Objective To summarize treatment experience and evaluate clinical outcomes of surgical therapy for Stanford type A aortic dissection （AD）. Methods Clinical data of 48 patients with Stanford type A AD who underwent surgical treatment in General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Region from October 2006 to March 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 41 males and 7 females with their age of 26-72 （47.6±9.2） years. There were 43 patients with acute Stanford type A AD （interval between symptom onset and diagnosis＜14 days） and 5 patients with chronic AD. There were 19 patients with moderate to severe aortic insufficiency and 6 patients with Marfan symdrome but good aortic valve function，who all received Bentall procedure，total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk implantation. There were 8 patients with AD involving the aortic root but good aortic valve function who underwent modified David procedure，total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk implantation. There were 10 patients with AD involving the ascending aorta who received ascending aorta replacement，total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk implantation. There were 5 patients with AD involving partial aortic arch who underwent ascending aorta and hemiarch replacement. Patients were followed up in the 3rd，6th and 12th month after discharge then once every year. Follow-up evaluation included general patient conditions，blood pressure control，chest pain recurrence，mobility and computerized tomography arteriography （CTA）. ResultsCardiopulmonary bypass time was 121-500 （191.4±50.6） minutes，aortic cross-clamp time was 58-212 （112.3±31.7） minutes，and circulatory arrest and selective cerebral perfusion time was 26-56 （34.8±8.7） minutes. Postoperative mechanicalventilation time was 32-250 （76.2±35.6） hours，and ICU stay was 3-20 （7.1±3.4） days. Thoracic drainage within 24 hours postoperatively was 680-1 600 （1 092.5±236.3） ml. Seven patients （14.5%） died perioperatively including 2 patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome，2 patients with low cardiac output syndrome，1 patient with renal failure，1patient with delayed refractory hemorrhage，and 1 patient with coma. Twenty patients had other postoperative complicationsand were cured or improved after treatment. A total of 38 patients ［92.7% （38/41）］ were followed up for 3-48 （13.0±8.9） months，and 3 patients were lost during follow-up. During follow-up，there were 36 patients alive and 2 patients who died of other chronic diseases. There was no AD-related death during follow-up. None of the patients required reoperation for AD or false-lumen expansion. CTA at 6th month after discharge showed no anastomotic leakage，graft distortion or obstruction.Conclusion According to aortic intimal tear locations，ascending aorta diameter and AD involving scopes，appropriate surgical strategies，timing and organ protection are the key strategies to achieve optimal surgical results for Stanford type A AD. Combined axillary and femoral artery perfusion and increased lowest intraoperative temperature are good methods for satisfactory surgical outcomes of Stanford type A AD.
ObjectiveTo summarize clinical experience and surgical indications of open stented elephant trunk (sET) procedure for the treatment of complex acute Stanford type B aortic dissection (AD). MethodsFrom February 2009 to April 2013, 25 patients with complex acute Stanford type B AD underwent open sET procedure in Beijing Anzhen Hospital. There were 22 male and 3 female patients with their age of 46.92±9.12 years (range, 30 to 66 years). There were 16 patients with hypertension and 3 patients with preoperative acute renal failure. All the patients received sET implantation via an aortic arch incision under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Concomitant procedures included extra-anatomic bypass grafting in 11 patients, Bentall procedure in 1 patient, aortic valve replacement in 3 patients, and ascending aorta plasty in 3 patients. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed before discharge and during follow-up for all the patients. ResultsOperation time was 4-7 (5.5±0.7) hours, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 93-206 (137.64±30.02) minutes, aortic cross-clamping time was 28-109 (57.96±21.05) minutes, and selective cerebral perfusion time was 15-76 (26.76±11.88) minutes. There was no in-hospital death. Postoperatively, there were 2 patients with pulmonary complications, 2 patients with type I endoleak, 1 patient with acute renal failure, 1 patient with temporary neurological disorder, 1 patient with sudden ventricular fibrillation, and 1 patient with delayed wound healing. Mean follow-up time was 6-54 (25.76±16.15) months, and 2 patients were lost during follow-up. The follow-up rate was 92%.There was no late death during follow-up. ConclusionsOpen sET procedure is a reliable and efficacious therapeutic strategy for patients with complex acute Stanford type B AD. Surgical indications include complex Stanford type B AD without enough landing zone, type B AD with ascending aortic disease, aortic root disease, valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease and congenital heart defects, and type B AD caused by genetic connective tissue disorder.
