Rapid Response in Type A Aortic Dissection: Is There a Decisive Time Interval for Surgical Repair?

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective was to evaluate whether there is a decisive time interval for patients to undergo surgery and to analyze if a rapid response in acute aortic dissection type A (AADA) affects patient selection. METHODS: In 283 patients undergoing surgery for AADA, median time from onset of initial symptoms to skin incision was 6.9 hours (interquartile range [IQR], 5.0-11.7 hours). Patients were divided into three groups according to median time point of surgery (median ± 3 hours, i.e., 4-10; < 4; and >10 hours). RESULTS: Almost 50% of patients presented in a critical preoperative state at hospital admission. Subanalysis identified patients being operated within 4 hours as an exclusive high-risk cohort (higher rates of preoperative neurologic dysfunction, tamponade, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Patients undergoing surgery between 4 and 10 hours showed a significantly better long-term survival (p = 0.021). Surgery within this time interval had a clear protective effect on 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.448. 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.219-0.915). High age (OR: 1.037; 95% CI: 1.008-1.067), preoperative malperfusion syndrome (OR: 2.802; 95% CI: 1.351-5.811), and preoperative tamponade (OR: 2.621; 95% CI: 1.171-5.866) were factors predicting 30-day mortality. CONCLUSION: Rapid response in AADA interacts with the natural course of the disease resulting in an overrepresentation of critical patients. While the cohort below 4 hours represents the high-risk patients, time from symptom onset to initiation of surgery should not exceed 10 hours.

Analysis of factors affecting outcome in acute type A aortic dissection complicated by preoperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) aggravates the pre-existing dismal prognosis of patients suffering from acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD). We aimed to identify factors affecting survival and outcome in ATAAD patients requiring CPR at presentation at 2 European aortic centres. METHODS: Data on 112 surgical candidates and undergoing preoperative CPR were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to 30-day mortality. A multivariable model identified predictors for 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Preoperative death occurred in 23 patients (20.5%). In the remaining 89 surgical patients (79.5%) circulatory arrest time (41 ± 20 min in 30-day non-survivors vs 30 ± 13 min in 30-day survivor, P = 0.003) as well as cardiopulmonary bypass time (320 ± 132 min in 30-day non-survivors vs 252 ± 140 min in 30-day survivor, P = 0.020) time was significantly longer in patients with worse outcome. Thirty-day mortality of the total cohort was 61.6% (n = 69) with cardiac failure in 48% and aortic rupture or haemorrhagic shock (28%) as predominant reasons of death. Age [odds ratio (OR) 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.09, P = 0.034], preoperative coronary (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.34-9.26, p = 0.012) and spinal malperfusion (OR 12.49, 95% CI 1.83-225.02, P = 0.028) emerged as independent predictors for 30-day mortality while CPR due to tamponade was associated with improved early survival (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.091-0.81, P = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of underlying cause for CPR is mandatory. Pericardial tamponade, rapidly resolved with pericardial drainage, is a predictor for improved survival, while age and presence of coronary and spinal malperfusion are associated with dismal outcome in this high-risk patient group.

Type A aortic dissection is more aggressive in women.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate gender differences in the pre- and postoperative course in patients with acute aortic dissection type A. METHODS: Of all patients undergoing surgery from 2000 to 2020, data on symptoms at presentation, operative strategy and postoperative course were analyzed. Long-term follow-up was obtained through visits at our outpatient clinic or via telephone interviews. RESULTS: Out of 394 patients, 32% (n = 126) were female. Women suffered from aortic dissection type A at an older age (women 67.5 years vs men 57 years; P > 0.001) and experienced a more aggressive preoperative course leading to critical presentation or even lethal rupture [women 7.9% (n = 10) vs men 2.2% (n = 6); P = 0.008]. Chest pain as initial symptom was more common in men [women 59.5% (n = 75) vs men 73.5% (n = 197); P = 0.005]. Perfusion of the right carotid was impaired more often [women 22.5% (n = 27) vs men 13.7% (n = 36); P = 0.031] and preoperative rate of neurological dysfunction was higher in women [women 23% (n = 29) vs men 14.2% (n = 38); P = 0.028]. Time from symptom onset to surgery did not differ between gender. Surgical repair was less extensive and faster in women. Female patients were more likely to suffer from postoperative neurological injury [women 23.8% (n = 30) vs men 10.2% (n = 40); P = 0.023]. We detected impaired 30-day and long-term survival in women. CONCLUSIONS: Women represent an older and sicker patient collective. Preoperative course of aortic dissection type A is more aggressive and complicated in women. While time from onset of symptoms to surgery did not differ between gender, neurological outcome and survival were impaired in women.

