Left ventricular free wall rupture caused by myocardial ischemia without treatable atherosclerotic coronary disease: a case series.

BACKGROUND: The clinical presentation of left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) varies ranging from uneventful condition to congestive heart failure. Here we report two cases of LVFWR with different clinical presentation and notable outcome. A 53-year-old male presenting emergently with signs of myocardial infarction received immediate coronary angiography and thoracic CT-scan showing occlusion of the first marginal coronary branch without possibility of revascularization and minimal pericardial extravasation. Under ICU surveillance, LVFWR occurred 24 h later and was treated by pericardiocentesis and ECMO support followed by immediate uncomplicated surgical repair. Postoperative therapy-refractory vasoplegia and electromechanical dissociation caused fulminant deterioration and the early death of the patient. The second case is a 76-year old male brought to the emergency room after sudden syncope, clinical sings of pericardial tamponade and suspicion of a type A acute aortic dissection. Immediate CT-angiography excluded aortic dissection and revealed massive pericardial effusion and a hypoperfused myocardial area on the territory of the first marginal branch. Immediate sternotomy under mechanical resuscitation enabled removal of the massive intrapericardial clot and revealed LVFWR. After an uncomplicated surgical repair, an uneventful postoperative course, the patient was discharged with sinus rhythm and good biventricular function. One year after the operation, he is living at home, symptom free. DISCUSSION: Whereas the younger patient, who was clinically stable at hospital admission received delayed surgery and did not survive treatment, the older patient, clinically unstable at presentation, went into immediate surgery and had a flawless postoperative course. Thus, early surgical repair of LVFWR leads to best outcome and treating LVFWR as a high emergency regardless of the symptoms improve survival.

Transesophageal Echocardiography-Guided Elephant Trunk Procedure for Repair of Descending Thoracic Aorta: A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: The elephant trunk procedure, an endovascular strategy for retrograde type A acute aortic dissection, is associated with several complications, hemolytic anemia being a rare one. We performed endovascular stent-graft insertion in a patient who developed hemolytic anemia. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) detected turbulent jet flow and stenosis position, which was not detected by angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). This imaging technique proved effective for malperfusion diagnosis and enabled us to confirm its resolution after the endovascular procedure. Intraoperative TEE is a useful adjunct to angiography and IVUS for diagnosis and therapeutic assessment during endovascular repair of a stenosed elephant trunk.

Short- and Long-term survival prediction in patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing open surgery.

BACKGROUND: Acute Type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease associated with high mortality rates, where surgical intervention remains the primary life-saving treatment. However, the mortality rate for ATAAD operations continues to be alarmingly high. To address this critical issue, our study aimed to assess the correlation between preoperative laboratory examination, clinical imaging data, and postoperative mortality in ATAAD patients. Additionally, we sought to establish a reliable prediction model for evaluating the risk of postoperative death. METHODS: In this study, a total of 384 patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) who were admitted to the emergency department for surgical treatment were included. Based on preoperative laboratory examination and clinical imaging data of ATAAD patients, logistic analysis was used to obtain independent risk factors for postoperative in-hospital death. The survival prediction model was based on cox regression analysis and displayed as a nomogram. RESULTS: Logistic analysis identified several independent risk factors for postoperative in-hospital death, including Marfan syndrome, previous cardiac surgery history, previous renal dialysis history, direct bilirubin, serum phosphorus, D-dimer, white blood cell, multiple aortic ruptures and age. A survival prediction model based on cox regression analysis was established and presented as a nomogram. The model exhibited good discrimination and significantly improved the prediction of death risk in ATAAD patients. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we developed a novel survival prediction model for acute type A aortic dissection based on preoperative clinical features. The model demonstrated good discriminatory power and improved accuracy in predicting the risk of death in ATAAD patients undergoing open surgery.

Performance of Intra-arrest Echocardiography: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Intra-arrest transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) have been introduced in adult patients with cardiac arrest (CA). Whether the diagnostic performance of TTE or TEE is superior during resuscitation is unclear. We conducted a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines. Methods: We searched databases from PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar and evaluated articles with intra-arrest TTE and TEE in adult patients with non-traumatic CA. Two authors independently screened and selected articles for inclusion; they then dual-extracted study characteristics and target conditions (pericardial effusion, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, hypovolemia, left ventricular dysfunction, and sonographic cardiac activity). We performed quality assessment using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies Version 2 criteria. Results: A total of 27 studies were included: 14 studies with 2,145 patients assessed TTE; and 16 with 556 patients assessed TEE. A high risk of bias or applicability concerns in at least one domain was present in 20 studies (74%). Both TTE and TEE found positive findings in nearly one-half of the patients. The etiology of CA was identified in 13% (271/2,145), and intervention was performed in 38% (102/271) of patients in the TTE group. In patients who received TEE, the etiology was identified in 43% (239/556), and intervention was performed in 28% (68/239). In the TEE group, a higher incidence regarding the etiology of CA was observed, particularly for those with aortic dissection. However, the outcome of those with aortic dissection in the TEE group was poor. Conclusion: While TEE could identify more causes of CA than TTE, sonographic cardiac activity was reported much more in the TTE group. The impact of TTE and TEE on the return of spontaneous circulation and further survival was still inconclusive in the current dataset.

Safety and efficacy of ketorolac in improving the prognosis of acute type A aortic dissection patients: a protocol of a randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Acute type A aortic dissection (aTAAD) is a critical and life-threatening condition. Previous research has demonstrated that the use of ketorolac not only reduces the progression, incidence, and severity of aortic aneurysms in animal models, but also decreases postoperative mortality and complications in patients undergoing open abdominal aortic aneurysm replacement. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the efficacy of ketorolac in treating aTAAD in humans. Therefore, we conducted a study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ketorolac in patients with aTAAD. Our hypothesis was that ketorolac treatment for aTAAD patients would meet safety indicators and effectively improve patient prognosis. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a single-center, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled study. A total of 120 patients with aTAAD will be recruited and will be randomized into the ketorolac group and placebo group with a ratio of 1:1. Ketorolac tromethamine 60 mg per 2 ml will be intramuscularly injected within 2 h before surgery, followed by intramuscular injections of 30 mg per 1 ml BID. on the first and second postoperative days in the Ketorolac group, while 0.9% saline will be administered at the same dose, dosage form, and time in the placebo group. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ketorolac in improving the prognosis of aTAAD. The primary endpoint is the composite endpoint event concerning drug-related adverse events. Secondary endpoints include drug-related adverse events, laboratory examination of blood, diagnostic imaging tests, clinical biomarkers, etc. DISCUSSION: This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical College (approval number: 2023-197-02). This study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ketorolac in patients with aTAAD. All participating patients will sign an informed consent form, and the trial results will be published in international peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( http://www.chictr.org.cn ) ChiCTR2300074394. Registered on 4 October 2023.

Delayed surgery for acute type A aortic dissection: a retrospective review of an alternative surgical strategy in the COVID-19 era.

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, medical resources have often been limited to emergency surgeries. This study aimed to evaluate our experience with delayed surgery for acute type A aortic dissections (ATAADs). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 33 patients who underwent surgery for ATAADs between January 2020 and December 2021. The patients were divided into two groups: patients treated within 12 h of arrival (E group; N = 21) and those treated > 12 h after arrival (D group; N = 12) with strict antihypertensive therapy until surgery. RESULTS: The plasma fibrinogen levels on arrival were lower in the D group than in the E group (174.3 ± 109.1 vs 293.4 ± 165.4, p = 0.038). The time to surgery from symptom onset was longer in the D group than in the E group (4 ± 1 h vs. 86 ± 108 h, p < 0.001). There was one case (3%) of mortality and seven cases (21%) of cerebral infarctions in the E group. There was no significant difference in the intraoperative data and quantity of blood transfused between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Thus, delayed surgery for ATAAD with appropriate preoperative management may be an alternative surgical strategy in the COVID-19 era.

Assessing the impact of tear direction in coronary artery dissection on thrombosis development: A hemodynamic computational study.