Objective To evaluate the short- and middle-term outcomes of surgical treatment for distal aortic arch lesions using stented elephant trunk implantation combined with transposition of left subclavian artery to left common carotid artery. Methods The clinical data of 14 patients with distal aortic arch lesions undergoing stented elephant trunk procedure with left subclavain artery transposition under hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with antegrade selective cerebral perfusion from May 2009 to November 2015 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. All of them were males with a mean age of 52±14 years ranging from 20 to 69 years. Hypertension was observed in nine patients, coronary artery disease in five and prior cerebral infarction in one. History of percutaneous coronary intervention was noted in one patient, history of Bentall operation in one, ligation of patent ductus arteriosus in one and endovascular aneurysm repair in one. Results There was no hospital death. Concomitant procedures included coronary artery bypass grafting in two patients and plasty of the ascending aorta replacement in one. Mean duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay was 21±7 h and 43±19 h, respectively. All patients survived and were discharged. One patient was lost to follow-up and no patient died during the follow-up. Postoperative computed tomography revealed good patency of the anastomotic site between the left subclavian artery and the left common carotid artery. Conclusion Stented elephant trunk procedure with left subclavain artery transposition obtains satisfactory surgical results in patients with distal aortic arch lesions.
Objective To retrospectively review our experience of correction of type Ⅰa endoleak after thoracic endovascular aortic repair(TEVAR). Methods From August 2009 to May 2016, 29 patients with type Ⅰa endoleak after TEVAR (25 males, 4 females at mean age of 56±10 years (range, 41–86 years) underwent treatment: open surgery in 15 patients (an open surgery group), hybrid aortic arch repair in 6 patients (a hybrid group) and cuff extension in 8 patients(a cuff group). A history of hypertension was noted in 25 patients, diabetes mellitus in 3 patients, coronary artery disease in 3 patients, lung infection in one patient, aortic root aneurysm in one patient and aberrant right subclavian artery in one patient. Results In the open surgery group, no death was observed. Continuous renal replacement therapy and re-intubation was done in one patient and drainage of pericardial effusion in one patient. No death was noted in the hybrid group and persistent type Ⅰa endoleak in one patient. In the cuff group, thrombosis of the left common artery was noted in one patient and bypass of the left axillary artery to the left axillary artery and the left common carotid artery was done. Unfortunately, he died of cerebral infarction and total in-hospital death rate was 3.4% (1/29). Bypass of the left axillary artery to the left axillary artery was done in one patient with left upper limb ischemia. There were 4 (14.2%) deaths during follow-up: 3 deaths in the open surgical group and one death in the cuff group. Endoleak was observed in one patient in the hybrid group and one in the cuff group. Conclusion The corresponding procedure, including open surgery, hybrid aortic arch repair or cuff extension, is scheduled to be done according to the characteristics of type Ⅰa endoleak. Satisfactory outcomes are achieved in patients with typeⅠa endoleak.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of restrictive bare stent released on the distal end of the trunk of Stanford type A aortic dissection. Methods The clinical data of 22 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection requiring aortic arch replacement and trunk surgery and selected for restrictive bare stent placement from November 2016 to February 2018 in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 19 males and 3 females, aged 34-68 (49.72±8.05) years. The bare stent was released in the descending thoracic aorta, and the stented elephant trunk was placed in the bare stent. The aortic computerized tomography angiography was reviewed before discharge and the stent position and complications were observed. ResultsOne patient failed to be implanted with bare stents due to a greater resistance and prolapse during implantation. Bare stents were successfully implanted in the remaining 21 patients. One patient died of large-area cerebral infarction after surgery and one patient suffered paraplegia. Twenty patients who survived and successfully implanted bare stents were followed up at regular intervals for 4-21 (13.00±6.14) months. No stroke or death occurred during the follow-up. The computerized tomography angiography showed good stent morphology and position, and no displacement or type Ⅲ endoleak. No stent graft-induced new entry was found. ConclusionAs an adjunct to stented elephant trunk, the use of restrictive bare stents can reduce the possibility of recurrence of a distal stent fracture, significantly expand the narrowest segment and true lumen caliber near the endoluminal graft. Aortic remodeling works well.
