Endovascular repair of aortic arch disease with double inner branched thoracic stent graft: the Bolton perspective

Abstract

Background: In the light of current evidence, endovascular repair of aortic arch pathologies with custom-made devices should be considered a valid alternative to decrease operative mortality and morbidity associated with open or hybrid repair. Today, two double inner branch devices are available on market. We report our single-center experience with Bolton double branch stent graft in the treatment of aortic arch disease.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2016, 15 high-risk patients with arch pathology were treated in our center with a custom-made branched device. Six of these received a Cook arch branched stent graft. Nine were treated with Bolton device. Among these, 2 with single branch model were excluded leaving a subgroup of 7 patients object of this study.

Results: Out of the 7 male patients (mean age 76, range 70-85) included in the study, 2 died in-hospital after stroke and retrograde dissection, respectively. No other death, major complication or secondary intervention was recorded at a mean follow-up of 24 (min-max 6-53) months, neither any aneurysmal diameter evolution nor branch related complications.

Conclusions: Despite the small sample size, our results are in line with the early-published experiences about this technique. Endovascular repair of aortic arch disease with custom-made branched devices should always be considered to give high-risk patients a chance of repair.