title: Elective stent-graft treatment of aortic dissections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang-Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Do Yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Donghoon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Won-Heum
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome