Transluminal stent-graft placements for the treatments of acute onset and chronic aortic dissections.

Background: Transluminal stent-graft placement (TSGP) for aortic dissection is a relatively new procedure. We performed TSGPs to seal the primary entry site to treat and prevent complications of aortic dissection. The early to mid-term outcomes were analyzed.

Methods And Results: Thirty-seven patients with a primary intimal tear in descending aorta underwent TSPG. TSGP was performed in 16 acute onset dissections (AOD) with dissection-related complications instead of emergency surgery. Eight AOD without complications were treated to prevent aneurysmal enlargement. Thirteen chronic dissections were treated to prevent rupture. TSGP was technically successful in all cases. One patient with prehospital rupture died. The hospital mortality rate was of 2.7% overall, 6.3% in AOD with complications, 0% in AOD without complications and in chronic dissections. One persistent endoleak required open surgery, and 1 intimal tear was caused by the stent-graft, necessitating an additional TSGP. The primary success rate was 94.4% overall. After hospital discharge, no patient died or suffered aortic rupture during an average follow-up of 24.5 months. New intimal tears caused by the stent-grafts and a secondary endoleak developed in 3 AOD patients. One open procedure and 2 additional TSGPs were performed. Actuarial survival rate and cardiovascular event-free rate at 2 years are 97.3% and 78.3% overall, 93.8% and 48.0% in AOD with complications, 100% and 87.5% in AOD without complications, and both 100% in chronic dissections.

Conclusions: TSGP is a reasonable treatment option for aortic dissection. However, delayed intimal tear formations caused by the stent-graft is a problem that requires further investigation.