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.     

Midterm results of aortic diameter outcomes after thoracic stent-graft implantation for aortic dissection: a multicenter study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate aortic diameter outcomes after stent-graft implantation for aortic dissection in the descending thoracic aorta. METHODS: Fifty patients with type A dissection after ascending aortic surgery (n = 10), type B dissection (n = 34), or intramural hematoma (n = 6) underwent stent-graft repair in 3 centers. Thrombosis and aortic diameter were analyzed by computed tomographic angiography at different levels of the aorta before stent-graft implantation, at discharge, and at follow-up. Measurements were standardized. RESULTS: In all, 67 stent-grafts were implanted for acute (n = 18) and chronic (n = 32) dissection. Stent-graft placement was successfully performed with high technical success (100%) despite 4 major complications (iliac thrombosis in 2 cases, aortic rupture, and a type A dissection) in 3 (6%) patients. Complete thrombosis of the thoracic false lumen was observed in 42% and 63% of cases at discharge and at follow-up (mean 15 months), respectively. At follow-up, the diameters of the entire aorta (mean 5 mm, p < 0.05) and the false lumen (mean 11 mm, p < 0.0001) decreased. Diameters of the abdominal aorta remained stable in association with persistent false lumen perfusion at this level. Aortic diameter results were better in the subgroup of patients with intramural hematoma compared to patients with Marfan syndrome. Three early deaths unrelated to the stent-graft procedure occurred; 2 patients with partial thrombosis of the false lumen died in follow-up secondary to aortic diameter growth. CONCLUSION: Complete thrombosis of the false lumen by stent-graft coverage of the entry tear results in decreased diameter of the entire aorta. In patients with partial thrombosis of the false lumen, the aneurysm continues to enlarge.     

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.     

Aortic dissection after open repair of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm

INTRODUCTION:

A case of thoracic-abdominal dissection after open surgical exclusion of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm is presented.

CASE PRESENTATION:

A 62-year-old woman was diagnosed with an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with a rapid increase in maximal diameter. She underwent surgery for aneurysm exclusion by an end-to-end aortoaortic bypass with Dacron collagen (Intervascular; WL Gore & Associates Inc, USA). After 15 days, she was admitted to the emergency department with intense epigastric and lumbar pain. Computed tomography angiography with contrast revealed an aortic dissection with origin in the proximal bypass anastomosis and cranial extension to the thoracic aorta. The true lumen at the level of the eighth thoracic vertebra was practically collapsed by the false lumen. The celiac trunk, and the mesenteric and renal arteries were perfused by the true lumen. After the acute phase of the aortic dissection, surgical repair was planned. Two paths of false lumen were found – one at the thoracic aorta and the second in the proximal bypass anastomosis. Surgical repair comprised two approaches. First, a Valiant Thoracic stent graft (Medtronic Inc, UK) was implanted distal from the left subclavian artery, expanding the collapsed true lumen and covering the false and dissected lumen. Second, an infrarenal Endurant abdominal stent graft (Medtronic Inc) was implanted. This second device was complemented with an aortic infrarenal extension using a Talent abdominal stent graft (Medtronic Inc) in the infrarenal aortic neck to achieve a hermetic seal. The postoperative clinical course was uneventful, and her symptoms were completely resolved in six months.

CONCLUSION:

Arteritis must be taken into account in young patients with high inflammatory markers. Covered stents and endoprosthetic devices seem to be effective methods to seal the dissected lumen.     

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.     

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.     

