Stent-assisted balloon dilatation of chronic aortic dissection

The treatment of complicated chronic aortic dissection remains controversial. We previously reported encouraging early results with the stent-assisted balloon-induced intimal disruption and relamination of aortic dissection (STABILISE) technique for treating complicated acute aortic dissections. However, to date there have been no specific reports on the treatment of complicated chronic aortic dissections with this technique. The aim of this study was to assess the results of the STABILISE technique to treat complicated chronic aortic dissection.

A single-center prospectively maintained database enrolled all patients hospitalized for aortic dissection at our institution. Inclusion criteria for the STABILISE procedure at the chronic stage of dissection (>3 months) were postdissection aneurysm with a diameter >55 mm or rapid aortic diameter growth >5 mm/6 months. We reviewed all patients treated for complicated chronic aortic dissection with the STABILISE technique. Patients were monitored at 3, 6, and 12 months and annually thereafter with clinical, imaging, and laboratory studies. Outcome analyses included survival, rupture, spinal cord ischemia, endoleak, morbidity (cardiac, renal, or pulmonary), reinterventions, false lumen patency, and aneurysm growth.

Between September 2015 and December 2018, 17 patients underwent a STABILISE procedure for complicated chronic aortic dissection of the descending aorta. Fifteen patients were treated for remaining chronic distal thoracoabdominal aortic dissection after acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection repair, and 2 patients were treated for chronic type B aortic dissection. The median patient age was 61 years (range, 46-67 years). The median interval between the onset of acute symptoms and the procedure was 9 months (range, 3-67 months). Indications for the STABILISE procedure were a rapidly growing dissected aortic diameter >5 mm/6 months in 13 patients and aneurysmal evolution of the descending thoracic aorta >55 mm in 4 patients. There were no cases of in-hospital death, stroke, spinal cord ischemia, ischemic colitis, or renal failure necessitating dialysis. The median duration of follow-up was 17 months (range, 5-28.5 months). At the last computed tomography scan, 15 patients (88%) had complete false lumen thrombosis of the treated thoracoabdominal aorta down to the renal arteries. None of the patients had aortic growth at treated thoracoabdominal aorta level. One patient developed a proximal type 1 endoleak and required reintervention. Regarding the untreated aortoiliac level below the renal arteries, 11 patients had persistent false lumen patency, and 1 patient developed a common iliac artery aneurysm. All the other patients had stable infrarenal aortoiliac diameters. No late deaths were reported during follow-up.

The STABILISE technique is a safe and effective means of performing immediate, complete aortic remodeling of the thoracoabdominal aorta in patients with complicated chronic aortic dissection, stabilizing the diameter of the dissected aorta.