title: Factors portending endoleak formation after thoracic aortic stent-graft repair of complicated aortic dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoleaks after stent-graft repair of aortic dissections are poorly understood but seem substantially different from those seen after aneurysm repair. We studied anatomic and clinical factors associated with endoleaks in patients who underwent stent-graft repair of complicated type B aortic dissections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2000 to 2007, 37 patients underwent stent-graft repair of acute (< or =14 days; n=23), subacute (15 to 90 days; n=10) or chronic (>90 days; n=4) complicated type B aortic dissections using the Gore Thoracic Excluder (n=17) or TAG stent-grafts (n=20) under an investigator-sponsored protocol. Endoleaks were classified as imperfect proximal seal, flow through fenestrations or branches, or complex (both). Variables studied included coverage of the left subclavian artery, aortic curvature, completeness of proximal apposition, dissection chronicity, and device used. Endoleaks were found during follow-up (mean, 22 months) in 59% of patients, and they were associated with coverage of the left subclavian artery (complex, P<0.001), small radius of curvature (type 1 and complex, P=0.05), and greatest length of unapposed proximal stent graft (complex, P<0.0001). During follow-up, 10 endoleaks resolved spontaneously, 6 required reintervention for false lumen dilatation, and 2 were stable without clinical consequences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoleaks are common after stent-graft repair of aortic dissection and may lead to false lumen enlargement necessitating reintervention. Anatomic complexities such as acute aortic curvature and covered side branches were associated with endoleaks, illustrating the need for dissection-specific device development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Interventional Radiology, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, 300 Pasteur Road, Stanford, CA 94305-5642, USA. dansze@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Daniel Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Sze
authors.forename: Maurice A A J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van den Bosch
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Dake
authors.forename: D Craig
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Lawrence V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: S Chris
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Malaisrie
authors.forename: Pieter J A
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: van der Starre
authors.forename: Jarrett
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: R Scott
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult