Percutaneous Endovascular Stent-Graft Treatment of Aortic Aneurysms and Dissections: New Techniques and Initial Experience

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of a newly designed percutaneously implanted separate stent-graft (SSG) for the treatment of aortic aneurysms and dissections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a percutaneous technique, SSG placement (in the descending thoracic aorta in 26 cases and infrarenal abdominal aorta in 24) was attempted in 50 patients with aortic aneurysms (n=27) or dissection (n=23). All SSGs were individually constructed using self-expandable nitinol stents and a Dacron graft, and were introduced through a 12 F sheath and expanded to a diameter of 20-34 mm. In all cases, vascular access was through the femoral artery. The clinical status of each patient was monitored, and postoperative CT was performed within one week of the procedure and at 3-6 month intervals afterwards. RESULTS: Endovascular stent-graft deployment was technically successful in 49 of 50 patients (98%). The one failure was due to torsion of the unsupported graft during deployment. Successful exclusion of aneurysms and the primary entry tears of dissections was achieved in all but three patients with aortic dissection. All patients in whom technical success was achieved showed complete thrombosis of the thoracic false lumen or aneurysmal sac, and the overall technical success rate was 92%. In addition, sixteen patients demonstrated complete resolution of the dissected thoracic false lumen (n=9) or aneurysmal sac (n=7). Immediate post-operative complications occurred at the femoral puncture site in one patient with an arteriovenous fistula, and in two, a new saccular aneurysm developed at the distal margin of the stent. No patient died, and there was no instance of paraplegia, stroke, side-branch occlusion or infection during the subsequent mean follow-up period of 9.4 (range, 2 to 26) months. CONCLUSION: In patients with aortic aneurysm and dissection, treatment with a separate percutaneously inserted stent-graft is technically feasible, safe, and effective.

The Role of MR Imaging in Determination of Atrial Situs in Congenital Heart Disease with Situs Ambiguus

PURPOSE: to assess the role of MR imaging in determining of the atrial situs in complicated congenital heart disease with situs ambiguus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to classify the situs, the morphology of atrial appendages, on bronchial length ratio, the superior-inferior relation of the pulmonary artery (PA) and main bronchi on each side, and splenic abnormality were evaluated by MR imaging in 22 patients (12 boys and 10 girls), and the results were compared. RESULTS: In all patients, the superior-inferior relation of the PA and main bronchi tended to lateralize, and in one, bronchial length ratio was not consistent with the relation between the PA and bronchus. Bronchial and atrial situs, as determined by appendage morphology, were consistent in ten of 13 right isomerism patients, and in only three of nine of these with left isomerism. All 13 right isomerism patients, classified by the relation of the PA and main bronchi, showed asplenia, whereas eight of nine of these with left isomerism had polysplenia. CONCLUSION: In the assessment of atrial situs by MR imaging, the positional relation of a bronchus and the PA, bronchial length ratio, and splenic abnormality are constant and reliable. The accuracy of classification of situs on the basis of atrial appendage morphology is, however, limited.