Abstract: Objective To explore the surgical procedures and cerebral protection and improve surgical results by summarizing the experiences of surgical treatment of 68 patients of De Bakey Ⅰ aortic dissection. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 68 patients (including 45 males and 23 females aged 29 to 72 years with an age of 44.5±17.2 years) with De Bakey Ⅰ aortic dissection who were treated in the General Hospital of Shenyang Command between May 2004 and April 2010. Acute aortic dissection (occurring within 2 weeks) was present in 57 patients and chronic aortic dissection in 11. The intimal tear was located in the ascending aorta in 45 patients, in the aortic arch in 12 and in the descending part of the aortic arch in 11. Thirtyfive patients underwent emergency operation and 33 underwent selected or limited operation. The operations were performed under hypothermic circulation arrest plus selective antegrade cerebral perfusion or right vena cave retrograde cerebral perfusion to protect the brain. Total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk were performed in 25 patients, Bentall operation with concomitant total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk in 16 patients, pure right semi aortic arch replacement and stented elephant trunk in 15 patients, total aortic arch replacement in 7 patients, right semi aortic arch replacement and stented elephant trunk in 3 patients, and Cabrol operation with concomitant aortic conduit with valve and total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk in 2 patients. Results Five patients (4 with acute aortic dissection and 1 with chronic aortic dissection) died with an operative mortality of 7.4%(5/68). The causes of death were anastomotic bleeding during surgery in 1 patient, postoperative low cardiac output syndrome and malignant arrhythmia in 2, acute renal failure in 1 and cerebral complications in 1. During perioperative period, psychotic symptoms occurred in 5 patients, pericardial effusion in 2 patients, hoarseness in 6 patients and poor wound healing in 1 patient. All of them were cured before dehospitalization. Sixty patients (95.2%, 60/63) were followed up for 2 months to 6 years with the other 3 patients lost. During the ollow-up, sudden death occurred to 1 patient with unknown reasons, and 1 patient had pericardial effusion and symptoms improved with relevant treatment. All the other patients followed up had a good quality of life with significant improvement of heart function. Fiftyfour patients had a heart function of New York Heart Association class Ⅰ and 5 had a function of class Ⅱ. Conclusion The surgical treatment for De Bakey Ⅰ aortic dissection should be active. The beneficial results can be obtained with best choice of operative procedures, methods of cerebral protection, and adequate treatment of complications of operation.
Objective To summarize treatment experience and evaluate clinical outcomes of surgical therapy for Stanford type A aortic dissection （AD）. Methods Clinical data of 48 patients with Stanford type A AD who underwent surgical treatment in General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Region from October 2006 to March 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 41 males and 7 females with their age of 26-72 （47.6±9.2） years. There were 43 patients with acute Stanford type A AD （interval between symptom onset and diagnosis＜14 days） and 5 patients with chronic AD. There were 19 patients with moderate to severe aortic insufficiency and 6 patients with Marfan symdrome but good aortic valve function，who all received Bentall procedure，total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk implantation. There were 8 patients with AD involving the aortic root but good aortic valve function who underwent modified David procedure，total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk implantation. There were 10 patients with AD involving the ascending aorta who received ascending aorta replacement，total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk implantation. There were 5 patients with AD involving partial aortic arch who underwent ascending aorta and hemiarch replacement. Patients were followed up in the 3rd，6th and 12th month after discharge then once every year. Follow-up evaluation included general patient conditions，blood pressure control，chest pain recurrence，mobility and computerized tomography arteriography （CTA）. ResultsCardiopulmonary bypass time was 121-500 （191.4±50.6） minutes，aortic cross-clamp time was 58-212 （112.3±31.7） minutes，and circulatory arrest and selective cerebral perfusion time was 26-56 （34.8±8.7） minutes. Postoperative mechanicalventilation time was 32-250 （76.2±35.6） hours，and ICU stay was 3-20 （7.1±3.4） days. Thoracic drainage within 24 hours postoperatively was 680-1 600 （1 092.5±236.3） ml. Seven patients （14.5%） died perioperatively including 2 patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome，2 patients with low cardiac output syndrome，1 patient with renal failure，1patient with delayed refractory hemorrhage，and 1 patient with coma. Twenty patients had other postoperative complicationsand were cured or improved after treatment. A total of 38 patients ［92.7% （38/41）］ were followed up for 3-48 （13.0±8.9） months，and 3 patients were lost during follow-up. During follow-up，there were 36 patients alive and 2 patients who died of other chronic diseases. There was no AD-related death during follow-up. None of the patients required reoperation for AD or false-lumen expansion. CTA at 6th month after discharge showed no anastomotic leakage，graft distortion or obstruction.Conclusion According to aortic intimal tear locations，ascending aorta diameter and AD involving scopes，appropriate surgical strategies，timing and organ protection are the key strategies to achieve optimal surgical results for Stanford type A AD. Combined axillary and femoral artery perfusion and increased lowest intraoperative temperature are good methods for satisfactory surgical outcomes of Stanford type A AD.
