Extra-anatomic revascularization and a new cannulation strategy for preoperative cerebral malperfusion due to severe stenosis or occlusion of supra-aortic branch vessels in acute type A aortic dissection

Carotid artery dissection and neurological complications after surgery for type 1 aortic dissection

BACKGROUND

Data on the prognostic impact of type A aortic dissection involving the common carotid arteries (CCAs) are scarce.

METHODS

Data on the status of the CCAs were available in 1106 patients who underwent surgery for acute DeBakey type 1 aortic dissection who were recruited in a retrospective, multicentre European registry, that is, the ERTAAD. Postoperative neurological complications were defined as ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke and/or global brain ischaemia.

RESULTS

Patients without carotid artery dissection, those with unilateral or bilateral CCA dissection had in-hospital mortality rates of 19.5%, 16.9% (OR 1.006, 95% CI 0.614 to 1.647) and 27.3% (p<0.001, OR 1.719, 95% CI 1.086 to 2.722), respectively. Bilateral, but not unilateral, dissection of the CCAs increased the risk of neurological complications (40.0% vs 18.9%, OR 2.453, 95% CI 1.683 to 3.576). The negative prognostic effect of bilateral dissection of the CCAs was increased among patients without cerebral malperfusion who underwent surgery with the use of hypothermic circulatory arrest (28.7% vs 4.3%, p=0.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Bilateral, but not unilateral, dissection of the CCAs may increase the risk of neurological complications and in-hospital mortality after surgery for DeBakey type 1 aortic dissection.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04831073.

Short- and mid-term outcomes of the aortic root repair versus root replacement in acute type A aortic dissection

Background

In patients with acute acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) requiring emergency surgery, the use of aortic root repair or replacement remains a topic of controversy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early and mid-term clinical outcomes after aortic root repair or replacement, and to provide a theoretical basis for such patients.

Methods

The study included 442 consecutive patients with ATAAD who underwent aortic root repair [n=227, repair group (RG)] or the Bentall procedure [n=215, Bentall group (BG)] at our hospital between December 2018 and December 2021. The indications for aortic root replacement were aortic root sinus diameter of ≥4.5 cm, severe sinotubular junction involvement, unrepairable aortic valvulopathy, severe coronary ostium involvement, connective tissue disease, intimal tear at the aortic root, or dissection involving three aortic sinuses. The primary outcome was the survival rate and incidence of reoperation between the two groups.

Results

The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates in the RG and BG were 10.1% and 11.6%, respectively. The two groups had no significant difference (P=0.613). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that aortic root surgery did not influence the in-hospital or 30-day mortality rates. The mean follow-up time was 36.8±11.6 months (median, 33.4 months; interquartile range, 27.0-45.2 months). The 5-year survival rates for the RG and BG were 88.1% and 85.9%, respectively (P=0.650). During the follow-up period, only one patient in the BG group underwent proximal aortic reoperation.

Conclusions

Continuous improvement of aortic root repair technology and identification of its indications may help reduce reoperation rates. Aortic root repair can be considered safe and feasible.

Risk prediction of postoperative permanent stroke in acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis using brain CT perfusion

Rationale and objectives

To explore the feasibility and predictive utility for neurological outcomes of brain computed tomography perfusion (CTP) for surgically treated acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis.

Materials and methods

Consecutive acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis undergoing preoperative brain computed tomography perfusion and surgery at our center were examined in retrospect. Brain perfusion was assessed using parameters including cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, mean transmit time, time to maximum, penumbra volume and infarct core volume. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed to identify clinical and imaging predictors associated with postoperative permanent stroke.

Results

Out of 44 patients included, 19 patients (43.2 %) presented with postoperative permanent stroke. Univariable analysis revealed that internal carotid artery dissection, cerebral blood flow of the affected side, cerebral blood volume of the affected side, and penumbra volume were implicated in postoperative permanent stroke. Multivariable analysis further showed that cerebral blood flow of the affected side was an independent indicator of a permanent stroke following surgery (odds ratio: 0.820, 95 % confidence interval: 0.684-0.982; p = 0.012). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.867 (95 % confidence interval: 0.764-0.970), and the optimal cut-off value was 45.6mL/100 mL/min.

Conclusion

Cerebral blood flow of the affected side was an independent indicator of permanent stroke following surgery in acute type A aortic dissection patients with severe common carotid artery stenosis. Brain CTP could be a helpful modality for quantitative evaluation of cerebral malperfusion and neurological prognostication.

Two surgical strategies (early carotid reperfusion vs. Central aortic repair-first) of acute type a aortic dissection complicated with cerebral malperfusion syndrome: a meta-analysis and systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Cerebral malperfusion (CM) is a common comorbidity in acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD), which is associated with high mortality and poor neurological prognosis. This meta-analysis investigated the surgical strategy of ATAAD patients with CM, aiming to compare the difference in therapeutic effectiveness between the central repair-first and the early reperfusion-first according to clinical outcomes.

METHODS

The meta-analysis and systematic review was conducted based on studies sourced from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane literature database, in which cases of ATAAD with CM underwent surgical repair were included. Data for baseline characteristics, mortality, survival were extracted, and risk ratio (RR) values and the pooled mortality were calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 17 retrospective studies were analyzed, including 1010 cases of ATAAD with CM underwent surgical repair. The pooled early mortality in early reperfusion group was lower (8.1%; CI, 0.02 to 0.168) than that in the central repair group (16.2%; CI, 0.115 to 0.216). The pooled long-term mortality was 7.9% in the early reperfusion cohort and 17.4% the central repair-first cohort, without a statistically significant heterogeneity (I [2] = 51.271%; p = 0.056). The mean time of symptom-onset-to-the-operation-room in all the reports was 8.87 ± 12.3 h.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis suggested that early reperfusion-first may achieved better outcomes compared to central repair-first in ATAAD patients complicated with CM to some extent. Early operation and early restoration of cerebral perfusion may reduce the occurrence of some neurological complications.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The meta-analysis was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (No. CRD CRD42023475629) on Nov. 8th, 2023.

Cannulation Strategies in Type A Aortic Dissection: Overlooked Details and Novel Approaches

Aortic dissection type A is a life-threatening condition that frequently necessitates surgical intervention. This review focuses on central aortic cannulation, arch branch vessel (ABV) cannulation, and proximal arch cannulation as key techniques during aortic surgery. It discusses innovative solutions for addressing these challenges. The review synthesizes findings from recent studies and emphasizes the significance of meticulous planning and execution of cannulation in aortic dissection repair. This review aims to contribute to the advancement of surgical practices and the enhancement of patient outcomes in the management of type A aortic dissection (AAD) by addressing these frequently overlooked details.