OBJECTIVE: Iatrogenic coronary artery dissection is a complication of coronary intimal injury and dissection due to improper catheter manipulation. The impact of tear direction on the prognosis of coronary artery dissection (CAD) remains unclear. This study examines the hemodynamic effects of different tear directions (transverse and longitudinal) of CAD and evaluates the risk of thrombosis, rupture and further dilatation of CAD. METHODS: Two types of CAD models (Type I: transverse tear, Type II: longitudinal tear) were reconstructed from the aorto-coronary CTA dataset of 8 healthy cases. Four WSS-based indicators were analyzed, including time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), relative residence time (RRT), and cross flow index (CFI). A thrombus growth model was also introduced to predict the trend of thrombus growth in CAD with two different tear directions. RESULTS: For most of the WSS-based indicators, including TAWSS, RRT, and CFI, no statistically significant differences were observed across the CAD models with varying tear directions, except for OSI, where a significant difference was noted (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, in terms of thrombus growth, the thrombus growing at the tear of the Type I (transverse tear) CAD model extended into the true lumen earlier than that of the Type II (longitudinal tear) model. CONCLUSIONS: Numerical simulations suggest that: (1) The CAD with transverse tear have a high risk of further tearing of the dissection at the distal end of the tear. (2) The CAD with longitudinal tear create a hemodynamic environment characterized by low TAWSS and high OSI in the false lumen, which may additionally increase the risk of vessel wall injury. (3) The CAD with transverse tear may have a higher risk of thrombosis and coronary obstruction and myocardial ischemia in the early phase of the dissection.

Air Pollutants and Mortality Risk in Patients with Aortic Dissection: Evidence from a Clinical Cohort, Single-Cell Sequencing, and Proteomics.

We aimed to evaluate the association between air pollutants and mortality risk in patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD) in a longitudinal cohort and to explore the potential mechanisms of adverse prognosis induced by fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Air pollutants data, including PM2.5, PM10.0, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3), were collected from official monitoring stations, and multivariable Cox regression models were applied. Single-cell sequencing and proteomics of aortic tissue were conducted to explore the potential mechanisms. In total, 1,267 patients with AAD were included. Exposure to higher concentrations of air pollutants was independently associated with an increased mortality risk. The high-PM2.5 group carried approximately 2 times increased mortality risk. There were linear associations of PM10, NO2, CO, and SO2 exposures with long-term mortality risk. Single-cell sequencing revealed an increase in mast cells in aortic tissue in the high-PM2.5 exposure group. Enrichment analysis of the differentially expressed genes identified the inflammatory response as one of the main pathways, with IL-17 and TNF signaling pathways being among the top pathways. Analysis of proteomics also identified these pathways. This study suggests that exposure to higher PM2.5, PM10, NO2, CO, and SO2 are associated with increased mortality risk in patients with AAD. PM2.5-related activation and degranulation of mast cells may be involved in this process.

A challenging case of emergency redo surgery for acute type A aortic dissecting aneurysm of ascending and aortic arch with frozen elephant trunk following aortic root replacement.

Redo ascending and aortic arch surgeries following previous cardiac or aortic surgery are associated with high risk of morbidity and mortality due to multiple factors included sternal re-entry injury, extensive aortic arch surgery, emergency aortic surgery, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass duration, poor heart function, and patients with older age. Therefore, appropriate surgical strategies are important. We report a case of a 72-year-old gentleman with previous surgery of aortic root replacement who presented with acute Type A aortic dissecting aneurysm of ascending and aortic arch complicated with left hemothorax, which was successfully treated by emergency redo aortic surgery with frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique.

Initial Triage and Management of Patients with Acute Aortic Syndromes.

The acute aortic syndromes (AAS) are life-threatening vascular compromises within the aortic wall. These include aortic dissection (AD), intramural hematoma (IMH), penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU), and blunt traumatic thoracic aortic injury (BTTAI). While patients classically present with chest pain, the presentation may be highly variable. Timely diagnosis is critical to initiate definitive treatment and maximize chances of survival. In high-risk patients, treatment should begin immediately, even while diagnostic evaluation proceeds. The mainstay of medical therapy is acute reduction of heart rate and blood pressure. Surgical intervention is often required but is informed by patient anatomy and extent of vascular compromise.