ObjectiveTo analyze the causes and preventions of stent graft induced new entry (SINE) after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for Stanford type B dissection, particularly from the standpoint of biomechanical behavior of stent graft. MethodsSINE was defined as the new tear caused by the stent graft itself, excluding those arising from natural disease progression or any iatrogenic injury from the endovascular manipulation. Twentytwo patients with SINE were retrospectively collected and analyzed out of 650 cases undergoing TEVAR for type B dissection from August 2000 to June 2008 in our center. An additional case included was referred to our center in 14 months after TEVAR performed in another hospital. ResultsTotally, there were 24 SINEs found in 23 cases, including SINE at the proximal end in 15 cases, at the distal end in 7, and at both in 1, and 6 patients died. The incidence was 3.4% ( 22/650) in our hospital, and the mortality was 26.1% (6/23). All 16 proximal SINEs was located at the greater curve of the arch and caused retrograde type A dissection. All 8 distal SINEs occurred at the dissected flap, and 5 of them caused enlarging aneurysm while 3 remained stable. All 23 cases had the endograft placed across the distal aortic arch during the primary TEVAR. ConclusionsSINE is not rare following TEVAR for type B dissection, and associates with a high substantial mortality. The stress yielded by the endograft seems to play a predominant role in its occurrence. It is of significance to take the stressinduced injury into account during both design and placement of the endograft.
ObjectiveTo assess the causes and risk factors of multiple-intervention in endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for type B aortic dissection (TBAD). MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 347 TBAD patients initially treated with EVAR in our hospital between January 1999 and December 2013. The patients were stratified into a multiple-intervention group (34 patients) and a single-intervention group (313 patients). We analyzed the differences of clinical data of the two groups. ResultsThere were 9 patients with endoleak, 10 patients with new dissection, 8 patients with incomplete thrombosis of the false lumen, 4 patients with new aneurysm, 2 patients with retrograde dissection, and 1 patient with iliac artery occlusion in the multiple-intervention group. Higher proportions of chronic dissection and smoking occurred in the multiple-intervention group (79.4% versus 50.8%, 61.8% versus 40.3%, P=0.002, 0.018, respectively). Both of the degree and proportion of hyperglycemia were higher in the multiple-intervention group (6.9±2.3 mmol/L versus 5.7±1.8 mmol/L, P=0.027; 44.1% versus 22.7%, P=0.011). There were statistical differences in oversizing rate of grafts (14.6%±3.2% versus 11.3%±2.5%, P<0.001), operation time (172 min versus 82 min, P<0.001), and blood loss (280 ml versus 100 ml, P=0.006) between the two groups. ConclusionEndoleak, new dissection, and incomplete thrombosis of the false lumen are the main causes of multiple-intervention. While in chronic phase, smoking, hyperglycemia, too big oversizing, and complicated lesion or operation are the potential risk factors.
Objective To summarize the critical point of diagnosis and endovascular repairment (EVR) to thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), thoracic pseudoaneurysm (TPA) and aortic dissection (AD), by comparison the computerized tomography angiography (CTA) images before and after EVR to observe effects, so as to explore a unique index of imageology to assess the pathological development and evaluate therapeutically effect in dynamic and systemic reviews in pre, intra, postEVR and followup period. Methods Fortyeight patients involving aneurysm or dissection of thoracic aorta were treated with EVR based on the preoperative CTA imaging. Before and after the introducing of stentgraft, digital substation angiography (DSA) was taken place and sequential enhanced CTA was followed to evaluate the effects of the treatment. All imagings of CTA and DSA were collected and induced into e-FilmTM database to select key sections for analyses and measurement. Results Fortynine EVR were preformed and 54 stent grafts were implanted in 48 cases, with endothelial tears sealed in 42 cases of dissection, aneurismal cavities excluded in 2 cases of aortic aneurysm, and rupture site closed in 4 cases of pseudoaneurysm. Endoleakage happened in 9 cases, which were treated successfully by appropriate measures. One case suffered hemorrhage from introducing artery (iliac) which was controled by surgery, but he died of disseminated intravascular coagulation and then multiple organs failure. Fortyseven cases were followed up in 6-51 months with a satisfied clinical effect. Conclusion EVR is favorable in the effect of repairment to true, false and dissection of thoracic descending aorta. Chest pain and CTA scan is the key of early diagnosis of aortic dissection. Certain sections and leftanterior oblique viewing are the crucial profile for assessment and evaluation before and after operation.
