A new unibody branched stent-graft for reconstruction of the canine aortic arch.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new unibody branched stent-graft for reconstruction of the canine aortic arch.


METHODS
Twenty adult hybrid dogs were used for the experiments. Ten dogs were implanted with single-branched stent-grafts; the other ten dogs were implanted with double-branched stent-grafts. The stent-grafts were implanted transluminally via the abdominal aorta. The branched limbs were caught and pulled into supra-aortic vessels using gooseneck snare wires introduced via the axillary arteries. The animals were euthanized 4 months after implantation.


RESULTS
One of the ten dogs implanted with a single-branched stent-graft died from failure of the implantation procedure, and two of the ten dogs implanted with double-branched stent-grafts died from failure of the procedure and excessive blood loss. After month 4, the remaining unibody branched stent-grafts were patent and did not migrate.


CONCLUSIONS
This new unibody branched stent-graft could be used to reconstruct the aortic arch. This is a total endovascular technique, and compared to other branched stent-grafts appears to be safer and easier to implant.
Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
W
W
Li
K
K
Xu
H
H
Zhong
Y
Y
Ni
Y
Y
Bi
D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004285:Dogs; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008422:Materials Testing; D023421:Models, Animal; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed