The chimney graft: a technique for preserving or rescuing aortic branch vessels in stent-graft sealing zones.
OBJECTIVE
To report an alternative to the fenestrated stent-graft for preserving blood flow to side branches in the sealing zones of aortic stent-grafts.


METHODS
A covered stent is deployed parallel to the main aortic stent-graft, protruding somewhat proximally, like a chimney, to preserve flow to a vital side branch covered by the aortic stent-graft. Use of a chimney graft makes it possible to use standard off-the-shelf stent-grafts to instantly treat lesions with inadequate fixation zones, providing an alternative to fenestrated stent-grafts in urgent cases, in aneurysms with challenging neck morphology, and for reconstituting an aortic side branch unintentionally compromised during endovascular repair. This technique has been used successfully in 10 patients, combining chimney grafts in the renal, superior mesenteric, left subclavian, left common carotid, and innominate arteries with stent-grafts in the abdominal (n=6) or thoracic (n=4) aorta. There has been no late chimney graft-related endoleak on imaging studies up to 8 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of chimney grafts is feasible in the renal and superior mesenteric arteries, as well as in the supra-aortic branches, to facilitate stent-graft repair of thoracic or abdominal aortic lesions with inadequate fixation zones.
Ohrlander
Tomas
T
Vascular Center Malmö-Lund, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. tomas.ohrlander@gmail.com
Sonesson
Björn
B
Ivancev
Krasnodar
K
Resch
Timothy
T
Dias
Nuno
N
Malina
Martin
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001027:Aortography; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome