ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that preoperative computed tomography (CT) is a predictor of abdominal intervention for visceral malperfusion and stroke after emergent surgery for acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD). METHODS: A total of 90 patients, mean (± SD [standard deviation]) age 62 (± 12) years, 76% males, undergoing emergent surgery for AAAD at our institution from May 2008 to August 2013 were included. All clinical data were collected prospectively and correlated to CT images. RESULTS: At initial presentation 9 (10%) patients showed preoperative focal neurologic deficit or coma, 10 patients (11%) complained of abdominal pain, and the logistic EuroSCORE was 44 (± 22). Hemiarch replacement was performed in 96%, total arch in 4%. The duration of hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) at 28°C bladder temperature was 26 (± 19) minutes. Cross-clamp time was 88 (± 39) minutes, and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time 148 (± 49) minutes. Overall 30-day mortality was 13%. Moreover, 12 (13%) patients required postoperative abdominal interventions for suspected visceral malperfusion; stroke occurred in 25 (28%) patients. Logistic regression revealed that "dissection of the celiac trunk and/or the superior mesenteric artery" in preoperative CT images is a predictor of postoperative abdominal interventions for visceral malperfusion (p = 0.03), but preoperative abdominal pain is not similarly predictive. Postoperative stroke is best predicted by preoperative neurologic symptoms (p = 0.01), but not by supra-aortic vessel dissection in preoperative CT images. CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing surgery for AAAD, analysis of preoperative CT images allows identifying those with a high risk of postoperative abdominal intervention for visceral malperfusion. Postoperative stroke is best predicted by preoperative neurologic symptoms.