Intraluminal rotatory device: a hypothesized new approach for the treatment of type B aortic dissections

Acute dissection is the most common and frequently fatal catastrophic event to effect the aorta. Current treatments are unsatisfactory, particularly for Type B dissections where the mortality is excessive (approaching 33%) yet the late complication rate is high. It is hypothesized that an alternative approach would be to introduce an intraluminal freely rotating device via the femoral artery to lie adjacent to the site of the initial intimal tear. As a result it is predicted that the local shear stress would become zero, effectively arresting the dissection process. At the same time, the centrifugal force developed by the device would oppose the layers of the dissection, increasing the likelihood of false lumen obliteration. Such an approach may result in less short-term mortality and a lower long-term complication rate than current treatments.