Contemporary outcomes of open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair in octogenarians.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate our contemporary outcomes with open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair in octogenarians to determine whether open TAAA repair is a viable option, with acceptable risk, in this elderly cohort. METHODS: We analyzed clinical data from 1267 enrolled patients who underwent open TAAA repair between 2003 and 2013. Eighty-eight patients (7%) were octogenarians (median age, 82 years; range, 80-92 years) and 1179 were 79 years of age or less. RESULTS: Aneurysm rupture was more common in octogenarians (14% vs 4.7%, P = .001), whereas aortic dissections predominated in younger patients (43.9% vs 13%, P < .001). Octogenarians had higher rates of visceral-branch endarterectomy/stenting (58% vs 33.5%, P < .001), adverse postoperative outcomes (36% vs 15.3%, P < .001), operative mortality (26% vs 6.9%, P < .001), and prolonged hospital stay (P = .004). Among octogenarians, preoperative aortic dissection was most commonly associated with extent I repair (42% vs <10% for other extents, P < .001). Extent II repairs most frequently necessitated concomitant visceral-branch procedures and carried the highest risk of mortality (62%). Extent I and III repairs carried intermediate operative risk, and extent IV repairs posed the least risk (11%). Multivariate modeling analysis identified extent II TAAA (P = .001; odds ratio, 11.6), presence of concomitant dissection (P = .02; odds ratio, 5.6), and aneurysm rupture (P = .02; odds ratio, 5.7) as independent predictors of operative mortality in octogenarians. CONCLUSIONS: Open extent II TAAA repair carries significant risk for octogenarians; extent I, III, and IV repairs incur more reasonable postoperative risk. Although TAAA repair should not be denied to octogenarians based solely on age, extensive TAAA repair should be performed with caution.

Valve-sparing aortic root replacement: early and midterm outcomes in 83 patients.

BACKGROUND: Valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSARR) is an alternative to traditional composite valve graft (CVG) root replacement. We examined early and midterm outcomes after VSARR. METHODS: A combined retrospective/prospective study was performed in 83 patients who underwent VSARR (16%) among 515 patients who underwent aortic root replacement during a nearly 12-year period. Thirty-six patients (43%) had a connective tissue disorder, 3 patients (4%) had acute aortic dissection, and 40 (48%) patients had at least moderate aortic regurgitation (AR). Twenty-eight patients (34%) had left ventricular hypertrophy or dilatation. The reimplantation VSARR technique was used in 82 patients (99%), and the Florida sleeve technique was used in 1 patient. Thirty-two patients (39%) underwent concomitant aortic arch replacement. For early survivors, the median duration of follow-up was 3.5 years (range, 5 days-12.2 years). RESULTS: One patient had severe AR after VSARR that necessitated intraoperative conversion to a mechanical CVG. The 1 operative death and 1 stroke occurred in a patient with acute dissection. Actuarial survival was 96.4%±2.0% at 2 years and 86.9%±5.6% at 8 years. Six patients (7%) had late valve-related complications: 1 died of endocarditis, 4 underwent reoperation for severe AR and received replacement valves, and 1 had severe AR and is being monitored. Freedom from repair failure (reoperation, endocarditis, or severe AR) was 94.8%±2.6% at 2 years and 87.3%±5.7% at 8 years. CONCLUSIONS: Valve-sparing aortic root replacement can have excellent early and respectable midterm outcomes, even when combined with arch repair. Further follow-up remains necessary to evaluate the long-term durability of VSARR.

Outcomes of open distal aortic aneurysm repair in patients with chronic DeBakey type I dissection.

