Outcomes of aortic arch repair using the frozen elephant trunk technique: analysis of a Scandinavian center's results over 14 years.

BACKGROUND: The frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique enables repair of aortic arch pathology, with possibility for endovascular treatment of distal thoracic aortic disease. We aimed to study outcomes of FET repair of complex aortic arch disease at a Scandinavian tertiary referral center. METHODS: All patients who underwent FET repair of the aortic arch 2006-2020 were included. Survival, complication and reintervention rate, and aortic remodeling were analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included: 23 complex thoracic aortic aneurysms involving the aortic arch (TAA), 19 with chronic aortic dissections (CAD) (16 Stanford type A, 3 type B) and 8 acute aortic dissections (AAD) (7 Stanford type A, 1 type B). Thirty-day mortality was: TAA=22% (N.=5), CAD=5% (N.=1), AAD=37% (N.=3). Rate of disabling stroke: TAA=22% (N.=5), CAD=5% (N.=1), AAD=25% (N.=2). Rate of permanent spinal cord injury: TAA=9% (N.=2), CAD=5% (N.=1), AAD=0%. 5-year survival: TAA=53%, CAD=83%, AAD=63%. 5-year reintervention-free survival was TAA=83% and CAD=36%. There were no reinterventions in the AAD group. 13/19 (68%) of CAD patients underwent distal stent graft extension during follow-up. On last CT follow-up (median 32 months), 78% of CAD had false lumen thrombosis along the stent graft and 11% in the abdominal aorta. In thoracic aorta there was a mean 64% expansion (P<0.001) of true and 39% reduction (P=0.007) of false lumen diameter. In abdominal aorta, both true and false lumen expanded. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the advantages of the FET technique, repair of extensive aortic arch disease remains associated with high rates of mortality and major neurologic complications. FET repair of CAD induces favorable remodeling in the thoracic aorta.

Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Practice in 13 Countries: A Report From VASCUNET and the International Consortium of Vascular Registries.

OBJECTIVE: To assess practice patterns and short-term outcome after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), based on an international vascular registry collaboration. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: TEVAR has become the primary surgical treatment modality for descending aortic pathologies, and has expanded to new patient cohorts, including the elderly. METHODS: Data on thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA), type B aortic dissections (TBAD), and traumatic aortic injuries (TAI) treated with TEVAR from 2012 to 2016 were retrieved from registries and centers in 13 countries. RESULTS: Nine-thousand five-hundred eighteen TEVAR for TAA ( n = 4436), TBAD ( n = 3976) and TAI ( n = 1106) were included. The distribution of TEVAR procedures per pathology varied, with TAA repair constituting from 40% of TEVARs in the US to 72% in the UK ( P < 0.001).Mean intact TAA (iTAA) diameter varied from 59 (US) to 69 mm (Nancy, France) ( P < 0.001), 25.3% of patients having a diameter of <60 mm. Perioperative mortality after iTAA repair was 4.9%; combined mortality, stroke, paraplegia, and renal replacement therapy outcome was 12.8%. 18.6% of iTAA patients were ≥80 years old. Mortality was higher in this group (7.2%) than in patients <80 (3.8%) ( P < 0.001). After rTAA repair, perioperative mortality was 26.8%.Mortality was 9.7% after acute (within 14 days from onset of dissection) and 3.0% after chronic TBAD repair ( P < 0.001). Mortality after TAI was 7.8%, and depended on injury severity (grade IV (free rupture) 20.9%). CONCLUSIONS: This registry collaboration provides a unique platform to evaluate cross-border patterns of use and outcomes of TEVAR. A common core dataset is proposed, to achieve harmonization of registry-based quality outcome measures for TEVAR.

Clinical and Morphologic Outcomes of Endovascular Repair for Subacute and Chronic Type B Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to assess long-term remodeling, survival, and reintervention outcomes after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for subacute and chronic type B aortic dissection (TBAD). METHODS: All patients who underwent TEVAR for subacute or chronic TBAD at a tertiary referral center between 1999 and 2015 were included in this cohort study. The primary outcome was aortic remodeling, and secondary outcomes included survival, rate of major complications, and reinterventions. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included, with mean age of 62.4 years, 10 (20%) DeBakey type IIIA and 40 (80%) DeBakey type IIIB dissection; 45 standard TEVAR, 2 branched TEVAR, 3 TEVAR combined with fenestrated or branched EVAR. Indication for TEVAR was intact (n = 40) or ruptured (n = 1) postdissection aneurysm, hypoperfusion (n = 4), treatment-refractory pain (n = 2), or a combination (n = 3). Mean clinical follow-up was 76 months, and median radiological follow-up was 46 months. Thirty-day survival was 96%, stroke 4%, renal failure 0%, paraplegia 0%. Three- and five-year survival was 92% (95% confidence interval (CI) [79; 97]) and 77% (95% CI [61; 87]), respectively. Of 19 late deaths, 6 were confirmed aorta related. Five-year freedom from reintervention was 69% (95% CI [53-80]). Distal stent graft extension due to aortic dilatation composed most reinterventions. Mean maximal aortic diameter was 58.7 mm preoperatively and 51.9 mm on last follow-up (P = 0.003). On thoracic level, true lumen expanded (+10.0 mm, 95% CI [6.4; 13.6]) (P < 0.001) and false lumen decreased (-11.9 mm, 95% CI [-15.2; -8.5]) (P < 0.001) from baseline to the last computed tomography. In the abdominal aorta, true lumen diameter change was +3.1 mm (95% CI [1.4; 4.8]) (P = 0.001); false lumen diameter change was +1.0 mm (95% CI [-1.8; 3.8]) (P = 0.464). CONCLUSIONS: TEVAR for subacute and chronic TBAD results in favorable remodeling of the thoracic but not the abdominal aorta. Five-year survival is almost 80%, but late aortic deaths still occur. Aortic dilatation distal to the treated segment requiring reintervention is common, emphasizing the importance of follow-up.

