Search Results (8)

Objectives: The need for concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting during acute type A aortic dissection repair is common and associated with high mortality. This study aims to characterize the patient cohort, assess outcomes, and evaluate the role of preoperative diagnostics in these high-risk patients. Methods: Patients who underwent concomitant coronary artery bypass and acute type A aortic dissection repair between March 2007 and June 2023 were included. In-hospital survivors and non-survivors were compared. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality. Preoperative computed tomography scans were independently reviewed by a cardiovascular radiologist to assess potential coronary involvement. The agreement between computed tomography and intraoperative reports of coronary dissection was evaluated using Cohen’s κappa test. Results: The cohort consisted of ninety-eight patients. In-hospital mortality was 26.5% (n = 26). The right coronary artery was the most frequently grafted (57%, n = 56). Elevated preoperative creatine kinase was the only predictor of in-hospital mortality (p = 0.044). Of the 72 available preoperative CT scans, 76% (n = 55) indicated coronary involvement, whereas intraoperative coronary dissection requiring bypass grafting was documented in only 42% (n = 30)). The agreement between computer tomography and intraoperative dissection reports was poor (κappa 0.043 (95% CI, −0.155 to 0.241), p = 0.66). Conclusion: Simultaneous coronary artery bypass during acute type A aortic dissection repair remains associated with high mortality and morbidity. The right coronary artery is most often affected. Coronary bypass is not always linked to coronary dissection, making intraoperative detection challenging. This underscores the importance of preoperative diagnostics, especially computer tomography. Full article

Background and Objectives: Postoperative neurological complications (NCs) are an important cause of mortality in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). The aim of the study was to determine the association between intraoperative risk factors and newly developed postoperative NCs in patients after emergency surgery for ATAAD. Materials and Methods: A total of 203 patients requiring emergency surgery were included in the study. Patients with preoperative neurological dysfunction, deceased on the operating table or within the first 48 h after intensive care admission, with uncertain postoperative neurologic status or with incomplete records were excluded. Results: Mean age was 57.61 ± 12.27 years. Hyperlipidemia was the most frequent comorbidity (69%). A bicuspid aortic valve was present in 12.8% of cases, severe acute aortic regurgitation was present in 29.1% of patients, and cardiac tamponade was present in 27.1% of cases. The innominate artery was the most frequently dissected supra-aortic artery in 27.1% of cases. In 65% of cases, the primary entry tear was at the level of the ascending aorta. The incidence of newly developed postoperative NCs was 39.4%. The most common surgical technique performed was supra-coronary ascending aorta and hemiarch replacement, in 53.2% of patients. Using logistic regression, cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.01–1.02; p < 0.001), aortic cross-clamp time over 3 h (OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 1.43–5.14, p = 0.002) and cerebral perfusion time (OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 1.002–1.03; p = 0.027) were independently associated with newly developed postoperative NCs. Conclusions: Based on the results of the study, all efforts should be made to reduce operative times. Using a simple surgical technique, like the supra-coronary ascending aorta and hemiarch technique, whenever possible, and using a simpler technique for cerebral perfusion like unilateral cerebral perfusion via the right axillary artery, could reduce operating times. Full article

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of mass transfusion on the postoperative outcome and survival in patients presenting with acute Type A aortic dissection. Materials and Methods: Between 2002 and 2020, a total of 505 patients were surgically treated for an acute Type A aortic dissection. Mass transfusion was defined as the peri- and postoperative replacement by transfusion of 10 units. Patient characteristics and outcomes were analyzed and compared between patients with and without mass transfusion. Results: Mass transfusion occurred in 105 patients (20%). The incidences of symptomatic coronary malperfusion (p = 0.017) and tamponade (p = 0.043) were higher in patients with mass transfusion. There was no statistically significant difference in the distal extension of the aortic dissection between the two groups. A valved conduit was significantly more common in patients with mass transfusion (p = 0.007), while the distal aortic repair was similar between the two groups. Cardiopulmonary bypass time (p < 0.001), cross clamp time (p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality were significantly higher in patients with mass transfusion (p < 0.001), but the survival after discharge (landmark-analysis) showed equal survival between patients with and without mass transfusion (log rank: p = 0.4). Mass transfusion was predictive of in-hospital mortality (OR: 3.308, p < 0.001) but not for survival after discharge (OR: 1.205, p = 0.661). Conclusions: Mass transfusion is necessary in many patients with acute Type A aortic dissection. These patients present sicker and require longer surgery. However, mass transfusion does not influence survival after discharge. Full article

Background: Our aim was to investigate outcomes and long-term survival in male and female patients after frozen elephant trunk (FET) total arch replacement. Methods: Between March 2013 and January 2023, 362 patients underwent aortic arch replacement via the FET technique. We compared patient characteristics and intra- and postoperative data between male and female patients. Results: Male patients were significantly younger (p = 0.012) but revealed a higher incidence of coronary artery disease (p = 0.008) and preoperative dialysis (p = 0.017). More male patients presented with type A aortic dissections (p = 0.042) while more female patients had aortic aneurysms (p = 0.025). The aortic root was replaced in significantly more male patients (p = 0.013), resulting in significantly longer cardiopulmonary bypass duration (p < 0.001) and operative times (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative outcome parameters including in-hospital mortality (p = 0.346). However, new in-stent thrombus formation was significantly more frequent in female patients (p = 0.002). Age in years (odds ratio (OR): 1.026, p = 0.049), an acute pathology (OR: 1.941, p = 0.031) and preoperative dialyses (OR: 3.499, p = 0.010) were predictive for long-term mortality in our Cox regression model, sex (p = 0.466) was not. There was no statistical difference in overall survival (log rank: p = 0.425). Conclusions: Female patients are older but reveal fewer cardiovascular risk factors; aneurysms are more common in female than male patients. As female patients undergo concomitant surgical procedures less often, their operative times are shorter. While survival and outcomes were similar, female patients suffered from postoperative new in-stent thrombus formation significantly more often. Full article

