TREATMENT OF AORTIC DISSECTIONS WITH A PERCUTANEOUS INTRAVASCULAR ENDOPROSTHESIS - COMPARISON OF COVERED AND BARE STENTS

PURPOSE: The authors developed a percutaneous endoprosthesis for treat ment of aortic dissections, The device is a Gianturco stent wrapped wi th Dacron or nylon mesh, Effectiveness of the covered stent versus a b are stent was compared in the treatment of acute aortic dissection. MA TERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental aortic dissections were created in 1 0 mongrel dogs. Occlusion of intimal tears was attempted with covered stents in five dogs (group 1) and with bare stents in the remaining fi ve dogs (group 2). RESULTS: In group 1, entry tears were obliterated w ithin 1 day (n = 3) or 1 week (n = 2) after stent placement and false lumina were thrombosed within 1 week (n = 3) or 1 month (n = 2). In gr oup 2, entry tears and false lumina remained patent. Histologic specim ens showed that the covered stents were entirely covered with smooth n eointima. CONCLUSIONS: This endoprosthesis offers an alternative to su rgical treatment for dissections of the descending aorta.