Short-term results of chimney stent revascularization of left subclavian artery and Zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair for patients with aortic dissection or transection.

Background: In this study, we present the short-term results of revascularization of left subclavian artery with the chimney technique in patients with aortic dissection or transection who underwent Zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Methods: A total of 11 patients (6 males, 5 females; mean age: 56.4±11.5 years; range, 38 to 76 years) who underwent Zone 2 thoracic endovascular aortic repair procedure and left subclavian artery revascularization with the chimney technique between April 2017 and January 2020 in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were followed at one, three, six months and one year with computed tomography angiography.

Results: The mean follow-up was 19.7±14.5 (range, 6.3 to 45.8) months. Endoleak occurred in one (9%) patient and gutter leak occurred in three (27%) patients. The mean endoleak-free (including gutter leak) time was 19.9±5.4 (95% confidence interval: 9.36-30.34) months. No mortality occurred in any of the patients. No occlusion occurred in the chimney grafts.

Conclusion: The chimney revascularization technique is an alternative to other revascularization techniques of the left subclavian artery during thoracic endovascular aortic repair.