Complicated and uncomplicated acute type B aortic dissection: is an endovascular solution the "Holy Grail"?

13-year single-center experience with the treatment of acute type B aortic dissection

Background. Acute type B aortic dissection (TBAD) is catastrophic event associated with significant mortality and lifelong morbidity. The optimal treatment strategy of TBAD is still controversial. Methods. This analysis includes patients treated for TBAD at the Helsinki University Hospital, Finland in 2007-2019. The endpoints were early and late mortality, and intervention of the aorta. Results. There were 205 consecutive TBAD patients, 59 complicated and 146 uncomplicated patients (mean age of 66 ± 14, females 27.8%). In-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were higher in complicated patients compared with uncomplicated patients with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.035 and p = 0.015, respectively). After a mean follow-up of 4.9 ± 3.8 years, 36 (25.0%) and 22 (37.9%) TBAD -related adverse events occurred in the uncomplicated and complicated groups, respectively (p = 0.066). Freedom from composite outcome was 83 ± 3% and 69 ± 6% at 1 year, 75 ± 4% and 63 ± 7% at 5 years, 70 ± 5% and 59 ± 7% at 10 years in the uncomplicated group and in the complicated group, respectively (p = 0.052). There were 25 (39.1%) TBAD-related deaths in the overall series and prior aortic aneurysm was the only risk factor for adverse aortic-related events in multivariate analysis (HR 3.46, 95% CI 1.72-6.96, p < 0.001). Conclusion. TBAD is associated with a significant risk of early and late adverse events. Such a risk tends to be lower among patients with uncomplicated dissection, still one fourth of them experience TBAD-related event. Recognition of risk factors in the uncomplicated group who may benefit from early aortic repair would be beneficial.