Aortic dissection is defined as the formation of a tear in the intima and media layers of the aortic wall secondary to blood entering the intima-media space, creating a so-called false lumen. It is the most frequent and catastrophic manifestation of the acute aortic syndrome. Its incidence is estimated at 3-12 out of 100.000 patients per year.

Some cases could be treated using only medical theraphy. Usually, this treatment is complementary to the others.

This is the favorite choice in aggressive cases, especially in the ascending aorta. However, it entails high mortality risk for the patient during the intervention and difficult recovery.

• Highly invasive
  • High mortality
  • High morbidity
  • Long recovery time
• Low eligibility

These treatments are increasingly used in dissection distal to the brachiocephalic trunk. They provide better short-term prospects than open surgical repair but complications like incomplete closure at the entry site and non-clotting of the false lumen often occur. Current thoracic endovascular grafts (TEVAR) are not a definitive solution as they have limited lifespan and must be replaced after that.

• Mechanical mismatch
  • Hard to fix
  • Low eligibility
• Low durability
  • Stent migration
  • Endoleaks
  • High re-intervention rates

© 2019. AORTYX.