B型主动脉夹层覆膜支架治疗前后主动脉造影的表现

目的　观察和研究B型主动脉夹层覆膜支架置入前后的造影表现 ,为判断预后和决定治疗提供参考。方法　回顾性分析 1999年 8月到 2 0 0 3年 5月于我院就诊的 4 8例B型主动脉夹层患者主动脉造影结果。结果　除 1例外 ,所有患者可以见到真假腔。入口多在主动脉弓和降主动脉的交界处 ,但 5例在左锁骨下动脉开口处 ,4例在降主动脉的下段 ,2例在腹主动脉 ,出口在腹主动脉或在髂动脉。假腔的血流有 6种情况 :(1) 34例 (71% )的假腔既有入口又有出口 ,入口和出口之间的假腔通畅 ,假腔的直径略大于真腔 ,且血流略慢于真腔 ;(2 ) 1例 (2 % )的假腔只有入口没有出口 ,4 %的假腔只有出口没有入口 ;(3) 4例 (8% )的假腔内部分血栓形成 ,入口和出口之间不相通 ,但入口和出口分别有血流从真腔进入假腔 ;(4) 6例 (12 % )的假腔入口和出口通畅 ,假腔呈瘤样扩张 ,真腔被挤压变细甚至闭塞 ;(5 )置入覆膜支架后封堵了假腔的入口 ,血液不再从入口进入假腔 ,假腔因此缩小而真腔扩大 ,真腔的血流增多加快 ,狭窄或闭塞的分支血管开放 ,但出口变成了入口 ,血液从出口进入假腔 ;(6 ) 1例 (2 % )的假腔内完全血栓形成 ,入口和出口被封闭。沿途的血管分支被假腔压迫狭窄或闭塞 ,或被假腔撕断。结论　主动脉造影显示假腔的 6种血流状况     

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.     

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.     

Aortic dissection surgery: experience of 78 cases.

From May 1990 to January 2001, 78 patients underwent surgery for aortic dissection, 68 (87%) of type A. Presentation was acute in 55 patients (71%). For type A dissection, in-hospital mortality was 13% (9 patients) and late mortality was 16%. For type B dissection, in-hospital and late mortality were both 30% (3 patients). The follow-up was complete and medical and imaging controls were performed periodically. Computerized axial tomography has shown persistence of distal aortic dissection in 18 patients, one of whom maintained dissection of the supraaortic trunks with false lumen thrombosis. Six patients maintained signs of dissection in the thoracic and abdominal aorta with patent false lumen. In another eight patients the false lumen was thrombosed. In 3 cases the dissection was located in the abdominal aorta. Two patients developed pseudoaneurysms of the thoracic aorta, one of whom was reoperated due to symptoms of dysphagia and chest pain, with angiographic signs of probable rupture of the aorta. Periodic imaging monitoring is essential, as it allows assessment of the extent of residual aortic disease and its evolution, with early detection of possible complications. This will enable prompt and safe action in those patients who may benefit from reoperation.     

Endovascular treatment of residual type A aortic dissection preserving patency of supra-aortic vessels by implantation of the Djumbodis® system. No more surgery for the aortic arch?

A persistent distal false lumen perfusion--residual type A aortic dissection--is found in 50% to 100% of patients following ascending aorta replacement. Complications of persistent or newly developed dissection of the distal aorta are often fatal and require reoperation, leading to a higher morbidity and mortality rate for these patients than with primary surgery. Thus, many efforts have been done to treat this aortic disease by an endovascular approach. Unfortunately, patency of the supra-aortic vessel still remains an unresolved issue. The present report describes the case of a patient with a residual type A aortic dissection persisting after ascending aorta replacement, successfully treated by implantation of a new endovascular device, the Djumbodis? Dissection System, a bare stent with sufficiently large mesh to join the dissected layers without occluding main vital branches such as supra-aortic arteries.     

Treatment of a ruptured thoracoabdominal aneurysm with a stent-graft covering the celiac axis.

PURPOSE: To present a case of successful emergency endovascular repair of a ruptured, probably mycotic, thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) with a stent-graft deliberately covering the celiac axis. CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old woman with significant pulmonary comorbidity presented with a ruptured mycotic TAAA extending to the celiac axis. The aneurysm was excluded with a stent-graft soaked in rifampicin and deployed to deliberately occlude the celiac axis for effective distal sealing and fixation. The patient recovered well and was prescribed antibiotic treatment for up to 6 months. CONCLUSION: Endovascular repair of a ruptured TAAA may be a life-saving option. In emergency situations when poor distal anatomy is present, covering the celiac artery with the stent-graft should be considered.     

