Three-Dimensional Printing-Assisted Fabrication of Stent Graft to Reconstruct the Total Aortic Arch.

Abstract

There is a high incidence of complications after conventional open thoracic aortic arch replacement. Stent graft thoracic endovascular repair for aortic aneurysms has few complications. Vascular variability of the aortic arch branch is high and individualized aortic arch stent graft is required. We present our experience using 3-dimensional print-assisted fabrication of individualized stent grafts. According to the patient's computed tomography angiography results before surgery, the aortic arch was printed 3-dimensionally and then an individualized stent graft was sewn. The prepared stents were placed in the descending aorta and the partial branches of the arch, and then released. Intraoperative stent placement was successful. The deep hypothermic circulatory arrest time was only 5 minutes. The patient recovered well after surgery and no neurological complications occurred. Postoperative computed tomography angiography showed good stent expansion and no endoleak. Three-dimensional printing-assisted fabrication of a stent graft can be used for endovascular repair of the total aortic arch. This technology can be employed to construct individualized aortic arch stents accurately for different patients before surgery.