclusion of 3 distal re-entry sites.

PURPOSE: To report endovascular treatment of an expanding aneurysmal false lumen several years after successful stent-graft deployment in the descending thoracic aorta for type B aortic dissection. CASE REPORT: A 54-year-old woman who had a stent-graft placed at the entry site of a type B aortic dissection 5 years prior presented with abdominal discomfort and palpable abdominal mass. Successful remodeling of the thoracic aorta was demonstrated by computed tomography; however, a false lumen aneurysm in the abdominal aorta had expanded from 4.8 to 6.5 cm and caused symptoms. She was successfully treated with 3 additional stent-grafts at 3 re-entry sites. Six months after the procedure, the false lumen aneurysm was completely excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular repair of the re-entry sites can prevent further expansion of false lumen aneurysm, which occurs in some patients with type B dissection treated with stent-grafts.     

Restoration of the thoracic aorta in Type A dissection with hybrid prosthesis

Following successful repair of Type A dissection, late morbidity and mortality depend on the progression of residual chronic Type B dissection. To avoid the development of late aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta, a persistent aortic false lumen around the stent-graft can be prevented by remodeling the thoracic aorta. Ten consecutive patients (mean age: 56 years) with acute Type A dissection underwent a "frozen elephant trunk operation" with the E-vita hybrid prosthesis, under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, between October 2009 and April 2010. The thoracic aorta was restored to its original size. Computed tomography was used to size the aortic diameter. All patients survived and were routinely discharged. Postoperative computed tomography showed no remaining false lumen and no distal organ ischemia in any patient. No new neurological complication was recorded. Two patients suffered postoperative pulmonary arterial embolism; one underwent embolectomy. Restoration of the thoracic aorta is a safe procedure to close the false lumen during the primary operation for acute Type A dissection. However, the diameter of the stent should reflect the overall aortic size, independent of the diameter of the true lumen.     

Endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic disease: mid-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term follow-up in a cohort of patients with acute or chronic descending aortic disease treated by stent-graft repair. BACKGROUND: Since 1999, endovascular stent-graft placement has been reported as an alternative treatment to surgical approach for a variety of thoracic aortic diseases; however, results beyond initial short-term follow-up are not widely available for the broad range of applications. METHODS: From March 2001, 43 consecutive patients with traumatic aortic transection (group A = 16) and complicated type B aortic dissection or aneurysm (group B = 27) underwent stent-graft implantation. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) scan as preoperative assessment and in 26 a transesophageal echo (TEE) exam was performed. RESULTS: Technically successful stent-graft deployment was achieved in all patients. No patient required surgical conversion and no cases of paraplegia occurred. The overall in-hospital mortality was 9.3%. A residual endoleak (type II) was detected in one group B patient who was managed conservatively. The mean follow-up was 29 +/- 8 months (range 10-48 months). No patient died during late follow-up after hospital discharge. At 12 months, one patient (2.5%) who had stent graft repair of an aortic dissection developed an asymptomatic type I endoleak. Three asymptomatic patients with chronic dissection had a persistent retrograde perfusion of the thoracic false lumen via a distal tear(s) in the dissection septum. CONCLUSION: Our results of stent-graft treatment of complicated and uncomplicated diseases of the descending aorta confirms that this alternative to open repair is a safe, less invasive, and relatively low risk approach. Medium-term follow-up results suggest that it is effective and durable therapy with low associated mortality and morbidity rates.     