Validation of a novel risk score to predict mortality after surgery for acute type A dissection.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to externally validate a lab-based risk score (lactate, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase or bilirubin) by Ghoreishi et al. to predict perioperative mortality in patients undergoing surgical repair for acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS: The risk score to predict operative mortality was applied to a large and homogenous validation cohort that consisted of 632 patients undergoing surgery for acute type A aortic dissection in 2 centres. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to determine the impact on survival. Receiver operating characteristics with deduced area under the curve were used to assess the ability to predict perioperative mortality. RESULTS: A total of 632 patients (54% male, mean age 62 ± 14 years) were assigned to 3 different risk groups according to the calculated mortality score [low risk <7 (31.2%), moderate risk 7-20 (36.1%) and high >20 (32.7%)]. Perioperative mortality was 8% in the low-risk group, 10% in the moderate-risk group and 24% in the high-risk group (P < 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of this new score revealed an area under the curve of 0.69 with adequate calibration. In addition, multivariable analysis revealed an independet assocation with perioperative mortality (odds ratio 1.509; 95% confidence interval 1.042-2.185). While overall survival differed between the risk groups (P < 0.0001), the score does not serve as an independent predictor of long-term mortality when adjusted for relevant covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The external validation process confirmed that a newly proposed risk score offers clinicians a helpful and reliable tool to improve the preoperative risk assessment of acute type A aortic dissection patients based on easily accessible and broadly available laboratory parameters.

Minireview: Transaortic Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: Is There Still an Indication?

Transaortic (TAo) transcatheter aortic valve implantation has become a valid alternative access route in patients with unsuitable femoral arteries. The current literature does not allow to clearly favor one of the alternative access routes. Every approach has its specific advantages. Transaortic (TAo) access is of particular importance in the case of calcifications of the supra-aortic branches and the aortic arch, as under these circumstances other alternative access routes, such as transaxillary or transcarotid, are not feasible. The purpose of this minireview is to give an overview and update on TAo transcatheter aortic valve implantation focusing on indication, technical aspects, and recent clinical data.

