Objectives: To report outcomes of thoracic endovascular repair using customized single-branched fenestrated stent-grafts in treatment of aortic arch dissections.
Materials and methods: Between November 2009 and November 2011, 16 patients with aortic arch dissections underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair utilizing customized unibody single-branched fenestrated stent-graft (UBFSG) in our institution.
Results: All 16 patients were male with mean age of 54.50 ± 11.33. The technical success rate was 100%. 30-day mortality rate was 6.25% (n = 1). The median follow-up period was 98 months (range, 0-119). During follow-up, 4 nonaorta-related deaths were recorded. Two (2) cases of left subclavian artery occlusion were observed 12 and 14 months after the operation. Two (2) patients had another successful endovascular repair in time, including one case of type Ib endoleak occurred 100 months after the operation and one case of stent-graft induced new entry tear 38 months after the operation. No stroke and migration of stent-grafts were observed.
Conclusions: The branched fenestrated stent-graft may be an effective alternative treatment for aortic arch dissections unfit for open surgery.
Keywords: custom-made device; dissection; endovascular treatment; stent-graft; thoracic aorta.