Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of endovascular covered stent on vertebral dissecting aneurysm and carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF). Methods From March 2006 to May 2007, Jostent coronary stent grafts were used to treat 4 patients with vertebral dissecting aneurysm and 3 patients with CCF. The patients of vertebral dissecting aneurysmwere male and 37-57 years old, the lesion was located on the left vertebral artery in 3 patients and on the right vertebral artery in 1 patient, with the primary symptoms of sudden headache and vomiting; CT scan demonstrated subarachnoid hemorrhage; and the medical history varied from 2 days to 10 years. The patients of CCF were male and 35-51 years old, the lesion was located on the left carotid artery in 2 patients and on the right carotid artery in 1 patient, with the primary symptoms of headache, lateral exophthalmos, eyeball distending pain, conjunctive hyperemia and impaired eyesight; all 3 patients got head injury 2 days to 1 month before the appearance of symptoms and 1 of them had a history of severe nosebleed; and the medical history ranged from 1 week to 2 months. Results For the patients with vertebral dissecting aneurysm, complete obl iteration of aneurysms was achieved, the circulations of the vertebral artery, the adjacent posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the adjacent anterior inferior cerebellar artery were smooth, no compl ications relative to operation occurred, and no recurrence of symptoms and intracranial rehaemorrhagia were observed during the follow-up period of 8 months-2 years. For the patients with CCF, the fistula were completely obl iterated, the circulation of carotid artery was smooth, the exophthalmus and conjunctiva hyperemia were improved obviously 3 days after operation, the eyesight of patient was improved at different levels over the follow-up period of 1-3 months. Conclusion Endovascular covered stent is a new and useful tool for the treatment of vertebral dissecting aneurysm and CCF .
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of covered Cheatham-platinum (CP) stent for treatment of coarctation of aorta (CoA). MethodsBetween January 2007 and September 2013, 15 patients (16 lesions) with CoA underwent covered CP stent implantation, and the clinical data were analyzed retrospectively. Of 15 cases, 8 were male and 7 were female, aged 13-56 years (mean, 27.7 years). Fifteen lesions located beyond the origin of the left subdavian artery, and 1 lesion located between the origin of the left common carotid artery and the origin of the left subdavian artery. Proper covered CP stent and balloon-in-balloon (BIB) catheter were selected according to the data of computed tomography angiography or digital subtraction angiography examination. Under fluoroscopic guidance, the covered CP stent was placed at lesion accurately by expanding the inner balloon and the outer balloon sequentially. The variation of the systolic pressure gradient across the lesion and the stenosis extent of the aorta before and after the procedure were recorded. ResultsFifteen patients were all treated by covered CP stent implantation successfully. The systolic pressure gradient across the lesion decreased from (58.1±19.5) mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) at preoperation to (6.2±5.6) mm Hg at immediate after CP stent implantation, and the stenosis extent of the aorta decreased from 73.8%±12.8% at preoperation to 16.7%±5.6% at immediate after CP stent implantation, all showing significant difference (t=12.483, P=0.000; t=15.631, P=0.000). All puncture points healed well with no aortic dissection, pseudoaneurysm, or obvious subcutaneous hematoma. All the patients could walk moderately within 48 hours after procedure. The average hospitalization time was 11.1 days (range, 6-18 days). During a mean follow-up of 29.7 months (range, 1-81 months), the symptom of dizziness and exercise tolerance were improved obviously, and the systolic pressures gradient between upper and lower extremity was below 20 mm Hg. The systolic and diastolic pressures at last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative values (t=7.725, P=0.000; t=3.651, P=0.000). According to radiography, the location and shape of the stent were good, and no aortic dissection, aneurysm, or recoarctation occurred. ConclusionAccording to the initial and midterm results, the covered CP stent is an effective treatment for CoA in adolescents and adults with a low rate of complication. However, long-term results still require further follow-up.