A new way to use transit-time flow measurement for coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVES: Transit-time flow measurement is a recognized method for graft evaluation in coronary surgery. However, single flow measurement has been associated with a low specificity for detecting graft dysfunction. The goal of this study was to assess the value of transit-time flow measurement for assessing in situ internal mammary artery grafts during non-existent native coronary circulation and the relevance of collateral blood flow in target vessels. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2018, a total of 134 patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting were evaluated using transit-time flow measurement. We analysed 111 single left internal mammary artery and 57 single right internal mammary artery bypasses. Correlations between coronary relevant parameters were calculated using Spearman's ρ coefficient. Risk factors for decreased flow with an arrested heart (FAH) <30 ml/min and an increased pulsatility index (PI) >3.0 as well as flow reduction >30% were calculated. RESULTS: FAH correlated with the diameter of the target vessel (Spearman's ρ = 0.32; P < 0.001), the amount of blood distribution (Spearman's ρ = 0.34; P < 0.001), the PI (Spearman's ρ = 0.19; P = 0.019) and the degree of stenosis (Spearman's ρ = -0.17; P = 0.042). The percentage of flow change was found to correlate with the PI (Spearman's ρ = -0.47; P < 0.0001), the degree of stenosis (Spearman's ρ = 0.42; P < 0.001), the diameter of the target vessel (Spearman's ρ = -0.22; P = 0.008) and the area of blood distribution (Spearman's ρ = -0.19; P = 0.018). A small blood distribution area was the only risk factor for decreased FAH [odds ratio (OR) 8.43, confidence interval (CI) 95% (3.04-23.41); P < 0.001]. Binary logistic regression identified PI [OR 2.05, CI 95% (1.36-3.10); P = 0.001], FAH [OR 0.98, CI 95% (0.97-0.99); P = 0.005] and degree of stenosis [OR 0.95, CI 95% (0.92-0.99); P = 0.011] as risk factors for decreased flow after cardiopulmonary bypass (<30 ml/min). An increased PI (>3) was mainly influenced by percentage of flow change [OR 0.99, CI 95% (0.98-1.00); P = 0.031]. CONCLUSIONS: FAH and percentage of flow change are related to the dimensions of the target vessel and the degree of stenosis. The addition of flow measurements with the heart arrested provides additional information about the bypass graft, the quality of the anastomosis and the physiology of the coronary circulation.

Prognostic value of mitral valve tenting area in patients with functional mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVES: Mitral valve (MV) repair in functional mitral regurgitation is still associated with suboptimal outcomes. Our goal was to determine whether the clinical outcome following MV repair correlates with preoperative tenting parameters. METHODS: We retrospectively identified consecutive patients with functional mitral regurgitation who underwent an isolated MV annuloplasty during a 7-year period (2010-2016) from our institutional database. Preoperative tenting parameters (i.e. tenting height, coaptation length, tenting area, posterior mitral leaflet and anterior mitral leaflet angles and interpapillary muscle distance) were systematically measured. The primary end point was the composite of survival and freedom from adverse cardiac events. The follow-up protocol consisted of a structured clinical questionnaire and an analysis of the echocardiographic data. RESULTS: A total of 240 patients (mean age 67.8 ± 9.8 years, 57% of men) were analysed. The overall 5-year survival rate for the whole study cohort was 74.7 ± 4.2%, and freedom from adverse cardiac events was 84.8 ± 3.4%. A tenting area ≥2.4 cm2 was identified as a cut-off value, independently predicting the composite primary study end point (hazard ratio 2.0; P = 0.03). Furthermore, a Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a strong tendency towards worse 5-year outcomes in patients with a tenting area ≥2.4 cm2 (n = 153) versus patients with a tenting area <2.4 cm2 (n = 87) (65.3 ± 5.5% vs 77.1 ± 6.3%; P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: MV annuloplasty is associated with acceptable clinical and echocardiographic outcomes in patients with functional mitral regurgitation 5 years postoperatively. A preoperative tenting area ≥2.4 cm2 showed a strong trend towards a worse 5-year survival rate and an increased risk of adverse cardiac events after an isolated MV annuloplasty.

Surgery out of office hours for type A aortic dissection: does night-time and weekend surgery worsen outcome?

