<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the feasibility,
safety and
efficacy of
transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and
transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) guided coated
stent-
graft implantation for
patients with Stanford B
aortic dissection.</p><p><b>
METHODS</b>In 5
patients with CT confirmed Stanford B
aortic dissection, TEE and TTE were used to determine the
parameters for pre-
surgery diagnosis and selection of suitable coated
stent. During
surgery, TEE and TTE provided real-
time and dynamic
monitoring and guiding for precise implantation of the coated
stent to effectively seal the
tear of the
aortic dissection. After
surgery,
efficacy of implanted coated
stent was evaluated by TTE.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In all 5
patients, the coated
stents were successfully implanted in the true lumen, a small distal
tear was not covered in 1 case. Displacement of
stent-
graft or new
endoleak was not observed at follow-up examinations performed at 3 months post-
surgery. There were no aortic perforation,
renal failure,
paraplegia or other
complications. The medians of left
ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in 2 days before
surgery, 1 month post-
surgery and 3 months post-
surgery are 59.9%, 67.4% and 68.1% and the medians of fraction shortening (FS) are 31.4%, 33.7% and 39.1%. Compared with 2 days before
surgery, significant increase of LVEF and FS was observed in 1 month post-
surgery and 3 months post-
surgery (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Our results showed that
echocardiography guided coated
stent-
graft implantation for
patients with Stanford B
aortic dissection was safe and effective with lower
risk of
complications.</p>