ObjectiveTo evaluate whether long frozen elephant trunk (FET) increases the risk of spinal cord injury in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.MethodsFrom 2018 to 2019, 172 patients with acute type A aortic dissection were treated in Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital. They were divided into two groups according to the length of FET: patients treated with stents of 100 mm in length were enrolled into a short FET group, and those with stents of 150 mm in length into a long FET group. There were 124 patients in the short FET group, including 108 (87.1%) males and 16 (12.9%) females with a mean age of 51.8±7.9 years. There were 48 patients in the long FET group, including 44 (91.7%) males and 4 (8.3%) females with a mean age of 50.6±9.7 years. The clinical data and prognosis of the patients were analyzed.ResultsThe mean distal stent graft was at the level of T 8.5±0.7 in the long FET group, and at the level of T 6.8±0.6 in the short FET group (P=0.001). Sixteen patients died after operation in the two groups, including 13 (10.5%) in the short FET group and 3 (6.2%) in the long FET group (P=0.561). There were 7 patients of spinal cord injury in the two groups, including 6 (4.8%) in the short FET group and 1 (2.2%) in the long FET group (P=0.675). There was no statistical difference in other complications between the two groups. The follow-up time was 16.7 (1-30) months. During the follow-up, 2 patients died in the long FET group and 5 died in the short FET group. No new spinal cord injury or distal reintervention occurred during the follow-up.ConclusionLong FET does not increase the incidence of spinal cord injury in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.
Objective To analyze the etiologies, surgical treatment and outcomes of retrograde type A aortic dissection (RTAD) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for Stanford type B aortic dissection. Methods The clinical data of patients with RTAD after TEVAR for Stanford type B aortic dissection receiving operations in Changhai Hospital from March 2014 to August 2018 were analyzed. All patients were followed-up by clinic interview or telephone. Results A total of 16 patients were enrolled, including 13 males and 3 females with a mean age of 49.1±12.2 years. The main symptoms of RTAD were chest pain in 12 patients, headache in 1 patient, conscious disturbance in 1 patient, and asymptomatic in 2 patients. All the 16 patients received total arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique. Bentall procedure was used in 2 patients, aortic root plasticity in 10 patients and aortic valve replacement in 1 patient. The primary tear in 10 patients was located in the area which were anchored by bare mental stent, and in the other 6 patients it was located in the anterior part of ascending aorta. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 152.2±29.4 min, aortic cross-clamping time was 93.6±27.8 min and selective cerebral perfusion time was 29.8±8.3 min. There was no death in hospital or within postoperative 30 days. The follow-up period was 32-85 (57.4±18.3) months. No death occurred during the follow-up period. One patient underwent TEVAR again 3 years after this operation and had an uneventful survival. Conclusion Total arch replacement with the frozen elephant trunk technique is a suitable strategy for the management of RTAD after TEVAR for Stanford type B aortic dissection.