Experience with aortic arch inclusion technique using artificial blood vessel for type A aortic dissection: an application study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to elucidate the methodology and assess the efficacy of the aortic arch inclusion technique using an artificial blood vessel in managing acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 18 patients (11 males and 7 females, average age: 56.2 ± 8.6 years) diagnosed with ATAAD who underwent total aortic arch replacement (TAAR) using an artificial vascular "inclusion" between June 2020 and October 2022. During the operation, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) of the right axillary artery were employed for brain protection. The 'inclusion' total aortic arch replacement and stented elephant trunk (SET) surgery were performed. RESULTS: Four patients underwent the Bentall procedure during the study, with one additional patient requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) due to significant involvement of the right coronary orifice. Three patients died during postoperative hospitalization. Other notable complications included two cases of postoperative renal failure necessitating continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), one case of postoperative double lower limb paraplegia, and one case of cerebral infarction resulting in unilateral impairment of the left upper limb. Eleven patients underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) examinations of the aorta three months to one-year post-operation. The CTA results revealed thrombosis in the false lumen surrounding the aortic arch stent in seven patients and complete thrombosis of the false lumen around the descending aortic stent in eight patients. One patient had partial thrombosis of the false lumen around the descending aortic stent, and another patient's false lumen in the thoracic and abdominal aorta completely resolved after one year of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating vascular graft in aortic arch replacement simplifies the procedure and yields promising short-term outcomes. It achieves the aim of total arch replacement using a four-branch prosthetic graft. However, extensive sampling and thorough, prolonged follow-up observations are essential to fully evaluate the long-term results.

A visceral organ function-focused therapeutic strategy using a 6-hour time window for patients with acute type a aortic dissection complicated by mesenteric malperfusion.

BACKGROUND: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) complicated by mesenteric malperfusion is a critical and complicated condition. The optimal treatment strategy remains controversial, debate exists as to whether aortic dissection or mesenteric malperfusion should be addressed first, and the exact time window for mesenteric ischemia intervention is still unclear. To solve this problem, we developed a new concept based on the pathophysiological mechanism of mesenteric ischemia, using a 6-hour time window to divide newly admitted patients by the time from onset to admission, applying different treatment protocols to improve the clinical outcomes of patients with ATAAD complicated by mesenteric malperfusion. METHODS: This was a retrospective study that covered a five-year period. From July 2018 to December 2020(phase I), all patients underwent emergency open surgery. From January 2021 to June 2023(phase II), patients with an onset within 6 h all underwent open surgical repair, followed by immediately postoperative examination if the malperfusion is suspected, while the restoration of mesenteric perfusion and visceral organ function was performed first, followed by open repair, in patients with an onset beyond 6 h. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in baseline and surgical data. In phase I, eleven patients with mesenteric malperfusion underwent open surgery, while in phase II, our novel strategy was applied, with sixteen patients with an onset greater than 6 h and eleven patients with an onset less than 6 h. During the waiting period, none died of aortic rupture, but four patients died of organ failure, twelve patients had organ function improvement and underwent surgery successfully survived. The overall mortality rate decreased with the use of this novel strategy (54.55% vs. 18.52%, p = 0.047). Furthermore, the surgical mortality rate between the two periods showed even stronger statistical significance (54.55% vs. 4.35%, p = 0.022). Moreover, the proportions of patients with sepsis and multiorgan failure also showed differences. CONCLUSIONS: Our novel strategy for patients with ATAAD complicated by mesenteric malperfusion not only improves the surgical success rate but also reduces the overall mortality rate.

Type A aortic dissection after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