OBJECTIVES: In patients with acute DeBakey type I dissection, endovascular repair of the descending thoracic aorta during proximal aortic repair is an increasingly popular approach to preventing distal aortic sequelae and subsequent repair. To better define the risks and outcomes associated with these secondary operations, we examined our contemporary experience with open distal aortic repair in patients with chronic type I aortic dissection. METHODS: Data were collected between January 2005 and June 2013 regarding 198 consecutive open descending thoracic (n = 27) or thoracoabdominal (n = 171) aortic repairs performed in patients with chronic type I dissection. The median interval between the dissection onset and the subsequent distal operation was 5.0 years (interquartile range, 2.4-10.5 years). A total of 110 repairs (56%) were performed in patients with genetic disorders. RESULTS: There were 14 early deaths (7%). Permanent paraplegia developed in 2 patients (1%), 5 patients (3%) had permanent stroke, and 9 patients (5%) had permanent renal failure. Factors associated with early death included greater age (P = .01), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = .01), clamping proximal to the left subclavian artery (P = .004), and use of hypothermic circulatory arrest (P = .002). The use of cold renal perfusion (P < .001) was associated with early survival. Early death was not associated with genetic disorders, emergency surgery, or extent of aortic repair. There were 36 late deaths, yielding an actuarial 8-year survival of 65.6% ± 5.9%. At 7 years, freedom from repair failure was 95.7% ± 1.7%, and freedom from subsequent repair for disease progression was 84.8% ± 4.6%. CONCLUSIONS: In survivors of DeBakey type I aortic dissection with distal aneurysm, open repair of the descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta can be performed with excellent early survival, acceptable morbidity, and relatively few late aortic events.

Results of open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Open surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAAs) enables the effective replacement of the diseased aortic segment and reliably prevents aneurysm rupture. However, these operations also carry substantial risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality, principally caused by the associated ischemic insult involving the spinal cord, kidneys, and other abdominal viscera. Here, we describe the early outcomes of a contemporary series of open TAAA repairs. METHODS: We reviewed the outcomes of 823 open TAAA repairs performed between January 2005 and May 2012. Of these, 209 (25.4%) were Crawford extent I repairs, 264 (32.1%) were extent II, 157 (19.1%) were extent III, and 193 (23.5%) were extent IV. Aortic dissection was present in 350 (42.5%) cases, and aneurysm rupture was present in 37 (4.5%). Adjuncts used during the procedures included cerebrospinal fluid drainage in 639 (77.6%) cases, left heart bypass in 430 (52.2%), and cold renal perfusion in 674 (81.9%). RESULTS: The composite endpoint, adverse outcome-defined as operative death, renal failure that necessitated dialysis at discharge, stroke, or permanent paraplegia or paraparesis-occurred after 131 (15.9%) procedures. There were 69 (8.4%) operative deaths. Permanent paraplegia or paraparesis occurred after 42 (5.1%) cases, stroke occurred after 27 (3.3%), and renal failure necessitating permanent dialysis occurred after 45 (5.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Although open surgical repair of the thoracoabdominal aorta can be life-saving to patients at risk for fatal aneurysm rupture, these operations remain challenging and are associated with substantial risk of early death and major complications. Additional improvements are needed to further reduce the risks associated with TAAA repair, particularly as increasing numbers of patients with advanced age and multiple or severe comorbidities present for treatment.

Open repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in the modern surgical era: contemporary outcomes in 509 patients.

BACKGROUND: Recent technologic advances in endovascular devices have led to alternative approaches to thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair; these innovative approaches must be compared with the "gold standard" of conventional open TAAA repair. To facilitate such comparisons, we evaluated contemporary outcomes of open TAAA repair. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed and analyzed data collected prospectively between May 2006 and October 2010 regarding 509 consecutive patients who underwent TAAA repair. Standard univariate statistical comparisons were performed, as well as multivariable modeling, to identify predictors of survival. RESULTS: A total of 305 patients (59.9%) had degenerative aneurysms without dissection, and 204 (40.1%) had aortic dissection. There were 104 (20.4%) urgent or emergent repairs and 26 (5.1%) ruptured aneurysms. Operative adjuncts were used selectively. Of the 290 patients (57.0%) who underwent extensive repairs (Crawford extents I and II), 282 (97.2%) had cerebrospinal fluid drainage, 257 (88.6%) had left heart bypass, and 213 (73.4%) had intercostal/lumbar artery reattachment. The overall operative survival rate was 92.1% (469 of 509), and survival was better after elective repairs (93.8% [380 of 405]) than after urgent or emergent operations (85.6% [89 of 104], p = 0.005). Renal failure necessitating hemodialysis at discharge developed in 30 patients (5.9%). Permanent paraplegia occurred in 13 patients (2.6%). Actuarial survival was 79.1% ± 2.0% at 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Contemporary open TAAA repair is characterized by respectable early outcomes, particularly when repair is elective. Such results should be compared with those of evolving approaches, including endovascular and hybrid repairs.