Percutaneous balloon fenestration and stenting for life-threatening ischemic complications in patients with acute aortic dissection

Objectives: Acute aortic dissection frequently causes life-threatening ischemia of end-organs, historically associated with mortality exceeding 60%. Reperfusion with the use of interventional radiologic methods has evolved as a promising treatment. We report results of our initial 6 years of experience with percutaneous balloon fenestration of the intimal flap and endovascular stenting. Methods: Forty patients (32 male and 8 female) with a median age of 53 years (range 16-86 years) underwent percutaneous treatment for peripheral ischemic complications of 10 type A and 30 type B acute aortic dissections since 1991. Twenty patients had ischemia of multiple organ systems. Thirty patients had renal, 22 had leg, 18 had mesenteric, and 1 had arm ischemia. Results: Fourteen patients were treated with stenting of either the true or false lumen combined with balloon fenestration of the intimal flap, 24 with stenting alone, and 2 with fenestration alone. Successful revascularization was achieved in 93% ± 4% (±70% confidence levels) of patients (37/40). Nine patients had procedure-related complications. The 30-day mortality rate was 25% ± 7% (10/40), often related to irreversible ischemia of intra-abdominal organs that was present before the procedure. Of the remaining 30 patients, 5 have died and the remaining 25 continue to have relief of ischemic symptoms at a mean follow-up of 29 months. Conclusion: Percutaneous balloon fenestration of the intimal flap and endovascular stenting is an effective treatment for life-threatening ischemic complications of acute aortic dissection. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:1118-27)