Open triple-branched stent graft placement for the surgical treatment of acute aortic arch dissection

BACKGROUND The primary experience of open triple-branched stent graft placement for acute aortic arch dissection was reported. METHODS Between January 2011 and October 2011, 13 well-selected patients (mea age, 46±8.2 years; approximate range, 30~58 years) with acute aortic arch dissection underwent open triple-branched stent graft placement for total arch reconstruction. The triple-branched stent graft was a branched 1-piece graft consisting of a self-expandable nitinol stent and polyester vascular graft fabric (Yuhengjia Sci Tech Corp Ltd, Beijing, China). During hypothermic circulatory arrest, through the transverse incision of the ascending aorta, the main graft of the triple-branched stent graft was inserted into the true lumen of the arch and proximal descending aorta, and then each sidearm graft was positioned one by one into the aortic branch. Once the main graft and sidearm grafts were properly positioned, the restraining strings were withdrawn and then the main graft and sidearm grafts were deployed. Enhanced electric beam computed tomography was performed in each patient before discharge to evaluate the postoperative time course of the residual false lumen. RESULTS Open triple-branched stent graft placement was technically successful in all patients. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time and arrest time were 138.40±47.75 min, 70.60±28.94 min and 28.60±12.48 min, respectively. All patients were discharged from hospital. Their computed tomographic scans postoperatively showed that all stent grafts were fully opened and not kinked, there was no blood flow surrounding the triple-branched stent graft. CONCLUSION Open triple-branched stent graft placement is a new effective technique for total arch reconstruction in acute arch dissection.