BACKGROUND Aortic dissection is rare after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). It is a potentially fatal complication of cardiac surgery. Reoperation may pose problems with thoracotomy, adhesiolysis, and myocardial protection. No standard treatment guidelines exist for chronic aortic dissection after CABG. We present a case of chronic type A aortic dissection after cardiac surgery, which was successfully treated. CASE REPORT A 65-year-old female patient presented with a medical background of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia.No connective tissue disorders were diagnosed. The aortic valve was tricuspid. Three years ago, she had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting involving four branches at a different medical facility. She was complaining of chest pain weeks after bypass surgery, which gradually increased. Aortic dissection was observed in the latest contrast-enhanced CT scan. Beginning from just above the sinotubular junction and reaching below the brachiocephalic trunk.  Two grafts from the saphenous vein were patent, and one was lying just below the sternum. Cardiopulmonary support was initiated by cannulating the right femoral artery and vein. An opening in the ascending aorta exposed an intimal tear near the proximal anastomosis of the two great saphenous vein grafts. Antegrad Del-Nido cardioplegia was given through native ostia and functional bypass grafts. Proximal and then distal anastomosis of graft prosthesis was performed. A new venous graft was anastomosed to the apical part of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). This saphenous vein and the buttons of the two previous vein grafts were anastomosed to the prosthesis. The patient was successfully liberated from the heart-lung machine and exhibited favorable cardiac function in the postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS We can conclude that initial peripheral cannulation with a half dose of heparin provides a relatively bloodless and secure re-entry sternotomy. Del-Nido cardioplegia is easy to implement, safe, and gives surgeons enough time without interruptions to perform complex procedures fluently.  .

Predicting adverse events after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for patients with type B aortic dissection.

The potential of adverse events (AEs) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with type B aortic dissection (TBAD) has been reported. To avoid the occurrence of AEs, it is important to recognize high-risk population for prevention in advance. The data of 261 patients with TBAD who received TEVAR between June 2017 and June 2021 at our medical center were retrospectively reviewed. After the implementation of exclusion criteria, 172 patients were finally included, and after 2.8 years (range from 1 day to 5.8 years) of follow up, they were divided into AEs (n = 41) and non-AEs (n = 131) groups. We identified the predictors of AEs, and a prediction model was constructed to calculate the specific risk of postoperative AEs at 1, 2, and 3 years, and to stratify patients into high-risk (n = 78) and low-risk (n = 94) group. The prediction model included seven predictors: Age > 75 years, Lower extremity malperfusion (LEM), NT-proBNP > 330 pg/ml, None distal tear, the ratio between the diameter of the ascending aorta and descending aorta (A/D ratio) > 1.2, the ratio of the area of the false lumen to the total aorta (FL ratio) > 64%, and acute TEVAR, which exhibited excellent predictive accuracy performance and discriminatory ability with C statistic of 82.3% (95% CI 77.3-89.2%). The prediction model was contributed to identify high-risk patients of postoperative AEs, which may serve to achievement of personalized treatment and follow-up plans for patients.

Relative band power in assessing temporary neurological dysfunction post- type A aortic dissection surgery: a prospective study.

Temporary neurological dysfunction (TND), a common complication following surgical repair of Type A Aortic Dissection (TAAD), is closely associated with increased mortality and long-term cognitive impairment. Currently, effective treatment options for TND remain elusive. Therefore, we sought to investigate the potential of postoperative relative band power (RBP) in predicting the occurrence of postoperative TND, with the aim of identifying high-risk patients prior to the onset of TND. We conducted a prospective observational study between February and December 2022, involving 165 patients who underwent surgical repair for TAAD at our institution. Bedside Quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) was utilized to monitor the post-operative brain electrical activity of each participant, recording changes in RBP (RBP Delta, RBP Theta, RBP Beta and RBP Alpha), and analyzing their correlation with TND. Univariate and multivariate analyses were employed to identify independent risk factors for TND. Subsequently, line graphs were generated to estimate the incidence of TND. The primary outcome of interest was the development of TND, while secondary outcomes included intensive care unit (ICU) admission and length of hospital stay. A total of 165 patients were included in the study, among whom 68 (41.2%) experienced TND. To further investigate the independent risk factors for postoperative TND, we conducted both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses on all variables. In the univariate regression analysis, we identified age (Odds Ratio [OR], 1.025; 95% CI, 1.002-1.049), age ≥ 60 years (OR, 2.588; 95% CI, 1.250-5.475), hemopericardium (OR, 2.767; 95% CI, 1.150-7.009), cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (OR, 1.007; 95% CI, 1.001-1.014), RBP Delta (OR, 1.047; 95% CI, 1.020-1.077), RBP Alpha (OR, 0.853; 95% CI, 0.794-0.907), and Beta (OR, 0.755; 95% CI, 0.649-0.855) as independent risk factors for postoperative TND. Further multivariate regression analyses, we discovered that CPB time ≥ 180 min (OR, 1.021; 95% CI, 1.011-1.032), RBP Delta (OR, 1.168; 95% CI, 1.105-1.245), and RBP Theta (OR, 1.227; 95% CI, 1.135-1.342) emerged as independent risk factors. TND patients had significantly longer ICU stays (p < 0.001), and hospital stays (p = 0.002). We obtained the simplest predictive model for TND, consisting of three variables (CPB time ≥ 180 min, RBP Delta, RBP Theta, upon which we constructed column charts. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) were 0.821 (0.755, 0.887). Our study demonstrates that postoperative RBP monitoring can detect changes in brain function in patients with TAAD during the perioperative period, providing clinicians with an effective predictive method that can help improve postoperative TND in TAAD patients. These findings have important implications for improving clinical care in this population.Trial registration ChiCTR2200055980. Registered 30th Jan. 2022. This trial was registered before the first participant was enrolled.