Endoluminal stent-graft repair in a patient with coarctation of the aorta and previous iatrogenic type B aortic dissection and expanding pseudoaneurysm

Purpose: To report endoluminal repair of aortic coarctation in a patient with a chronic type B aortic dissection presenting with an expanding pseudoaneurysm after failure of surgical repair. Case Report: This 30-year-old man with a congenital coarctation of the aorta suffered an iatrogenic type B aortic dissection during angiography at the age of 6. Emergent surgery at that time included a left subclavian artery-to-distal thoracic aorta surgical conduit; the coarctation itself was not repaired. The patient presented 24 years after the surgery with a chronic distal extension of the dissection and a pseudoaneurysm severely compressing the aortic true lumen; the disrupted surgical conduit drained into the false lumen. In a novel approach, the true aortic lumen was intentionally occluded, and the surgical conduit was secured with stent-grafts to successfully exclude the pseudoaneurysm from the circulation. Conclusion: Type B dissection and coarctation of the aorta, in the setting of complex aortic pathology and comorbidities, can be treated with an endovascular approach.     

Side-by-side false and true lumen stenting for recanalization of the chronically occluded right coronary artery

Subintimal or false lumen stent deployment is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary interventions. The most balloon-induced small non-flow limiting dissections heal spontaneously and can be treated medically with close observation if distal coronary flow is not compromised. However, the complex and severe flow-limiting postprocedural dissections may result in abrupt vessel closure and thrombosis, with ensuing myocardial ischemia and necrosis, and can be treated effectively by coronary stenting. It is essential to ensure that the guide-wire is in the true lumen before placing the stent in total occlusive lesions, otherwise the stent placement will impair distal coronary flow. We present here an interesting case of successful coronary recanalization despite false lumen stenting of the proximal right coronary artery followed by true lumen stenting.     

Single-branch endograft for treating stanford type B aortic dissections with entry tears in proximity to the left subclavian artery.

PURPOSE: To present a preliminary experience with a single-branch endograft for excluding Stanford type B aortic dissections with entry tears adjacent to the left subclavian artery (LSA). METHODS: From February to August 2004, 16 symptomatic patients (15 men; mean age 57.8 years, range 41-73) having a Stanford B aortic dissection with a proximal tear <15 mm from the LSA orifice were treated with a single-branch thoracic endograft constructed of Z-shaped nitinol stents to which a Dacron graft had been sutured. The tubular main stent-graft had a branched segment connected to it for implantation in the LSA. The deployment method is the same as for a straight endograft except that the branch is deployed first in the LSA to stabilize the entire device. The main body of endograft is then deployed into the descending aorta to seal the tear, block flow from entering the false lumen, and enlarge the true lumen. RESULTS: Sixteen branched endografts were deployed to seal the entry tears, with a technical success rate of 94% (15/16). One case was converted to surgery when the branch became trapped in the LSA at the left thoracic outlet. Two proximal endoleaks were treated with additional tubular endografts. All the proximal tears were sealed by the stent-grafts, and the compressed true lumens were widened. No paraplegia or distal organ or limb ischemia was noted, nor was there any mortality or complications. By 3 months post treatment, symptoms had abated, thrombosis had formed in the false lumen, and the true lumen had resumed its normal diameter in 15 of the 16 stent-graft patients. One patient has a distal re-entry at the level of the visceral arteries that is being observed. CONCLUSIONS: The single-branch thoracic aortic endograft provides a simpler, safer, and more effective means of treating aortic dissections with entry tears in proximity to the LSA.     

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.     

Stent-grafts in patients with marfan syndrome.

PURPOSE: To explore the safety and feasibility of stent-graft placement in the dissected descending thoracic aorta of patients with Marfan syndrome. METHODS: Six consecutive patients (4 men; mean age 33+/-15 years, range 24-61) with Marfan syndrome were offered endovascular repair for dissection after previous aortic root repair in 5 and solitary type B dissection in 1. RESULTS: Transluminal placement of customized Talent stent-grafts was technically successful in all patients, with no 30-day or 1-year intervention-related mortality. Complete abolition of the dissection and reconstruction of the entire dissected aorta was documented in 2 patients. Over a mean 51+/-22-month follow-up (range 12-74), elective conversion to surgical repair was necessary in 2 patients at 22 and 43 months after stent-graft implantation. In a third patient, conversion to surgery is being considered at 74 months after stent-grafting. One patient died suddenly 12 months after endovascular repair. CONCLUSIONS: Nonsurgical reconstruction of postsurgical distal aortic dissection in patients with Marfan syndrome is feasible and technically successful. Stent-graft placement may either avoid or bridge to repeat surgery of distal aortic dissections after previous aortic root repair. Technical expertise and close postinterventional surveillance appear mandatory and may limit the procedure to centers of competence for aortic diseases.     

Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography in the diagnosis of dissecting aortic aneurysm

Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography (TEDE) was performed in three patients with proven or suspected DeBakey type I and type III aortic dissection. Case 1: A 66-year-old woman, with DeBakey type I aortic dissection. Clear images of a widened dissected aorta and an intimal flap were obtained in both the ascending and descending aorta, including the aortic arch. The site of an entry into the false lumen was identified by the defect of the intimal flap and the pulsatile entry flow through it. The reentry into the true lumen was also identified near the orifice of the celiac trunk. In this case, the observation was performed using this technique during the operation; i.e., replacement of the ascending aorta with an artificial graft. Case 2: A 77-year-old man, DeBakey type III aortic dissection. The study was performed after surgery which consisted of replacement of the descending aorta with an artificial graft. TEDE provided clear images of the artificial graft, the aorta, and their boundaries. The remaining intimal flap was clearly confirmed. Case 3: An 80-year-old man, DeBakey type III aortic dissection. In this case, though abdominal echography suggested aortic dissection, angiography and X-ray CT failed to facilitate the diagnosis. Only TEDE confirmed the diagnosis. The abnormal flow via the entry directing toward the false lumen was clearly demonstrated on the color Doppler images. We therefore conclude that TEDE is a useful and reliable means of diagnosing dissecting aortic aneurysm.     

Paradigmenwechsel in der Chirurgie der komplexen thorakalen Aortenerkrankung

One of the main issues in complex thoracic aortic disease, requiring the replacement of the ascending aorta, the entire aortic arch and the descending aorta, is the vast amount of surgery necessary to cure the patient. Though one-stage repair is feasible by a clamshell thoracotomy, the associated surgical trauma and perioperative morbidity limit this approach to younger patients only. Classic surgical repair consist of a two-stage strategy, whereby, in the first step, the ascending aorta and the aortic arch are replaced via a midline sternotomy. In the second step, via a lateral thoracotomy, the descending aorta is replaced. The two stages may sum up to a mortality of 20%; furthermore, the waiting period between the stages is associated with a mortality rate of 10% of its own. Additionally, the two-stage strategy has an inherent limitation, due to the comorbidity and advanced age of the majority of patients. Therefore, the second stage cannot be offered to up to 30% of patients. New developments and improvements in aortic surgery were introduced to overcome these shortcomings and to simplify the surgical repair. The "elephant trunk" principle, introduced by Borst et al. in 1983, was an important step to facilitate surgical repair, but still required the second step. With the introduction of endovascular repair of thoracic aortic disease with stent grafts implanted retrograde via the femoral artery, new therapeutic concepts emerged. In the late 1990s, two Japanese groups reported first trials to stabilize the free-floating "elephant trunk" prosthesis by implantation of nitinol stent grafts into the vascular graft. The applied devices were purely custom-made and nonstandardized. The availability of industrially made and CE-marked stent-graft devices raised the possibility to apply them in open aortic arch surgery. The experience with stent-graft devices implanted antegrade into the descending aorta (Medtronic Talent) was reported first by the Essen and the Vienna group. The experience gained with these devices revealed the limitations of the devices designed for pure retrograde aortic delivery. This required a complete redesign and new construction of the stent graft itself as well as the introducer system. In a preliminary series of 14 patients the required stent-graft properties were presented in detail and resulted in the first industrially manufactured standardized and CE-marked Hybrid stent graft (Essen 1 prosthesis, E-vita Open, Jotec), especially made for antegrade open stent grafting of the descending aorta. This device consists of a stent graft with an integrated Dacron vascular prosthesis, enabling for direct and continuous aortic arch replacement after stent grafting of the descending aorta. From 01/2005 to 03/2006, this hybrid prosthesis was implanted in 16 patients (one aneurysm and 15 aortic dissections). In all cases, the underlying pathology within the thoracic aspect of the aorta could be excluded in a one-stage approach. In case of aortic dissection, thrombosis of the false lumen was detectable by transesophageal echocardiography already at the end of surgery. Though long-term results using this new method are not yet available, the initial promising results postoperatively are encouraging toward true one-stage repair by combining classic aortic surgery with open antegrade stent grafting utilizing the newly designed hybrid prosthesis. While surgical trauma is markedly reduced, this treatment option can be offered to elderly patients as well.     

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.