ObjectiveTo assess whether expanding the landing zone of frozen elephant trunk (FET) increases the risk of spinal cord injury in patients with acute type A aortic dissection. MethodsPatients with acute type A aortic dissection who were treated in Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from 2017 to 2020 were collected. They were divided into two groups according to the landing zone of FET by the image diagnosis of postoperative chest X-ray or total aorta CT angiography, including a Th9 group which defined as below the eighth thoracic vertebral level, and a Th8 group which was defined as above or equal to the eighth thoracic vertebral level. Using the propensity score matching (PSM) method, the preoperative and intraoperative data of two groups were matched with a 1∶2 ratio. The prognosis of the two groups after PSM was analyzed. Results Before PSM, 573 patients were collected, including 58 patients in the Th9 group and 515 patients in the Th8 group. After PSM, 174 patients were collected, including 58 patients in the Th9 group (46 males and 12 females, with an average age of 47.91±9.92 years), and 116 patients in the Th8 group (93 males and 23 females, with an average age of 48.01±9.53 years). There were 8 patients of postoperative spinal cord injury in the two groups after PSM, including 5 (4.31%) patients in the Th8 group and 3 (5.17%) patients in the Th9 group (P=0.738). In the Th8 group, 2 patients had postoperative transient paresis and recovered spontaneously after symptomatic treatment, and 1 patient had postoperative paraplegia with cerebrospinal fluid drainage. After 3 days, the muscle strength of both lower limbs gradually recovered after treatment. There was no statistical difference in complications between the two groups (P＞0.05). ConclusionExpanding the landing zone of FET does not increase the risk of spinal cord injury in patients with acute type A aortic dissection. However, the sample size is limited, and in the future, multicenter large-scale sample size studies are still needed for verification
Objective To investigate the correlation between D-dimer level within 2 hours on admission and early in-hospital major adverse events (MAEs) in patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing arch replacement and the frozen elephant trunk (FET) implantation. Methods The patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing arch replacement and the FET implantation, who hospitalized in our hospital from September 2017 to December 2022, were included in this retrospective study. Grouping based on the occurrence of in-hospital major adverse events (MAEs) after total arch replacement and FET implantation, with no in-hospital MAEs as a control group and in-hospital MAEs as an observation group. The perioperative data were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to investigate the risk factors for MAEs (in-hospital mortality, gastrointestinal bleeding, paraplegia, acute kidney failure, reopening the chest, low cardiac output syndrome, cerebrovascular accident, respiratory insufficiency, multiple organ dysfunctionsyndrome, gastrointestinal bleeding, and severe infection). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of the prediction area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results Finally 218 patients were collected, including 157 males and 61 females with an average age of 51.54±9.79 years. There were 152 patients in the control group and 66 patients in the observation group. In-hospital mortality was 2.8% (6/218). The level of D-dimer, lactic acid, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time, ventilator-assisted time and ICU stay in the observation group were higher or longer than those in the control group (P=0.013). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that D-dimer (OR=1.077, 95%CI 1.020-1.137, P＜0.05) was an independent risk factor for MAEs in hospital. The level of D-dimer within 2 hours admission predicted that the AUC of MAEs in hospital was 0.83 (95%CI 0.736-0.870, P＜0.05), and the optimal critical point was 2.2 μg/mL, with sensitivity and specificity of 84.8% and 73.0%, respectively. Conclusion Increased D-dimer levels at admission are associated with early in-hospital MAEs in the patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing arch replacement and FET. These results may help clinicians optimize the risk evaluation and perioperative clinical management to reduce early adverse events.
Objective To summarize our experience and the early and midterm outcomes of stented elephant trunk procedure for right-sided aortic arch (RAA) with Kommerell's diverticulum (KD). Methods From April 2013 to July 2020, patients with RAA and KD who underwent stented elephant trunk procedure at our center were collected. Surgery was performed under moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest combined with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion via median sternotomy. Results A total of 8 patients were included, including 7 males and 1 female with a mean age of 51.88±9.61 years. All patients had an aneurysmal KD and aberrant left subclavian artery. Preoperative comorbidities included acute Stanford type B aortic dissection in 1 patient, aortic arch pseudoaneurysm in 1 patient, acute type B intramural hematoma in 2 patients, and coronary artery disease in 1 patient. Concomitant procedures included reconstruction of the left subclavian artery in all patients and coronary artery bypass grafting in 1 patient. The mean time of operation, cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamping, and selective cerebral perfusion was 6.25±1.16 h, 157.75±40.07 min, 77.75±33.10 min, and 28.50±5.55 min, respectively. No intraoperative death occurred. There was 1 in-hospital death. Follow-up was completed in all patients with a mean period of 3.58±2.08 years. No late death occurred. A persistent anastomotic leak of the proximal arch was detected in 1 patient, but reintervention was not performed because neither aortic dilatation nor symptoms of tracheal and esophageal compression were observed during the follow-up. The remaining 6 patients showed positive aortic remodeling with complete thrombosis of the aneurysmal KD, and neither aortic event nor tracheal and esophageal compression occurred. Conclusion Stented elephant trunk procedure is a safe and feasible technique for selected patients with RAA and KD, which can achieve favorable early and midterm outcomes.