Acute Symptomatic Isolated Abdominal Aortic Dissection - Clinical Characteristics, Outcome, and Sex Differences.

BACKGROUND: Acute isolated abdominal aortic dissection (IAAD) is a rare condition and treatment recommendations are lacking. Most previous studies included both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The aims were to determine the proportion of IAAD among patients with acute type B aortic dissection as well as to describe patient characteristics, radiological findings, and frequency of early and late complications and to explore sex differences. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study including all patients hospitalized with acute symptomatic IAAD in Stockholm County during 2012-2021. RESULTS: A total of 277 patients with acute type B aortic dissection were identified, of whom 10% (n = 28/277) had acute IAAD. Median age was 56 years and 43% (n = 12/28) were women. Hypertension was diagnosed in 46% (n = 13/28) prior to admission. At onset, abdominal pain was the predominant complaint (93%, n = 26/28) and 93% (n = 26/28) were hypertensive on admission. The suprarenal aorta was involved in 39% (n = 11/28) and at least 1 of the iliac arteries in 50% (n = 14/28). All but 1 patient had uncomplicated IAAD (96%, n = 27/28). One patient presented with aortic rupture, treated with open surgical repair. Among patients with primarily uncomplicated IAAD, 7% eventually developed chronic complications (n = 2/27). Median maximum aortic diameter at 1-year follow-up was 21 mm (interquartile range 17-28). Only 1 patient had an aortic diameter exceeding 30 mm. None of the patients died during follow-up; median follow-up was 3.0 years (interquartile range 2-8). CONCLUSIONS: Early and late complications are rare in patients with acute symptomatic IAAD and a conservative approach with antihypertensive treatment and surveillance in uncomplicated cases seems reasonable.

Incidence, presentation and outcome of acute aortic dissection: results from a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence of acute aortic dissection in a clearly defined population, to assess onset symptoms and admission biochemical marker levels and to analyse variables potentially associated to mortality. METHODS: Medical records and CT angiograms of all patients hospitalised for acute aortic dissection in the Stockholm County during the 5-year period 2012-2016 were reviewed. The patients were followed until date of death or until 31 December 2020. The annual incidence was determined. Associations between clinical and biochemical variables and 30-day mortality, respectively, were analysed using multivariable logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 344 patients were included. The mean annual incidence of acute aortic dissection was 4.1 per 100 000. Median age was 67 years (range 24-91) and 34% (n=118) were women. Type A dissection was predominant; 220 patients (64%) had type A and 124 (36%) had type B. Painless dissection was more common in type A than in type B (18% vs 15%, p=0.003). Type A dissection patients also more commonly had elevated plasma troponin T (44% vs 21%, p<0.001) and thrombocytopenia (26% vs 15%, p=0.010) than type B dissection patients on admission. Overall, 30-day mortality was 28% in type A and 11% in type B (p<0.001). Both painless dissection (OR 4.30, 95% CI 1.80 to 10.28, p=0.001) and elevated troponin T (OR 3.78, 95% CI 2.01 to 7.12, p<0.001), respectively, were associated with increased 30-day mortality in all acute aortic dissection patients. Thrombocytopenia was associated with elevated 30-day mortality only in patients with type A (OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.53 to 6.21, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly two-thirds of acute aortic dissection patients had type A. Levels of troponin T and platelets, respectively, paired with presence or absence of typical symptoms may become useful adjuncts in risk stratification of patients with acute aortic dissection.

Pharmacological treatment in patients with aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: To describe medical management in aortic dissection (AD) and to analyse the possible associations between antihypertensive, antithrombotic, anticoagulant and statin agents, respectively, and long-term survival. METHODS: From Swedish medical registers, all patients diagnosed with AD in 2006-2015 were identified. Filled prescriptions prior to admission and within 1 year from discharge in patients discharged and alive at 30 days were registered. Associations between pharmacological treatment and long-term survival were analysed using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Of 3951 patients hospitalised with acute AD, 3046 (77%) were discharged and alive at 30 days. In hospitalised patients, mean age was 66 years (SD 13), and 36% (n=1098) were women. Within 1 year from discharge, 96% (n=2939) had at least one antihypertensive drug. Beta blocker was the most commonly used drug type (90%, n=2741). Statin treatment (47%, n=1418) was associated with higher long-term survival; HR 0.74 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.87, p<0.001). The positive association between statins and long-term survival remained, in subgroup analysis, in medically managed patients (HR 0.72 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.86, p<0.001)), but not in patients undergoing surgical repair (HR 0.82 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.14, p=0.230)). Beta blockers were associated with favourable long-term survival in surgically managed patients (HR 0.58 (95% CI 0.35 to 0.97, p=0.038)) but not in medically managed patients (HR 0.93 (95% CI 0.72 to 1.12, p=0.057)). Neither antiplatelet therapy nor anticoagulants were associated with long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: Statin treatment was associated with favourable long-term outcome in medically managed AD patients, whereas treatment with beta blocker was associated with higher survival only in surgically managed AD patients. Statin use as well as optimal antihypertensive therapy in the chronic stage of the disease need to be further analysed, preferably in randomised controlled trials.

