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Purpose: In this study, we compared the early results between the extensive arch repair with a novel two-branched stent graft (TSG) and the traditional technique., Methods: Between 2013 July and 2015 March, 63 acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) patients from four cardiac centers with indications for extensive arch repair were included in this study. Finally, 28 patients were involved in the traditional procedure (TP) group (23 males with the age of 49.75 ± 9.26 years) and 35 patients were involved in the TSG group (29 males with the age of 53.82 ± 8.17 years)., Results: The operation was successful in all patients. The selective cerebral perfusion time, total operation time, and chest drainage within 24 hours after the operation in the TSG group were significantly less than those in the TP group (P ≤0.05). The mean follow-up time was 11.17 ± 1.74 months in the TP group and 11.94 ± 4.29 months in the TSG group. No statistical differences were found in aortic diameter, false lumen diameter, and true lumen diameter at the diaphragmatic level during the follow-up., Conclusion: Our technique with a novel TSG simplified the extensive arch repair procedure and was an effective way for the treatment of ATAAD.

Background: The perioperative aortic dissection (AD) rupture is a severe event after endovascular stent graft placement for treatment of type B AD. However, this life-threatening complication has not undergone systematic investigation. The aim of the study is to discuss the reasons of AD rupture after the procedure., Methods: The medical record data of 563 Stanford type B AD patients who received thoracic endovascular repair from 2004 to December 2011 at our institution were collected and analyzed. Double entry and consistency checking were performed with Epidata software., Results: Twelve patients died during the perioperation after thoracic endovascular repair, with an incidence of 2.1%, 66.6% were caused by aortic rupture and half of the aortic rupture deaths were caused by retrograde type A AD. In our study, 74% of the non-rupture surviving patients had the free-flow bare spring proximal stent implanted, compared with 100% of the aortic rupture patients (74% vs. 100%, P = 0.213). The aortic rupture patients are more likely to have ascending aortic diameters = 4 cm (62.5% vs. 9.0%, P = 0.032), involvement the aortic arch concavity (62% vs. 27%, P = 0.041) and have had multiple stents placed (P = 0.039)., Conclusions: Thoracic AD endovascular repair is a safe and effective treatment option for AD with relative low in-hospital mortality. AD rupture may be more common in arch stent-graft patients with an ascending aortic diameter = 4 cm and with severe dissection that needs multi-stent placement. Attention should be paid to a proximal bare spring stent that has a higher probability of inducing an AD rupture. Post balloon dilation should be performed with serious caution, particularly for the migration during dilation.

Background: The conventional thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) involves groin incisions under general or epidural anesthesia. As technology moves towards less invasive procedures, a total percutaneous approach is desirable. In this study, we describe a Preclosing technique and investigate its safety and efficacy for femoral access sites management, and evaluate its advantages as compared to those of traditional surgical cutdown approaches., Methods: The Preclosing technique involves two or multiple 6 F Perclose Proglide devices deployed in the femoral artery before upsizing to a 20-25 F sheath. The sutures were secured to close the arteriotomy at the end of the procedure. The medical records of patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repairs using the Preclosing technique between December 2009 and November 2010 (group A) were compared with those using surgical femoral cutdown from January 2008 to November 2009 (group B). Outcome measures included rates of technical success, early complications, anesthesia method, procedure time, cardiac care unit (CCU) stay, time from procedure to discharge, hospital stay, procedure expense, hospital cost., Results: Between the two groups, there were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, in the endograft models or profiles. The technical success rate was 100.0% (85/85) in group A vs. 97.4% (147/151) in group B (P < 0.05). There was no access-related mortality in both groups. Compared with group B, the incidence of early complications were fewer in group A, 9.4% (8/85) vs. 22.5% (34/151) (P < 0.01). Local anesthesia with conscious sedation was used more often in group A, 68.2% (58/85) vs. 51.7% (78/151) in group B (P < 0.01). The procedure duration was shorter, (96 ± 33) minutes in group A vs. (127 ± 41) minutes in group B (P < 0.01). The length of the CCU stay, the duration from procedure to discharge, and the hospital stay were both reduced in group A, (117.3 ± 88.3) hours, (7.5 ± 5.3) days and (15.3 ± 6.8) days vs. (132.7 ± 115.5) hours, (10.5 ± 5.0) days and (19.5 ± 7.8) days in group B (P < 0.01). The procedure cost was RMB (109,000 ± 30,000) Yuan in group A vs. RMB (108,000 ± 25,000) Yuan in group B (P = NS). The hospital cost was RMB (130,000 ± 35,000) Yuan in group A vs. RMB (128,000 ± 33,000) Yuan in group B (P = NS)., Conclusions: Total percutaneous TEAVR with the Preclosing technique is safe and effective with meticulous technique and appropriate patient selection. The Preclosing technique decreases access-related complications, depends less on general anesthesia and the surgeon's cooperation, saves procedure time and shortens the CCU/hospital stay. With these advantages, the use of two percutaneous closure devices increases the hospital cost only slightly.

Objective: To investigate the clinical therapeutic effects of endovascular repair for patients with DeBakey III aortic dissection., Methods: From December 2002 to June 2007, endovascular TALENT stent-graft exclusion was performed in 75 (65 males, mean age 54.4 +/- 12.6 years) patients with DeBakey III aortic dissection (1 young woman due to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, 2 young men due to primary aldosteronism and trauma respectively). All patients were diagnosed by contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) or MRI. Stent-grafts were deployed via femoral artery to exclude the tear of dissection. Aortic angiography was performed immediately after procedure., Results: Eighty-one stent-grafts were installed in 75 patients successfully without operation related dissection. Endoleakage immediately after stent-graft deploying was evidenced in 25 patients and disappeared after stent placements (n = 6) or balloon dilation (n = 19). Two patients died from aortic rupture within 2 days after procedure. Iliac artery was torn in a female patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, this patient developed hemorrhagic shock after stent-graft placement and recovered after anti-shock treatments and iliac artery replacement with synthetic artery. During the follow-up of 1 - 24 months, 2 patients (including the woman with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome) suddenly died half a year after procedure. The remaining patients were alive and well. Repeat CT during follow up showed that reduced lumen size and thrombosis in the false lumen. There was no aortic rupture, endoleak and stent migration during the follow-up period except descending aortic dissection distal of the stent-graft in 1 patient 1 year after procedure and the patient were successfully treated surgically without complication., Conclusions: Endovascular repair is a safe and effective treatment for patients with DeBakey III aortic dissection, suitable for old patients with high risk of surgery. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome should be considered in young DeBakey III aortic dissection patients without hypertension. Further studies are warranted on endovascular repair therapy for artery complication of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.