Endovascular stent grafting of the descending thoracic aorta after arch repair in acute type A dissection.

An endovascular stent graft was successfully deployed to the primary entry site in the proximal descending thoracic aorta after total aortic arch replacement using the "elephant trunk" technique in acute type A aortic dissection. The residual false lumen of the descending aorta was thrombosed completely after stent grafting. The elephant trunk was feasible for a proximal landing zone for stent grafting of the descending aorta. Stent grafting in combination with aortic arch replacement was a safe and effective procedure, and may be an alternative choice in carefully selected patients with type A aortic dissection.