Outcome After Endovascular Repair of Ruptured Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: A National Multicentre Study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this multicentre study was to analyse the outcome of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in patients with ruptured descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (rDTAA). METHODS: This is a nationwide retrospective study including all patients who underwent TEVAR for rDTAA at six major vascular university centres in Sweden between January 2000 and December 2015. Outcome measures were analysed using Kaplan-Meier estimator and multivariable Cox regression. RESULTS: There were 140 patients (age [mean ± SD] 74.1 ± 8.8 years; 56% men; aneurysm size 64.8 ± 19 mm), with rDTAA. In 53 patients (37.9%), the left subclavian artery was covered, and in 25 patients (17.9%) arch vessel revascularisation was performed. In total, 61/136 patients (45%) had a major complication within 30 days post TEVAR. Stroke (n = 20; 14.7%) was the most common complication, followed by paraplegia (n = 13; 9.6%) and major bleeding (n = 13; 9.6%). TEVAR related complications during follow up included endoleaks 22.1% (30/136; 14 type 1a, six type 1b, 10 not defined). In total, re-interventions (n = 31) were required in 27/137 (19.7%) patients. The median follow up time was 17.0 months (range 0-132 months). The Kaplan-Meier estimated survival was 80.0% at one month, 71.7% at three months, 65.3% at one year, 45.9% at three years, and 31.9% at five years. Age (HR 1.03; 95% CI 1.00-1.07; p = .046), history of stroke (HR 2.35; 95% CI 1.19-4.63; p = .014), previous aortic surgery (HR 2.11; 95% CI 1.15-3.87; p = .016) as well as post-operative major bleeding (HR 4.40; 95% CI 2.20-8.81; p = .001), stroke (HR 2.63; 95% CI 1.37-5.03; p = .004), and renal failure (HR 8.25; 95% CI 2.69-25.35; p = .001) were all associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This nationwide multicentre study of patients with rDTAA undergoing TEVAR showed acceptable short- but poor long-term survival. Adequate proximal and distal aortic sealing zones are important for technical success. High risk patients and post-operative complications need to be further addressed in an effort to improve outcome.

Outcome of endovascular repair for intact and ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess long-term outcome after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). METHODS: All patients who underwent TEVAR for TAA at Uppsala University Hospital from December 1999 to December 2014 were included. Characteristics of the patients and outcome data were collected from medical records, national population registry, and cause of death registry. Perioperative survival was analyzed with the χ2 test, and 5-year survival was estimated with Kaplan-Meier analysis. Predictors of long-term survival were assessed with Cox regression. RESULTS: There were 77 patients included in the study, 49 with intact TAAs (iTAAs) and 28 with ruptured TAAs (rTAAs). Mean follow-up was 83.7 months for iTAA patients and 82.0 months for rTAA patients (P = .853). Mean age was 71.5 years for iTAA patients and 74.8 years for rTAA patients (P = .04). Survival after iTAA repair was 95.9% at 30 days, 91.8% at 90 days, and 62.5% at 5 years. After rTAA repair, survival was 71.4% at 30 days and decreased to 57.1% at 90 days (P < .01), with most deaths after 30 days being related to the aortic event. The 3-year survival rate after rTAA repair was 27.8%, and only one rTAA patient with 5 years of follow-up remained alive. Six aorta-related deaths occurred after 90 days (three iTAA patients, three rTAA patients); five were due to rupture of nontreated aortic segments. The 5-year reintervention rate was 13.2% for iTAA patients and 17.9% for rTAA patients (P = .682). All reinterventions occurred within 14 months of TEVAR. The age-adjusted hazard ratio for long-term mortality was 4.4 after rTAA repair compared with iTAA repair. CONCLUSIONS: TEVAR for iTAA was associated with low perioperative mortality and acceptable 5-year survival at 62.5%. Results were more pessimistic after rTAA repair, however, for which two-thirds of the patients were deceased at 3-year follow-up. Improved selection of patients is necessary to identify patients who are likely to truly benefit from rTAA repair.