Postoperative Prognostic Nutritional Index and Fibrinogen Could Well Predict Poor Prognosis of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Patients After Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Inflammatory and immunological factors play pivotal roles in the prognosis of acute type A aortic dissection. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic values of immune-inflammatory parameters in acute type A aortic dissection patients after surgery. METHODS: A total of 127 acute type A aortic dissection patients were included. Perioperative clinical data were collected through the hospital's information system. The outcomes studied were delayed extubation, reintubation, and 30-day mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic analysis were used to screen the risk factors of poor prognosis. RESULTS: Of all participants, 94 were male, and mean age was 51.95±11.89 years. The postoperative prognostic nutritional indexes were lower in delayed extubation patients, reintubation patients, and patients who died within 30 days. After multivariate regression analysis, the postoperative prognostic nutritional index was a protective parameter of poor prognosis. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of postoperative prognostic nutritional index were 0.898 (0.815, 0.989) for delayed extubation and 0.792 (0.696, 0.901) for 30-day mortality. Low postoperative fibrinogen could also well predict poor clinical outcomes. The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of postoperative fibrinogen were 0.487 (0.291, 0.813) for delayed extubation, 0.292 (0.124, 0.687) for reintubation, and 0.249 (0.093, 0.669) for 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: Postoperative prognostic nutritional index and postoperative fibrinogen could be two promising markers to identify poor prognosis of acute type A aortic dissection patients after surgery.

Thoraflex Hybrid Prosthesis (THP): the profile.

INTRODUCTION: With the incidence of thoracic aortic disease on the rise, total arch replacement (TAR) with frozen elephant trunk (FET) remains the gold-standard management strategy due to optimal results. Several FET devices exist commercially on the global market. However, the mainstay and most commonly used and reported device is the Thoraflex Hybrid Prosthesis (THP), with several recent reports suggesting its superiority. AREAS COVERED: This review aims to collate and summarize the evidence in the literature on the clinical outcomes of TAR with FET using THP, with a focus on mortality, neurological complications, endoleak, distal stent-induced new entry (dSINE), aortic remodeling, coagulopathy, and graft kinking. In addition, the design features of THP is discussed, and an overview of market competitors is also highlighted. EXPERT OPINION: THP consistently demonstrates its effectiveness in treating complex thoracic aortic pathology through favorable clinical outcomes, which can be attributed to its unique and innovative design. Rates of early mortality ranged 0.6-14.2%, neurological complications 0-25%, endoleak 0-8.4% and dSINE 0-14.5%, with minimal incidence of graft kinking and coagulopathy. Aortic remodeling is favorable and comparable to competitors. All this evidence solidifies THP as the leading FET device, particularly when combined with appropriate patient selection and surgical planning.

[Aortic Remodeling in Uncomplicated Stanford Type B Aortic Dissection Stratified by The Timing of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair:A Retrospective Cohort Study].