Outcomes of medically treated patients with aortic intramural hematoma

PURPOSE: Aortic intramural hematoma has been considered a precursor of aortic dissection, and the same treatment strategy, usually involving surgery, has been applied to both conditions. However, the outcomes of patients with aortic intramural hematoma who are treated medically, including the remodeling process that occurs after an acute event, are not known. SUBJECT AND METHODS: A total of 124 patients with acute aortic intramural hematoma (41 in the proximal aorta and 83 in the distal aorta) was enrolled from five institutions in South Korea. Patients received medical treatment without surgery. A follow-up imaging study was performed in 105 patients. RESULTS: Pericardial (59% [n = 24] vs. 11% [n = 9], P <0.004) and pleural effusions (63% [n = 26] vs. 45% [n = 37], P = 0.05) were more common in patients with the proximal type than in those with the distal type. In-hospital mortality was somewhat higher with proximal hematomas (7% [n = 3 deaths] vs. 1% [n = 1 death], P = 0.11). A follow-up imaging study in 36 patients with proximal hematomas confirmed resorption of the hematoma in 24 patients (67%) and development of aortic dissection in 9 (25%). Resorption was confirmed in 54 (78%) of the 69 patients with distal hematomas who underwent follow-up imaging; localized aortic dissection developed in 11 (16%) of these patients. The 3-year survival rate was 78% in the proximal type and 87% in the distal type (P = 0.10). CONCLUSION: Patients with aortic intramural hematoma had a high rate of resorption with medical treatment regardless of the affected site. Further investigation is necessary to determine the optimal treatment strategy and timing of surgical intervention, especially for patients with proximal hematomas.     

Feasibility of real-time magnetic resonance-guided stent-graft placement in a swine model of descending aortic dissection.

AIMS: To evaluate the pre-clinical feasibility of real-time magnetic resonance imaging (rtMRI) to guide stent-graft placement for experimental aortic dissection (AD) and to alleviate disadvantages of ionising radiation and nephrotoxic contrast media. Endovascular stent-graft placement for thoracic aortic disease is usually performed under X-ray guidance. The feasibility of rtMRI-guided stent-graft placement is currently not known. METHODS AND RESULTS: By using a catheter-based technique, dissections of the descending thoracic aorta were successfully created in eight domestic pigs. Subsequent implantation of commercially available, nitinol-based stent-grafts was performed entirely under rtMRI guidance. By pre-interventional MRI, the mean minimal true-lumen diameter was 0.9 (0.825-0.975) cm. rtMRI permitted not only the successful and safe device navigation within the true lumen from the iliac arteries to the thoracic aorta, but also the precise positioning and deployment of the stent-graft and safe withdrawal of the delivery catheter in seven of eight pigs. This was achieved without any other complications. After the stent-graft placement, MRI demonstrated complete obliteration of the false lumen, which was confirmed at autopsy. All stent-grafts were well expanded resulting in an increase in the size of the true-lumen diameter to 2.05 (1.925-2.1) cm (P=0.066 vs. baseline). CONCLUSION: In experimental AD, rtMRI-guided endovascular stent-graft placement is feasible and safe and has the potential for mitigating radiation and contrast-related side effects. Additionally, it allows not only pre-interventional diagnosis and detailed anatomic diagnosis, but also permits immediate post-interventional, anatomical, and functional delineation of procedure success that may serve as a baseline for future comparison during follow-up.     

Endovascular stent-graft repair of acute thoracic aortic dissection--early clinical experiences

BACKGROUND: Standard treatment of acute thoracic aortic dissection type B is the medical therapy used for most patients, according to Stanford. Surgical therapy involves a high mortality rate and is reserved for patients with complicated dissections. We report from four patients with acute thoracic aortic dissection, treated endoluminally by stent-graft implantation. METHODS: Four patients with complicated acute thoracic aortic dissections type B were treated endoluminally by transfemoral stent-graft implantation. Preoperative evaluation was performed with spiral-computed tomography and calibrated aortography. The Talent stent-graft system (Metronic) was used in all patients. RESULTS: The primary entry tear could be sealed successfully and complete thrombosis of the false thoracic aortic lumen was obtained in all cases. In one patient, transposition of the left subclavian artery was performed, in two patients the stent-grafts had to be placed across the origin of the left subclavian artery. No severe intra- or postoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Endoluminal treatment of acute thoracic aortic dissection seems to be a less invasive and effective therapy. Long-term results for this method are necessary.     

Transition from classic aortic dissection to aortic intramural hemorrhage--a case report

A 64-year-old man was hospitalized with chief complaints of chest and back pain. A diagnosis of Stanford type A aortic dissection with a false lumen extending from the ascending to the descending aorta was made based on the results of computed tomography (CT). A CT obtained the following day showed resolution of the false lumen and increased brightness of the aortic wall, typical of aortic dissection with intramural hemorrhage. Although previous studies have described a gradual transition from aortic intramural hemorrhage to aortic dissection with a false lumen, there are no reports of the transition from an aortic dissection with a false lumen to the intramural hemorrhage type of aortic dissection. This patient is of interest when considering the pathogenesis of aortic dissection with intramural hemorrhage and the relationship between the intramural hemorrhage and false-lumen types of aortic dissection.     

