Use of a balloon-expandable intravascular graft in the management of type B aortic dissection in an animal model.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate obliteration of an experimental aortic dissection with a balloon-expandable intravascular stent.


METHODS
Fourteen adult dogs were divided into two groups. In group 1 (n = 6), a thoracoabdominal aortic dissection was surgically created to observe the natural course of this lesion. In group 2 (n = 8), a balloon-expandable intraluminal vascular graft was introduced via the femoral artery in a dissected aorta to try to obliterate the dissection. Angiography was performed postoperatively and again 6 weeks later before the aortae were explanted for pathologic evaluation.


RESULTS
In group 1, postoperative aortography depicted evidence of aortic dissection in all animals. Autopsy revealed persisting dissection with reentry tear near the celiac axis in five animals. In group 2, placement of a stent at only entry and reentry sites resulted in partial obliteration of the dissection (n = 3). When the entire length of dissected aorta was treated, the dissection was completely obliterated (n = 4).


CONCLUSIONS
An aortic dissection can be obliterated with a balloon-expandable stent if the entire dissected aorta is treated.
Marty-Ané
C H
CH
Department of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Centre Hôspitalier Universitaire, Montpellier, France.
SerreCousiné
O
O
Laborde
J C
JC
Costes
V
V
Mary
H
H
Senac
J P
JP
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002404:Catheterization; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology
D001672:Biocompatible Materials