OBJECTIVES: Immediate surgical repair for type A aortic dissection is gold standard and at most centres is performed by the surgeon on call during night-time and weekends. The objective was to evaluate whether emergency surgery during night-time or weekends has an influence on 30-day mortality. METHODS: In 319 patients undergoing surgery for type A aortic dissection, skin incision was documented. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the time point of skin incision (05:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m. = daytime group; 07:01 p.m. to 04:59 a.m. = night-time group). We also noted whether their surgeries were started on weekdays (Monday 00:00 to Friday 23:59) or weekends (Saturday 00:00 to Sunday 23:59). RESULTS: The median age was 61 years (interquartile range 49-70) and 69.6% (n = 222) were male. Almost 50% (n = 149) of patients presented in a critical preoperative state. Forty-one percent of patients (n = 131) underwent night-time surgery. There were no differences in baseline data, time from onset of symptoms to surgery or surgical treatment between groups, except from preferred femoral access for arterial cannulation during night-time. Advanced age [odds ratio 1.042, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.014-1.070], preoperative malperfusion syndrome (odds ratio 2.542, 95% CI 1.279-5.051) and preoperative tamponade (odds ratio 2.562, 95% CI 1.215-5.404) emerged as risk factors for 30-day mortality. Night-time or weekend surgery did not have any impact on 30-day mortality when covariates were considered. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the natural course of the disease and our results, surgery for type A aortic dissection should be performed as an emergency surgery regardless of time and day.

Immediate Surgery in Acute Type A Dissection and Neurologic Dysfunction: Fighting the Inevitable?

BACKGROUND: Neurologic dysfunction remains an ongoing challenge in the diagnosis of type A aortic dissection (AAD). Our study analyzed the impact of preoperative neurologic dysfunction (PND) on outcome and assessed a potential link between PND and specific patterns of postoperative neurologic injury. METHODS: Medical records of 338 patients (70.1% men; mean age, 59.3 ± 13.7 years) undergoing surgical repair for AAD were screened for the presence of PND. Preoperative characteristics, surgical treatment, and hospital and neurologic outcomes were analyzed according to patients with PND (PND+) and without PND (PND-) RESULTS: There were 50 patients (14.8%) admitted with PND. PND+ patients showed significantly higher rates of postoperative neurologic injury (44.4%) than PND- patients (14.3%; P < .001) with a specific pattern of ischemic lesions in accordance with preoperative neurologic status. While PND+ patients suffered mainly from right hemispheric strokes (66.7% vs 32.4% in PND- patients, P = .024), PND- patients more frequently presented with bilateral cerebral ischemia (56.8% vs 13.3% in PND+ patients, P = .004). Multivariable analysis identified presence of PND (odds ratio, 2.977; 95% confidence interval, 1.357-6.545) as an independent predictor for new postoperative neurologic injury. PND was associated with impaired survival (P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified an association of preoperative neurologic status and specific stroke patterns after surgical repair of AAD. Irrespective of timing of surgery and reperfusion strategies, preoperative neurologic dysfunction is strongly associated with impaired neurologic outcome.

Can We Predict Failure of Mitral Valve Repair?

OBJECTIVE: To identify echocardiographic and surgical risk factors for failure after mitral valve repair. METHODS: We identified a total of 77 consecutive patients from our institutional mitral valve surgery database who required redo mitral valve surgery due to recurrence of mitral regurgitation after primary mitral valve repair. A control group of 138 patients who had a stable echocardiographic long-term result was included based on propensity score matching. Systematic analysis of echocardiographic parameters was performed before primary surgery; after mitral valve repair and prior to redo surgery. Risk factor analysis was performed using multivariate Cox regression model. RESULTS: Redo surgery was associated with the presence of pulmonary hypertension ≥ 50 mmHg (p = 0.02), a mean transmitral gradient > 5 mmHg (p = 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 45% (p = 0.05) before surgery and mitral regurgitation ≥moderate at time of discharge (p = 0.002) in the whole cohort. Patients with functional mitral valve regurgitation had a higher tendency to undergo redo surgery if preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter exceeded 65 mm (p = 0.043) and if postoperative tenting height exceeded 6 mm (p = 0.018). Low ejection fraction was not significantly associated with the need for redo mitral valve surgery in the functional subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent mitral regurgitation is still a valuable problem and is associated with relevant perioperative mortality. Patients with severe mitral regurgitation should undergo early mitral valve repair surgery as long as systolic pulmonary artery pressure is low, left ventricular ejection fraction is preserved, and LVEED is deceeds 65 mm.