False Lumen Occlusion in Chronic Aortic Dissection: The New Generation Candy-Plug II

BACKGROUND: To introduce the new generation Candy-Plug II with a self-closing channel construction inside the plug.

METHODS: The technique of the Candy-Plug II was demonstrated in a 50-year-old patient with residual chronic aortic dissection and thoracic false lumen aneurysm with false lumen backflow after open surgical repair of the ascending aorta for acute type A aortic dissection. The Candy-Plug Technique was applied in addition to a branched arch procedure using a new generation Candy-Plug II for false lumen occlusion. The Candy-Plug II is a short tubular stent graft with a small open channel inside the graft to accommodate the central cannula and allow retrieval of the dilator tip, which closes itself as soon as the dilator tip is removed. The channel inside the graft is unsupported and will collapse and thereby close. This new design obviates additional placement of a plug to occlude the midsection of the first-generation Candy-Plug. After deployment of the Candy-Plug, distal false lumen occlusion was confirmed on final angiogram and postoperative computed tomography scans without any leakage through the Candy-Plug.

CONCLUSIONS: The new generation Candy-Plug II is a useful refinement of the previously available model. It reduces the procedural steps and provides a longer sealing segment.