Objective To summarize the characteristics and management of pregnancy complicated with aortic dissection, and to explore the reasonable diagnosis and treatment plan. Methods The clinical data of 10 patients of pregnancy complicated with aortic dissection in Wuhan Tongji Hospital from January 2011 to June 2017 were collected. Their age was 25.2 (21-29) years. Results In the 10 patients, the majority (8 patients) were primipara, and most of them were in the late stages of pregnancy (5 patients) and puerperal (4 patients). Among them, 1 patient had gestational hypertension, and the blood pressure of the left and right upper extremities was significantly abnormal (initial blood pressure: left upper limb blood pressure: 90/60 mm Hg, right upper limb blood pressure: 150/90 mm Hg). The major clinical manifestations were severe chest and back pain which happened suddenly, with D-dimmer and C-creative protein increased which may be associated with inflammatory reaction. All patients were diagnosed by thoracoabdominal aortic CTA, including 5 patients of Stanford type A dissection and 5 patients of Stanford type B dissection. In the 10 patients, 1 patient refused surgery and eventually died of aortic rupture with the death of fetus before birth. And the remaining 9 patients underwent surgical treatment, 3 patients of endovascular graft exclusion for thoracic aortic stent graft, 2 patients underwent Bentall operation, 1 patient with Bentall + total aortic arch replacement + vascular thoracic aortic stent graft, 1 patient with Bentall operation combined with endovascular graft exclusion for thoracic aortic stent graft, 1 patient with Bentall + coronary artery bypass grafting, 1 patient of thoracoabdominal aortic vascular replacement. Among them, 1 patient underwent endovascular graft exclusion for thoracic aortic stent graft died of severe postoperative infection, and the remaining 8 patients were discharged from hospital. Nine patients were single birth, among them 5 newborn patients had severe asphyxia, 4 patients had mild asphyxia. Finally, 3 neonates died of severe complications, and the remaining 6 survived. Conclusion The ratio of pregnancy with Stanford type A aortic dissection is far higher than in the general population, the possibility of fetal intrauterine asphyxia is larger, but through active and effective surgical and perioperative treatment, we can effectively save the life of mother and fetus.
ObjectiveTo systematically review mortality risk prediction models for acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD). MethodsPubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP and CBM databases were electronically searched to collect studies of mortality risk prediction models for AAAD from inception to July 31th, 2021. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Systematic review was then performed. ResultsA total of 19 studies were included, of which 15 developed prediction models. The performance of prediction models varied substantially (AUC were 0.56 to 0.92). Only 6 studies reported calibration statistics, and all models had high risk of bias. ConclusionsCurrent prediction models for mortality and prognosis of AAAD patients are suboptimal, and the performance of the models varies significantly. It is still essential to establish novel prediction models based on more comprehensive and accurate statistical methods, and to conduct internal and a large number of external validations.
Objective To explore the efficacy of prone positioning ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (STAAD) surgery. Methods From November 2019 to September 2021, patients with ARDS who was placed prone position after STAAD surgery in the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University were collected. Data such as the changes of blood gas, respiratory mechanics and hemodynamic indexes before and after prone positioning, complications and prognosis were collected for statistical analysis. ResultsA total of 264 STAAD patients had surgical treatment, of whom 40 patients with postoperative ARDS were placed prone position. There were 37 males and 3 females with an average age of 49.88±11.46 years. The oxygen partial pressure, oxygenation index and peripheral blood oxygen saturation 4 hours and 12 hours after the prone positioning, and 2 hours and 6 hours after the end of the prone positioning were significantly improved compared with those before prone positioning ventilation (P<0.05). The oxygenation index 2 hours after the end of prone positioning which was less than 131.42 mm Hg, indicated that the patient might need ventilation two or more times of prone position. Conclusion Prone position ventilation for patients with moderate to severe ARDS after STAAD surgery is a safe and effective way to improve the oxygenation.
ObjectiveTo explore the optimal preoperative management strategy in patients with acute type A aortic dissection and pericardial tamponade.MethodsA total of 197 patients with acute type A aortic dissection were admitted to the Cardiovascular Center at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2017 to 2019, among whom 26 patients suffered from cardiac tamponade, including 20 males and 6 females with an average age of 59.27±10.76 years. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed.ResultsAll patients underwent surgical repair of the aorta. The median cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross clamping time were 174.5 min and 121.5 min, respectively. Postoperative complications included kidney failure in 3 patients, respiratory failure in 2 patients and disturbance of consciousness in 3 patients. Postoperative death occurred in 5 (19.2%) patients. The other 21 patients were successfully followed up for 2 years, during which 1 patient died with a survival rate of 95.2%, and no re-intervention was indicated.ConclusionAdequate preoperative management is crucial in patients with acute type A aortic dissection complicated with cardiac tamponade. A cardiac surgery team with round-the-clock availability, an integrated cardiac surgery ward and a rational algorithm that can shorten the time from disease onset to surgery treatment are the keys to improve survival rate.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effect of in situ fenestration combined with chimney technique in the treatment of aortic dissection involving left common carotid artery.MethodsFrom January 2012 to June 2019, 53 patients with aortic dissection involving left common carotid artery were selected. There were 21 patients in the test group, including 14 males and 7 females, with an average age of 57.2±11.2 years; there were 32 patients in the control group, including 20 males and 12 females, with an average age of 56.7±12.1 years. In the test group, the left subclavian branch was reconstructed by in situ fenestration and the left common carotid artery was reconstructed by chimney technique. In the control group, the left common carotid artery was reconstructed by hybrid operation. The clinical data of the patients were compared.ResultsThe operation time of the test group was significantly longer than that of the control group (151.8±35.2 min vs. 101.3±29.6 min, P=0.00). The patients in the two groups were followed up for 6-20 months. There was no significant difference in the incidence of pulmonary infection, stroke, steal blood syndrome, false lumen thrombosis or internal leakage between the two groups (P>0.05). The diameters of the distal and proximal ends of the true cavity in the test group increased significantly compared with those in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionIn situ fenestration combined with chimney technique is an effective method for the treatment of aortic dissection involving left common carotid artery, which is worthy of further clinical promotion.
The treatment of aortic dissection has already shifted to endovascular strategies. However, with the evolution of this disease and a deeper understanding of it, experts from various countries have developed a series of innovative endovascular techniques and devices in areas such as lumen reconstruction, false lumen embolization, entry sealing, and branch arteries reconstruction, targeting the long-term complication of chronic post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. The past few decades have seen that Chinese vascular surgeons have gradually emerged on the world stage and contributed multiple “Chinese solutions” for post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. The author in this review intends to provide an overview of these techniques and devices mentioned above.