Endovascular Stent-Grafts for Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Acute Type B Aortic Dissections

Background and aim of the study. To report early clinical outcomes of the frozen elephant trunk technique (FET) for the treatment of complex aortic diseases after transition from conventional elephant trunk. Methods. A single-center, retrospective study of patients who underwent hybrid aortic arch and FET repair for aortic arch and/or proximal descending aortic aneurysms, acute and chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection with arch and/or proximal descending involvement, Stanford type B acute and chronic aortic dissections with retrograde aortic arch involvement. Results. Between December 2017 and May 2020, 70 consecutive patients (62.7±10.6 years, 59 male) were treated: 41 (58.6%) for acute conditions and 29 (41.4%) for chronic. Technical success was 100%. In-hospital mortality was 14.2% (n=12, 17.1% emergency vs. 10.3% chronic, P=NS); 2 (2.9%) major strokes; 1 (1.4%) spinal cord injury. Follow-up was 12.5 months (IQR 3.7—22.3. Overall survival at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months was 90% (95% CI, 83.2—97.3), 85.6% (95% CI, 77.7—94.3), 79.1% (95% CI, 69.9—89.5), 75.6% (95% CI, 65.8—86.9) and 73.5 (95% CI, 63.3—85.3). There were no aortic re-interventions and no dSINE; 5 patients with residual type B dissection underwent TEVAR completion. Conclusions. In a real-world setting, FET demonstrated a rapid learning curve and good clinical outcomes, even in acute type A aortic dissections. Techniques to perfect the procedure and to reduce remaining risks, and consensus on considerations such as standardized cerebral protection need to be reported.

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Aortic Arch Reconstruction by Transluminally Placed Endovascular Branched Stent Graft

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.100.suppl_2.ii-316 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 100 (suppl_2) ◽

Author(s):

Kanji Inoue ◽

Hiroaki Hosokawa ◽

Tomoyuki Iwase ◽

Mitsuru Sato ◽

Yuki Yoshida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aortic Arch ◽

Stent Graft ◽

Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Therapeutic Modality ◽

Stent Grafts ◽

Stent Grafting ◽

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms ◽

Stent Graft Repair ◽

Aortic Dissections

Background —Recently, thoracic aortic stent grafting has emerged as an alternative therapeutic modality for patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections. However, its application has been limited to descending thoracic aortic aneurysms distal to the aortic arch. We report our initial clinical experience of endovascular branched stent graft repair for aortic arch aneurysms. Methods and Results —Endovascular grafting with Inoue branched stent grafts was attempted for 15 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections under local anesthesia (n=14) or general anesthesia (n=1). Single-branched stent grafts were used in 14 patients, and a triple-branched stent graft in one. The branched stent grafts were delivered through a 22F or a 24F sheath under fluoroscopic guidance and implanted across the aneurysmal aortic arch. In 2 patients, the single-branched stent graft did not pass through the 22F sheath used. Complete thrombosis of the aneurysm was ultimately achieved in 11 patients (73%). Of 4 persistent leaks, 1 minor leak spontaneously thrombosed and 1 major leak was successfully treated by additional straight stent graft placement. In 1 patient, the right external iliac artery ruptured during the withdrawal of the sheath and was successfully repaired by the implantation of a straight stent graft. One patient with severe stenosis of the aortic graft section was successfully managed by additional stent deployment. Peripheral microembolization to a toe occurred in 1 patient, and cerebral infarction occurred in 1 other patient. Two patients who had failed to receive endovascular stent grafts died during an average follow-up of 12.6 months, 1 of pneumonia and the other of rupture of a concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm. Conclusions —This report demonstrates the technical feasibility of endovascular branched stent graft repair for aneurysms located at the aortic arch. Careful, longer follow-up and further extensive clinical trials are awaited toward establishing this technique as a recommendable alternative to surgical treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms.

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