The optimal surgical strategy for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains unclear. The goal of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular protective effects of the myocardial priority (MP) strategy or traditional selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) in ATAAD with CAD. A total of 214 adults were analyzed retrospectively, of which 80 underwent the MP strategy intraoperatively. Seventy-nine pairs were propensity-score-matched and divided into SCP and MP groups. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 36 months. The MP group had a significantly shorter myocardial ischemic time, higher perfusion flow, higher radial artery pressure, and lower incidence of NIRS decrease >20% of the base value, but a longer lower limb circulatory arrest and bypass time than the SCP group. Although similar adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were observed in both groups, a shorter posthospital stay, less blood loss and transfusion, higher postoperative hemoglobin, lower creatinine, and higher PaO₂/FiO₂ were observed in the MP group. Subgroup analysis showed that when the TIMI Risk Score was <4, the MP group had a lower incidence of low cardiac output and lower postoperative cTnI level. The follow-up patients had similar morbidities between the two groups. The novel MP strategy is associated with a shortened myocardial ischemic time, better maintained perfusion of vital organs, and postoperative recovery after surgery for ATAAD combined with non-severe CAD. Full article

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) could be the cause of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and sudden cardiac death. Clinical presentations can vary considerably, but the most common is the elevation of cardiac biomarkers associated with chest discomfort. Different pathological etiology in comparison with Type 1 AMI is the underlying infarct size in this population. A 42-year-old previously healthy woman presented with SCAD. Detailed diagnostical processing and treatment which were performed could not prevent myocardial injury. The catheterization laboratory was the initial place for the establishment of a diagnosis and proper management. The management process can be very fast and sometimes additional imaging methods are necessary. Finding predictors of SCAD recurrence is challenging, as well as predictors of the resulting infarct scar size. Patients with recurrent clinical symptoms of chest pain, ST elevation, and complication represent a special group of interest. Therapeutic approaches for SCAD range from the ”watch and wait” method to complete revascularization with the implantation of one or more stents or aortocoronary bypass grafting. The infarct size could be balanced through the correct therapeutical approach, and, proper multimodality imaging would be helpful in the assessment of infarct size. Full article

Background: Coronary malperfusion (CM) secondary to acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is considered rare but has a high mortality rate. This study examined the incidence, management, and outcomes of patients with CM secondary to ATAAD and proposes a modified Neri classification. Methods: Between 2015 and 2020, out of 1018 patients who underwent surgical repair for ATAAD, 137 presented with CM, including 68 (49.6%), 43 (31.3%), and 15 (10.9%) with Neri types A, B, and C, respectively, and 11 (8.0%) with coronary orifice intimal tear (COIT), which we consider a novel category. Results: The occurrence rate of CM was 13.4%. CM was associated with higher in-hospital mortality (18.2% vs. 7.8%, p < 0.001). For Neri type A (98.5%) and most type B lesions (72.1%), coronary repair was adequate. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was necessary for type B patients unsuited for repair (23.2%) and for all type C patients (100%). Repair of COIT was possible (45.5%). The in-hospital mortality rates differed significantly among the four lesion groups (p = 0.006). Conclusions: The occurrence of CM secondary to ATAAD may be more frequent than previously reported. Surgical management based on lesion classification achieved acceptable outcomes. Repair was adequate for Neri type A and most type B lesions. Other type B and type C lesions could be treated by CABG. Coronary orifice intimal tear is a unique set of lesions, for which orifice repair was also possible. Full article

Composite graft replacement is an established surgical procedure that radically treats pathologies of the aortic root, especially when the aortic valve cannot be spared. We analysed the intraoperative details and the short-term outcome of a large consecutive series of patients operated on in a teaching tertiary institution. Out of 877 patients who received a composite graft during a 13-year period, we excluded all those who were operated on as an emergency because of a type A acute aortic dissection, those who underwent this procedure as a redo surgery and those who presented with a destructive endocarditis of the aortic root. Finally 622 patients with a mean age of 59.5 ± 12.5 years (range 16–85) were analysed. Of these, 423 patients (68%) were male, and the mean body mass index was 27.8 ± 4.3 kg/m2 (18.4–37.3). Annulo-aortic dilatation with or without aortic valve dysfunction was the most frequent indication (n = 448), bicuspid valve with aortic root and/or ascending aortic dilatation was found in 107 patients and typical aortic root dilatation in the presence of Marfan/Loeys-Dietz syndrome was found in 33 patients. A large majority of patients presented with moderate or severe aortic regurgitation (n = 409, 65%), and aortic stenosis was present in 164 patients (26.5%). Early mortality occurred in nine patients (1.4%). Causes of death were: low output syndrome in three patients, severe cerebrovascular complications in four and respiratory or multiorgan failure in one patient each. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that severely reduced left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] <0.35) (odds ratio [OR] 4.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7–12.2), aortic regurgitation grade IV (OR 6.35, 95% CI 1.8–17.8), new York Heart Association functional class III or IV (OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.5–7.4) and need for additional coronary artery bypass graft surgery (OR 4.25, 95% CI 1.6–11.3) were the independent risk factors for mortality as well as for early morbidity. Composite graft replacement is a standard procedure to treat different pathologies of the aortic root and is associated with a low perioperative risk. This justifies liberal indications in the case of a moderately dilated aortic root (4.5–5 cm) in younger patients (<60 years) and in those with a particular cardiovascular risk profile. Full article