Purpose: To present a novel endovascular management option that avoids open surgery in selected patients with subacute type A aortic dissection (DeBakey II).
Case report: A 75-year-old woman with previous infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repaired in 2006 and multiple comorbidities (EURO score II 20.5%) was admitted with chest pain; computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed a new dissection in the ascending aorta just above the right coronary ostium. As the patient was considered unfit to undergo surgery, an endovascular solution was suggested after multidisciplinary team discussion. With a single entry identified, coils were deployed in the false lumen followed by a patent foramen ovale (PFO) occluder placed across the entry tear to seal the cavity. Intraprocedural digital subtraction angiography and transesophageal echocardiography, as well as CTA 3 days postprocedure, confirmed an entirely thrombosed false lumen. The 6-month follow-up CTA demonstrated the PFO occluder firmly in place, shrinkage of the false lumen, and remodeling of the ascending aorta.
Conclusion: Interventional management of the false lumen in proximal (type A) dissection is feasible and sustainable. The use of coils and closure devices may present a new, efficient, minimalistic strategy to avoid open surgery in selected cases.
Keywords: PFO occluder; coil embolization; endovascular repair; proximal aortic dissection; type A/DeBakey II dissection; vascular plug.