Objective To evaluate the importance of "one-stop" hybrid operating room in the individualized treatment of aortic pathology. Method We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 247 patients of aortic pathology who were operated in the hybrid operating room in our hospital from January 2013 through December 2014. There were 193 males and 54 females at age of 24-83(54±12) years. Results Thoracic or abdominal endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR/EVAR) was applied in 132 patients, including 122 simple patients and 10 complexes. Fenestrated TEVAR was applied in 61 patients. Hybrid operation was done in 54 patients. Perioperative death occurred in 9 patients (3.6%). Perioperative complication rate was 11.7% (29/247) . The patients were followed up for one year. During follow-up, five patients were dead. The one-year survival rate was 98.0% (242/247) . Conclusions "One-stop" individualized treatment of aortic pathology shows its advantage, yet long-term result still needs to be followed up.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the initial results of hybrid procedure without sternotomy for aortic arch dissection, and also report our initial experience in performing this procedure. MethodsFrom January 2011 to September 2014, 17 patients diagnosed with aortic arch dissection by CT angiography undergoing the hybrid procedure (thoracic endovascular aortic repair combined with supra-arch branch vessel bypass) in the department of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Command. There were 12 males and 5 females aged from 46 to 71 years. Their clinical data, including the imaging findings, treatment, and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsLeft common carotid artery (LCCA) to left subclavian artery (LSA) bypass (n=4), right common carotid artery (RCCA) to LCCA to LSA bypass (n=3), RCCA to LCCA bypass merger covered LSA (n=3) were performed. All operations were successful. Laryngeal recurrent nerve injury occurred in one patient. All patients were followed up on the postoperative day 7, 30 and one year. All patients were followed up for 12 to 53 months till September 2015. There was no death, and no complications such as endoleak after the hybrid procedure, stenosis or blockage of the bypass graft during the follow-up period. ConclusionInitial results suggest that the hybrid procedure without sternotomy is a suitable therapeutic option for high risk aortic arch dissection patients in poor general condition with little tolerance to aortic arch replacement．
Objective To analyze the surgical effect of total aortic arch replacement and stented elephant trunk (Sun’s procedure) for acute or chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection, and to investigate the optimal surgical timing for Stanford type A aortic dissection involving aortic arch. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 327 patients with acute or chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection treated by Sun's procedure from June 2010 to June 2014 in Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether the time from onset to operation was longer than 2 weeks: an acute group with 229 patients (≤2 weeks, the average time of onset to operation 5.70±3.50 d) and a chronic group with 98 patients (>2 weeks, the average time of onset to operation 21.60±15.70 d). There were 186 males and 43 females with a mean age of 47.47±11.19 years in the acute group, and 76 males and 22 females with a mean age of 45.62±12.92 years in the chronic group. The patients discharged from hospital were followed up for one year. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in preoperative data. The rate of coronary artery bypass grafting, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time, intraoperative and postoperative 24 h red blood cell intake were higher or more in the acute group than those in the chronic group (P<0.05). The in-hospital morality, ICU stay, mechanical ventilation time, the incidence of neurological dysfunction, low cardiac output syndrome, acute renal failure with continuous renal replacement therapy, hepatic insufficiency, poor wound healing were higher or more in the acute group than those in the chronic group (P<0.05). During one year follow-up, the survival rate of the acute and chronic groups was 97.0% and 97.6% respectively (P>0.05). No new complications were found in the two groups. The irreversible neurological dysfunction, paraplegia and renal failure showed no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion The short-term mortality and complications of acute Stanford A aortic dissection involving aortic arch treated by Sun’s procedure are significantly higher or more than those of chronic Stanford type A aortic dissection. The risk of surgical treatment in acute phase is high.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical outcomes of Cabrol procedure for the treatment of Stanford type A aortic dissection. MethodsClinical data of 37 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection underwent Cabrol procedure at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute from January 2009 to April 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 34 males and 3 females aged at 21 to 66 years. The average interval time from onset to getting operation was 15.2±28.5 days. All patients received Cabrol procedure was performed for aortic root. According to different aortic arch conditions, hemiarch replacement or total arch replacement combined endovascular aortic repair with stent were performed. ResultsAll the operations were successfully performed including isolated Cabrol procedure in 4 patients, right hemiarch replacement in 10 patients and total arch replacement combined endovascular aortic repair with stent in 23 patients. One patient (2.7%) underwent reexploration for postoperative bleeding. Postoperative mortality was 10.8% (4/37). Follow-up duration was 1-24 months, 2 patients died during follow-up. ConclusionCabrol procedure has satisfactory clinical outcomes for Stanford type A AD and long-term patency of aortic without coronary oppression.
Aortic dissection is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease with devastating complications and high mortality. It requires rapid and accurate diagnosis and a focus on prognosis. Many laboratory tests are routinely performed in patients with aortic dissection including D-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin. D-dimer shows vital performance in the diagnosis of aortic dissection, and brain natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin exhibits important value in risk stratification and prognostic effect in aortic dissection patients. Our review summarized the clinical utility of these laboratory tests in patients with aortic dissection, aiming to provide advanced and comprehensive evidence for clinicians to better understand these laboratory tests and help their clinical practice.