Objective: This study assessed the short- to medium-term clinical results of the Inoue single-branched stent graft for repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms or dissections involving the left subclavian artery.
Methods: A retrospective review of experiences at two institutions was performed. We analyzed the data of consecutive 17 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms or dissections who underwent endovascular repairs with the Inoue single-branched stent graft between July 1999 and April 2004. Complete baseline and follow-up data were available on all patients. The mean age was 71 +/- 9 years, and 13 of the patients (76%) were men. Eight patients (47%) were considered unfit for open surgery because of advanced age or the presence of comorbid diseases.
Results: The stent grafts were successfully delivered and deployed in all 17 patients. Periprocedural major complications, defined as those that caused any persistent disorder, occurred in one patient who developed spinal ischemia. A postoperative computed tomographic scan revealed three attachment site endoleaks; two endoleaks were from the proximal attachment sites and one endoleak was from the distal attachment site. The mean follow-up period was 26 months (range, 7 to 65 months). Two deaths occurred in the follow-up period from cerebral bleeding and pneumonia, both considered unrelated to the stent grafting. Two patients with attachment site endoleaks needed secondary stent-grafting; one patient required the implantation of a straight stent-graft in the distal attachment site and the other, the implantation of a double-branched stent-graft. Another patient with attachment site endoleak was considered very high-risk for open surgery or secondary stent grafting and did not undergo secondary intervention. The aneurysmal sac size of the patient has been stable for 28 months. The branched section of the stent graft was patent in all patients in the follow-up period.
Conclusion: The results demonstrate the feasibility of the Inoue single-branched stent graft for thoracic aortic aneurysms or dissections involving the left subclavian artery.