Sex differences and temporal trends in aortic dissection: a population-based study of incidence, treatment strategies, and outcome in Swedish patients during 15 years.

AIMS: As large population-based studies of aortic dissection are lacking, the incidence numbers and knowledge about time-trends and sex differences are uncertain. The objective was to describe incidence, temporal trends and outcome of aortic dissection with particular emphasis on sex differences. METHODS AND RESULTS: During the study period 2002-2016, 8057 patients in Sweden were diagnosed with aortic dissection, identified from the National Patient Register and the Cause of Death Register. A total of 5757 (71%) patients were hospitalized, whereas 2300 (29%) patients were deceased without concurrent hospital stay. The annual incidence was 7.2 per 100 000 (9.1 in men and 5.4 in women), decreasing over time in men (P = 0.005). Mean age in the hospitalized patients was 68 years (SD 13), 2080 (36%) were women. Within the first 14 days after onset, 1807 patients (32%) underwent surgical repair. The proportion of surgically treated increased from the 5-year period 2002-2006 to 2012-2016 [27% vs. 35%, odds ratio (OR) 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39-1.86; P < 0.001]. In hospitalized patients, 30-day mortality decreased between the same periods (26% vs. 21%, OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.59-0.80; P < 0.001). Long-term mortality decreased as well (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.67-0.82; P < 0.001). Women had higher 30-day mortality than men after acute repair, a sex difference that remained after age adjustment (17% vs. 12%, OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.04-1.82; P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: This population-based study detected a higher incidence of aortic dissection than prior reports, but a decreasing incidence in men. Surgical therapy was increasingly used and with more favourable outcome but was less frequently offered to elderly patients. The sustained sex differences regarding both incidence and outcome require further attention.

Temporal and Morphological Patterns Predict Outcome of Endovascular Repair in Acute Complicated Type B Aortic Dissection.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to analyse early and late outcomes in patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute or subacute non-traumatic type B aortic dissection (TBAD), with the particular aims of identifying prognostic morphological predictors, and to assess the magnitude of the impact of the timing of TEVAR. METHODS: This was a retrospective, two centre, population based consecutive case series. The study group consisted of all the 53 patients undergoing TEVAR for complicated TBAD in Stockholm during the 12 year period 2004-2015. Demographic data, risk factors, operative, and outcome variables were registered and analysed. The CT scans were thoroughly retrospectively examined. RESULTS: Nearly half (24 patients; 45%) underwent TEVAR within 48 h of the onset of the initial symptoms, another 20 within 2 weeks, and nine in the subacute phase (15-90 days). The median age was 63 years (range 32-88) and 20 patients (38%) were women. The 30 day mortality was 17% (nine patients). Eight of these nine patients were treated within the first 48 h; urgent intervention (0-48 h) was associated with increased mortality (crude OR 14.0; 95% CI 1.6-122). All the nine patients had a false lumen area (FLA) at the level of the tracheal bifurcation exceeding 50% of the aortic cross sectional area at that segment, a finding significantly associated with increased mortality (p = .04), with a 25% 30 day mortality if the FLA > 50% (n = 36) at that segment, but 0% if the FLA was <50%. Overall the one year survival was 79% and five year survival 65%. CONCLUSIONS: All the early deaths demonstrated a FLA >50% of the total aortic cross sectional area at the level of the tracheal bifurcation. Patients needing urgent TEVAR had markedly worse outcome. The first finding may become an additional tool for future risk stratification.