Safety and arch complications after hemiarch versus total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk in acute type 1 dissection: Is a stent graft always beneficial?

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to determine the efficacy of total arch replacement with stented elephant trunk by comparing it with hemiarch replacement with and without open stent graft for acute aortic dissection type 1.

METHODS

We reviewed records of 177 patients who underwent hemiarch replacement (HAR group) (concomitant open stent, 125) and 98 patients who underwent total arch replacement (TAR group) (concomitant stented elephant trunk, 91) for acute type 1 dissection. Compared with the TAR group, the HAR group was older (68.1 vs 60.9 years; P < .01) and had more thrombosed false lumen (28.8% vs 4.1%, P < .01).

RESULTS

In-hospital death occurred for 7 patients in the HAR group and 1 patient in the TAR group (P = .17). More patients in the TAR group had a postoperative thrombosed false lumen, compared with the HAR group (68% vs 54%, P = .03). In patients with preoperative nonthrombosed false lumen in the HAR group, the rate of postoperative thrombosis was significantly lower than with versus without an open stent (31% vs 65%, P = .01). The rate of freedom from an aortic arch event in the TAR group at 5 years was significantly greater than that in the HAR group (100% vs 83.7%, P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Stented elephant trunk with TAR provided a high rate of false lumen thrombosis and a low incidence of arch events, whereas an open stent during HAR was not beneficial in terms of false lumen thrombosis and arch event prevention.

Arch replacement with collared elephant trunks: The Siena approach

Objective

To illustrate our experience and results in patients with diffuse aneurysmal disease treated with arch replacement using the Siena collared graft, a device designed in 2002 to improve the elephant trunk technique. Results of the first step surgical implant and the subsequent treatment strategies, with extensive use of endovascular techniques, are reported.

Methods

All aortic arch–replacement procedures using the Siena graft between February 2002 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed for early and late clinical outcomes.

Results

Of 146 patients (54 women, 36.9%) with a median age of 69.1 years (interquartile range 58.4-75.0 years), 55 (37.6%) had acute/chronic dissection with false lumen aneurysmal dilatation, 91 (62.3%) had degenerative aneurysms, 45 (30.8%) were redo operations, and 14 (9.5%) had connective tissue disease. First-stage outcomes: 10.9% 30-day mortality (n = 16); 5.4% stroke (n = 8, 6 disabling, 2 nondisabling; 3 fatal); and 0.6% paraplegia. Outcomes for 113 second-stage procedures (77.3%, n = 97 endovascular [66.4%], n = 16 surgical [10.9%]) were 5.3% and 8.8% 30-day and 180-day mortality; no stroke; 10.6% paraplegia. Median follow-up was 5.7 years (range: 0-18.02 years) median survival was 16.65 years (95% lower confidence limit, 10.06 years) with no significant difference between aneurysm and dissection patients. Freedom from further treatment was 87.0% (95% confidence interval, 79.9%-94.7%) at 5 years and 71.4% (95% confidence interval, 71.4%-84.7%) at 10 years; median time to reintervention was 2.59 years (interquartile range, 0.52-5.20 years) with no difference (P = .22) between dissection and aneurysm groups.

Conclusions

Siena collared graft represents a reliable platform for the treatment of diffuse aneurysmal disease. This device offers the flexibility required in the treatment of extended aortic lesions and guarantees the choice of the most appropriate approach for treatment completion. In this context, the availability of hybrid grafts has not modified the role of this device in arch surgery.