Percutaneous bare Z-stent implantation as an alternative to surgery for acute aortic dissection with visceral ischemia.

We describe a case of Stanford type B acute aortic dissection causing visceral ischemia. An aortogram showed an hourglass-like narrowing of the true lumen at the diaphragm with a 60 mm Hg pressure gradient. Placement of a self-expanding metallic Z-stent under intravascular ultrasound guidance restored blood flow to the viscera. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.