主动脉腔内修复术治疗75例DeBakey Ⅲ型主动脉夹层

目的 总结主动脉腔内修复术(EVAR)治疗DeBakey Ⅲ型主动脉夹层适应证的选择、临床疗效以及探讨并发症的防治原则.方法 2002年12月至2007年6月采用TALENT带膜支架施行EVAR治疗75例DeBakeyⅢ型主动脉夹层患者,男65例,女10例,平均年龄54.4±12.6(29～83)岁.1例29岁女性病因考虑为埃-当综合征,2例年青男性分别继发于原发性醛固酮增多症和外伤车祸.全部患者均经螺旋CT或磁共振血管造影检查确诊.全身麻醉下经股动脉置入带膜血管内支架,封堵原发破口,重复造影检查.结果 75例患者共置入81枚带膜支架.其中2例因近端破口接近左锁骨下动脉,先行颈总动脉-锁骨下动脉旁路移植术,再置入支架,支架近段覆盖左锁骨下动脉.25例支架置入后出现明显内漏,20例予球囊扩张,6例置入1枚短支架后内漏消失.支架置入技术成功率为100％.1例埃-当综合征女性患者术中出现股动脉、髂外动脉、髂总动脉广泛血管撕裂,失血性休克,经抢救好转恢复.2例术后早期死于夹层破裂.术后随访1～24个月,2例(包括1例埃-当综合征患者)术后半年发生猝死,1例术后1年复查CT发现支架远端出现破口,经外科手术治疗后恢复良好;其余存活者复查螺旋CT示假腔径缩小并见腔内血栓形成,真腔径增大,无瘤体破裂、内漏及支架移位等并发症发生.结论 EVAR治疗DeBakeyⅢ型主动脉夹层具有技术可靠、创伤小、术后恢复快、成功率高等优点,尤其适用于不能耐受传统开胸手术的老年高危患者.而对于年轻的主动脉夹层患者要注意排除埃-当综合征等遗传性疾病,用EVAR治疗埃-当综合征的血管并发症,目前尚未见报道,其手术并发症及疗效有待进一步观察.     

Type A dissection following endovascular thoracic aortic stent-graft repair.

PURPOSE: To describe our experience with endovascular stent-graft repairs in the thoracic aorta focusing on the secondary complication of type A dissection. METHODS: Between January 1996 and April 2004, 73 patients were treated for traumatic thoracic aortic rupture (n=15), type B dissection (n=22), or atherosclerotic descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA, n=36). A retrospective review of the records found 5 (6.8%) patients (3 men; median age 64 years, range 43-87) who experienced a type A dissection at a median 20 days (range 2-124) after thoracic stent-graft repair for 3 type B dissections, 1 TAA, and a late type I endoleak that appeared 28 months after initial stent-graft repair of a traumatic dissection. RESULTS: In 3 patients (2 dissections, 1 endoleak), a tear in the aortic wall at the proximal stent-graft was responsible for a retrograde type A dissection. Underlying disease was the cause of the type A dissection in the 2 other patients (1 dissection, 1 TAA) and was unrelated to the stent-grafts. Three patients underwent open surgery at 3, 26, and 124 days after stent-graft placement; 2 procedures were successful, but the third patient died 3 months later due to multiorgan failure. Two type A dissections were untreated: one patient died from cardiac tamponade 14 days after successful stent-graft exclusion of the type I endoleak; the other patient refused further treatment and survived. The procedure-related mortality following acute retrograde type A dissection was 40%. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular stent-graft repair of the thoracic aorta is associated with lower morbidity and mortality rates than surgical repair, although potentially lethal complications, acute or delayed, may occur.     