PURPOSE: We investigated the relationship between aortic remodeling and timing of thoracic endovascular aortic repair( TEVAR) in patients with uncomplicated Stanford type B aortic dissection. METHODS: 29 patients with sub-acute and early chronic uncomplicated Stanford type B aortic dissection underwent TEVAR between February 2019 and August 2022 in our hospital. We retrospectively compared aortic remodeling between 19 patients in the sub-acute( SA) group( 15-90 days from onset) and 10 patients in the early chronic( ECh) group( 91-365 days from onset) using the false luminal area reduction rate using computed tomography imagings. RESULTS: The false lumen area reduction rates at the level of the carina in the SA and ECh groups were 21.9±13.5% and 7.0±21.2% (p=0.04) around 3-8 days after TEVAR, 91.8±13.8% and 62.6±48.4 % (p=0.26) at 6 months, 96.6±7.2% and 68.7±42.5% (p=0.14) at 12 months, and 96.2±10.0% and 79.2±37.6% (p=0.62) at 18 months respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding any complication. CONCLUSION: Preemptive TEVAR for sub-acute and early chronic uncomplicated Stanford type B aortic dissection resulted in good remodeling and it may provide a good prognosis, especially in the subacute stage.

Hybrid surgery of vertebral artery transposition combined with scallop and fenestration technique for the repair of type B aortic dissection patient with isolated left vertebral artery: A case report.

RATIONALE: Acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) is a fatal cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality. Isolated left vertebral artery (ILVA) is a rare aortic arch mutation originating from the aortic arch. The simultaneous occurrence of both increases the complexity and difficulty of thoracic endovascular aortic repair. However, there have been few reports on the recommendation of thoracic endovascular aortic repair treatment strategies for aortic dissection patients concomitant ILVA with insufficient landing zone. Here, we report a case of ABAD combined with ILVA treated with hybrid surgery of left vertebral artery transposition alliance with Scallop and in vivo fenestration endograft. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 38-year-old middle-aged man was transferred to our vascular department with persistent pain in his lower abdomen for 8 hours. DIAGNOSES: Preoperative computed tomography angiogram of the thoracic and abdominal aorta diagnosed with ABAD accompanied with ILVA. INTERVENTIONS: Hybrid surgery of left vertebral artery transposition alliance with Scallop and in situ fenestration endograft for revascularization of ILVA, left subclavian artery, and left common carotid artery. OUTCOMES: The hybridization operation was successfully completed. There were no complications of cerebral and spinal cord ischemia after operation. Computed tomography angiogram examination indicated no internal leakage existed in the stent and patency of the arch vessels and the transposed left vertebral artery follow-up 3 months after surgery. LESSONS: This study gave us experience in the treatment of aortic dissection with left vertebral artery variation and suggested that left vertebral artery transposition combined with scallop and in vivo fenestration stent is safe and effective.

Risk factors for long-term mortality after acute aortic dissection-results of the German registry for acute aortic dissection type a long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: Several short-term analyses from German Registry for Acute Aortic Dissection Type A (GERAADA) have been published. This study investigated whether short-term risk factors are transferable to the long-term prognosis of patients. METHODS: Thirty-three centres with 2686 patients participated in the long-term follow-up. A total of 1164 patients died, 1063 survived and 459 were lost to follow-up during the follow-up timeframe (mean duration: 10.2 years). Long-term mortality of the cohort was compared with an age-stratified, German population. RESULTS: One, 5 and 10 years after initial surgery, the survival of the GERAADA patient cohort was 71.4%, 63.4% and 51%, respectively. Without the early deaths (90-day mortality 25.4%), survival was calculated after 1, 5 and 10 years: 95.6%, 83.5% and 68.3%. Higher age, longer extracorporeal circulation time, shorter perioperative ventilation time and postoperative neurologic deficits were predictive of long-term prognosis. In an age-divided landmark analysis, the mortality of aortic dissection surgery survivors was found to be similar to that of the general German population. If patients are sorted in risk groups according to the GERAADA score, long-term survival differs between the risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: If patients have survived an acute postoperative period of 90 days, life expectancy comparable to that of the general German population can be assumed in lower- and medium-risk patients. Whether the GERAADA score can provide valuable insights into the long-term prognosis of patients undergoing surgery for acute aortic dissection type A is still unclear.