Safety and Clinical Outcomes of the STABILISE Technique for Eliminating Residual Aortic Dissection

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and clinical outcomes of the Stent-Assisted Balloon-Induced Intimal Disruption and Relamination in Aortic Dissection Repair (STABILISE) technique in treating residual dissection in aortic dissection.

Materials and Methods: Data, including patient characteristics and imaging profiles, of consecutive patients with aortic dissection who underwent the STABILISE technique at the authors’ center between August 2022 and July 2025 were retrospectively reviewed. Ballooning of the distally implanted bare stent was performed, aiming to disrupt the delaminated intimal flap to reapproximate it to the outer aortic wall, eliminating the false lumen and restoring blood flow in the true lumen. Pre- and post-procedural diameters of the true and false lumens at the levels of the thoracic aorta, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), renal arteries, and abdominal aorta were compared. Intra- and post-procedural complications were documented, if any, to assess the safety of the technique.

Results: Eight patients (male:female, 5:3) were included in this study, and the technical success rate was 100.0%. At baseline, partial thrombosis of the false lumen in the thoracic aorta was observed in six (75.0%) cases, and no thrombosis was present in the false lumen at the levels of SMA, renal arteries, or abdominal aorta. At the 1-week follow-up, complete thrombosis of the false lumen was achieved in four (50.0%) patients, with minor backflow in the intercostal arteries observed in three (37.5%) patients. Complete obliteration of the false lumen in the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries was observed in all (100.0%) patients. The diameter of the true lumen was significantly increased at all levels compared to baseline (all P < 0.05). No procedure-related complications were noted during or after the procedure.

Conclusion: The STABILISE technique was safe and effective for eliminating residual aortic dissection. It significantly promoted false lumen thrombosis, significantly increased the true lumen diameter, and successfully restored blood flow in the true lumen in a short time.