title: Mortality within the endovascular treatment in Stanford type B aortic dissections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endovascular stent-graft repair of aortic dissections is a relatively new procedure, and although apparently less invasive, the efficacy and safety of this technique have not been fully established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate mortality in patients with complicated Stanford type B aortic dissections submitted to endovascular treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical, anatomical, imaging and autopsy data of 23 patients with complicated type B aortic dissections were reviewed from November 2004 to October 2007. The main indications for transluminal thoracic stent-grafting included: persistent pain in spite of medical therapy, signs of distal limb ischemia, signs of aortic rupture, progression of aneurismal dilation of the descending aorta during follow-up (defined as a diameter > 50 mm) and the diameter of descending thoracic aorta of 40 mm or larger at the onset of aortic dissection. Data were analyzed statistically; all p-values were two-tailed and differences < 0.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Continuous variables were expressed as mean (± SD), and medians were compared by the Student's t test. Differences in categorical variables between the groups were analyzed by the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure presented primary technical success in 82.6% of patients. Four patients (17.4%) had an incomplete proximal entry seal. Three patients (13%) died within 30 days of the procedure and eight patients (34.8%) died after 30 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular correction of complicated Stanford type B aortic dissections is a feasible and effective treatment option.
authors: Santa Casa de São Paulo-Departamento Cirurgia Vascular, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. alezpa@terra.com.br
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Fioranelli
authors: Alvaro
authors: A
authors: Razuk Filho
authors: Valter
authors: V
authors: Castelli Júnior
authors: Walter
authors: W
authors: Karakhanian
authors: José Maria Pereira de
authors: JM
authors: Godoy
authors: Roberto Augusto
authors: RA
authors: Caffaro
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000401:mortality*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome