Mid-term results of in situ fenestration stented with balloon-expandable bare metal stents during thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Abstract

To assess the safety, feasibility and effectiveness of balloon-expandable bare metal stents (BMS) as bridge stents during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Retrospective analysis was conducted on 103 consecutive patients who underwent TEVAR procedures from December 2015 to March 2018. Thirty-one patients fulfilled requirements for inclusion and exclusion in the analysis. Thirty-three in situ fenestration (ISF) procedures (single fenestration [n = 29]; dual fenestration [n = 2]) were performed in the 31 patients (67.7% men; median age, 61.5 year) who underwent TEVAR for thoracic lesions (aortic dissection [n = 23], aortic aneurysm [n = 3], aortic ulcer [n = 5]) with 34 stents (33 balloon-expandable BMS, 1 covered stents) implanted in supraaortic arteries. The success rate of overall intervention, fenestration, and implantation of BMS was recorded. The therapeutic effects and complications during admission and follow-up (median 29.7 months, range 18-45 months) were the primary outcomes. The technical success rate was 90.3% (28/31). All thoracic lesions were totally excluded. Major complications (6.5%) were one dissection in the left subclavian artery (n = 1) and thrombus formation (n = 1). Minor complications (12.9%) were hematoma (n = 1), and type III endoleak (n = 3). During follow-up, no endoleak developed and all fenestrated branch arteries were patent, except for one left subclavian artery dissection and occlusion. Use of balloon-expandable BMS in ISF is safe and effective in reconstruction of supraarotic arteries during TEVAR.