Long-term predictors of descending aorta aneurysmal change in patients with aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to demonstrate the long-term natural course of descending aorta dilation after acute aortic dissection (AD) and identify early predictors for late aneurysmal change. BACKGROUND: Aneurysmal dilation of the aorta is a critical late complication in AD patients. METHODS: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) was performed during the acute phase in 100 AD patients, comprising 51 type 1 who underwent ascending aorta surgery and 49 type 3 AD patients. Clinical observation was conducted for 53 +/- 26 months, and CT was repeated for 31 +/- 27 months. RESULTS: Aneurysm (diameter > or =60 mm) occurred in 14.4%, 8.2%, 4.1%, and 3.1% of patients at the upper descending thoracic aorta (UT), mid descending thoracic aorta (MT), lower descending thoracic aorta (LT) and abdominal aorta (AA), respectively. Of 53 patients in whom CT was repeated for > or =2 years, the rates of aorta diameter enlargement at the UT, MT, LT, and AA levels were 3.43 +/- 3.66 mm/year, 3.21 +/- 2.70 mm/year, 2.62 +/- 2.19 mm/year, and 1.93 +/- 3.13 mm/year, respectively (p < 0.01), and aneurysm developed in 15 (28%). The initial false lumen diameter at the UT, the aorta diameter at the MT, and Marfan syndrome were independent predictors of late aneurysm. A > or =22-mm initial false lumen diameter at the UT predicted late aneurysm with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 76%. The patients with initial UT false lumen diameter > or =22-mm (n = 42) showed higher event rate (aneurysm or death) than others (n = 58) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The UT is the major site of late aneurysmal dilation. A large UT false lumen diameter on the initial CT portends late aneurysm and adverse outcome warranting early intervention.     

Progression of an intramural hematoma to dissection

Intramural hematoma is a spontaneous, localized bleeding in the wall of the thoracic aorta without evidence of intimal tear. Clinically, intramural hematoma manifests itself as an acute thoracical pain in patients with hypertension and therefore shows parallels with the classical aortic dissection. In the literature there is controversial discussion whether intramural hematoma can be regarded as its own aortic pathology or a precursor in the development of classical aortic dissection. We present the case of a 66 year old male who showed an intramural hematoma of the descending aorta which rapidly progressed to classical dissection within 3 months. This finding was secondarily accompanied by a dilatation of the descending aorta which leads to operative treatment with replacement of the proximal aorta descendens. This case supports the hypothesis that intramural hematoma is a potential early manifestation of aortic dissection and at the same time stresses the necessity for frequent follow-up investigations and, if necessary, early operative therapy.     

Comparison of a percutaneous separate stent endograft and a conventional thoracic stent-graft for endovascular repair of type B aortic dissection.

PURPOSE: To compare the immediate and midterm outcomes of aortic dissection repair with a separate stent endograft (SSE) versus a conventionally constructed thoracic stent-graft. METHODS: The records of 35 patients treated for type B aortic dissection from September 1997 to April 2003 were reviewed. Seventeen patients (12 men; mean age 58.8+/-11.6 years) underwent endovascular repair with a separate stent endograft (SSE), a custom-made device with a reduced profile suitable for percutaneous introduction through a 12-F sheath. Eighteen patients (10 men; mean age 56.1+/-12.8 years) underwent treatment with a conventional custom-made stent-graft. RESULTS: Angiographic success was achieved in 13/17 (76.5%) of the SSE-treated patients and 12/18 (66.7%) for the conventional device group (p=0.521). Clinical success (complete obliteration/thrombosis of the false lumen) was achieved in 12/17 (70.6%) and 11/18 (61.1%), respectively (p=0.555). There were 2 cases of stent-graft movement during deployment and 2 access site complications in the conventional stent-graft group, whereas the SSE patients had no complications. Except for 2 conventional stent-graft patients who were lost to follow-up, all patients are alive at a mean 19.5+/-11.6 months for the SSE group and 34.2+/-21.5 months for the conventional stent-graft patients. CONCLUSIONS: The separate stent endograft can be deployed percutaneously without the need for blood pressure reduction, achieving accurate deployment without migration. In this small clinical experience, patients treated with the SSE had no access site complications and demonstrated midterm results comparable to the conventional stent-graft cohort, suggesting the possible usefulness of this device for the treatment of thoracic aortic dissection.     

Usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of aortic intramural hematoma

Aortic intramural hematoma or atypical aortic dissection is an aortic dissection without intimal tear nor flow communication and it may be the first step of a typical dissection. We describe five cases, in which transesophageal echocardiography detected intramural hematoma of the aorta. Transesophageal echocardiography is a safe, accurate and specific method that allows bedside diagnosis as well as follow-up of patients with hematoma of the aorta.