New graft-implanting method for thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection with a stented graft

Background To alleviate the invasiveness of surgical treatment for thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection involving the distal arch, we developed a new method of implanting a graft in the distal anastomotic portion that does not require dissection, suture, or lateral thoracotomy. Methods and Results The tight circumferential attachment between the graft and the aortic inner wall, produced by the hoop strength of a self-expanding (Gianturco) stent that is anchored into the woven polyester graft, takes the place of the conventional anastomotic suture at the distal end of the graft. This new surgical method requires only a median sternotomy and relatively short circulatory arrest time to repair a thoracic aneurysm or dissection involving the distal arch. In a 12-month period in 1994 and 1995, we applied this new method in 10 cases (seven true aneurysms and three dissections). Complete thrombosis of the aneurysms or false lumens surrounding the grafts resulted in all 10. There were no surgical deaths, and the major complications were two cerebral infarctions due to inappropriate protection of the brain and dissecting procedure of an aortic arch, respectively. Conclusions These preliminary results indicate that this new graft-implanting method with the stented graft should be considered one of the less-invasive surgical treatments for thoracic aneurysm and dissection involving the distal arch.