Surgical treatment of aortic dissection. Value of echocardiography and MRI for long-term follow-up

Twenty-five patients aged 31 to 74 years (average 50 years) operated for type A aortic dissection (type I: 19 cases, type II: 6 cases) were included in this study. Surgical repair only concerned lesions of the ascending aorta. The hospital mortality was 20 per cent (5 cases), and usually secondary to extension of the dissection. With the exception of 2 late deaths, all patients were followed up for an average of 3.5 years. A late assessment including nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic aorta was obtained in 17 of the 18 survivors. These investigations confirmed the good result of repair of the ascending aorta, the uselessness of systematic aortic valve replacement and the palliative nature of repair of type I dissection as 80 per cent of patients had a persistent patent false lumen in the distal aorta.     

Type A aortic intramural haematoma vs. dissection.

We read with interest the recent article by Evangelista et al.,¹regarding the 3-month history of patients with aortic intramuralhaematoma (IMH). The authors state that they made the diagnosiswhen haematoma thickness was 7 mm; however, smaller IMHscan be encountered in clinical practice. The population     

Stanford A型主动脉夹层的外科治疗

目的 总结A型主动脉夹层外科治疗经验,探讨治疗A型主动脉夹层安全有效的术式和方法.方法 我院2008年1月至2013年11月对40例A型主动脉夹层患者予以外科治疗.Bentall（带瓣人造血管替代升主动脉根部和主动脉瓣膜,并移植左右冠状动脉）手术17例,其中10例同期行主动脉弓部替换＋降主动脉象鼻支架置入术;单纯升主动脉人工血管置换术8例;窦部成形＋主动脉瓣交界悬吊术6例,窦部替换＋主动脉瓣成形＋升主动脉半弓替换5例;升主动脉人工血管置换术＋主动脉全弓替换4例.采用深低温停循环技术（DHCA）12例,其余为浅中低温体外循环.采用冷血心脏停搏液灌注12例,组氨酸-色氨酸-酮戊二酸（HTK）停搏液灌注7例,冷晶体心脏停搏液21例.采用改良超滤技术19例.结果 手术死亡1例,围术期死亡4例,死亡率12.5％（5/40）,余均痊愈出院.结论 细化A型主动脉夹层的分型有利于制订个体化手术方案.术中止血彻底及心肌、脑保护确切可提高手术成功率.     

Type A dissection following endovascular thoracic aortic stent-graft repair.

PURPOSE: To describe our experience with endovascular stent-graft repairs in the thoracic aorta focusing on the secondary complication of type A dissection. METHODS: Between January 1996 and April 2004, 73 patients were treated for traumatic thoracic aortic rupture (n=15), type B dissection (n=22), or atherosclerotic descending thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA, n=36). A retrospective review of the records found 5 (6.8%) patients (3 men; median age 64 years, range 43-87) who experienced a type A dissection at a median 20 days (range 2-124) after thoracic stent-graft repair for 3 type B dissections, 1 TAA, and a late type I endoleak that appeared 28 months after initial stent-graft repair of a traumatic dissection. RESULTS: In 3 patients (2 dissections, 1 endoleak), a tear in the aortic wall at the proximal stent-graft was responsible for a retrograde type A dissection. Underlying disease was the cause of the type A dissection in the 2 other patients (1 dissection, 1 TAA) and was unrelated to the stent-grafts. Three patients underwent open surgery at 3, 26, and 124 days after stent-graft placement; 2 procedures were successful, but the third patient died 3 months later due to multiorgan failure. Two type A dissections were untreated: one patient died from cardiac tamponade 14 days after successful stent-graft exclusion of the type I endoleak; the other patient refused further treatment and survived. The procedure-related mortality following acute retrograde type A dissection was 40%. CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular stent-graft repair of the thoracic aorta is associated with lower morbidity and mortality rates than surgical repair, although potentially lethal complications, acute or delayed, may occur.     

Surgical therapy of thoracic aortic dissection]

Considerable surgical progress of treating aortic dissection has been achieved during the past decade. The emergency indication for acute dissection of the ascending aorta (type A according to the Stanford classification) is unquestioned while surgical treatment for acute dissection of the descending aorta (type B dissection) is mainly reserved for complicated cases. The major complication of acute operations--fatal hemorrhage from the suture line and secondary multi-organ failure--have been successfully reduced by a progress of cardiopulmonary bypass techniques, the introduction of cold cardioplegic myocardial protection, the development of modern suture materials and glues and last not least by a continuous intensive monitoring. Especially the introduction of the so-called french glue safely enabled both the closure of the false lumen as well as the strong reinforcement of the diseased aortic wall and seems to offer a reliable alternative to the application of multi-layered teflon strips. Since the principle of all reconstructive approaches in case of dissection consists of closure of dissected layers and the limited replacement of the segment that is susceptible to a rupture the exact readaptation and reinforcement of the diseased aortic wall represents a fundamental operative step. In type A operations the supracoronary aortic prosthetic replacement or the combined replacement of ascending aorta plus aortic valve followed by the reattachment of coronary arteries has become the standard operative technique. In fact, independently from the location of the primary intimal tear the operation has been traditionally limited to replace the ascending aorta in order to remove an aortic segment that is most likely to rupture. Yet an increasing number of follow-up investigations has demonstrated recurrence of dissection or an aneurysmatical dilatation of the false lumen in about 20% of patients treated with ascending aortic replacement. Consequently, repair of the aortic transverse arch and the radical elimination of the intimal entry is now favoured by an increasing number of surgeons. In addition to these various perioperative and intraoperative adjuncts the introduction of new imaging techniques, especially computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and transesophageal echocardiography allowed to establish adequate therapeutical concepts on a more rational basis. Transesophageal echocardiography as a mobile diagnostic device enables investigators to perform a bed-side dynamic visualization of both the location and extent of a dissection, the evaluation of ventricular performance and aortic competence. Treatment of acute type B dissection is mainly conservative unless complications like intractable pain, aneurysmatic enlargement of the false lumen, ischemia of visceral organs or even rupture occur.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Surgical aspects of acute aortic dissection]

This paper highlights some of the surgical aspects of acute aortic dissections such as: emergency diagnosis, indications for surgery, reconstructive operative techniques, malperfusion phenomena and necessity for follow-up. Aortic dissection is caused by an intimal tear, called the "entry", and subsequent splitting of the media by the stream of blood. Two lumina are thus created, which may communicate through "re-entries". As this creates severe weakness of the aortic wall, rupture and/or dilatation are the imminent dangers of acute aortic dissection. Acute aortic dissection type A, by definition involving the ascending aorta (Figures 1 and 2), is an absolute indication for emergency surgical treatment, because its natural history shows an extremely poor outcome (Figure 3). Due to impending (intrapericardial) aortic rupture, it may be necessary to limit diagnostic procedures to a minimum. Transesophageal echocardiography is the method of choice for establishing a quick, precise and reliable diagnosis (Figure 4). In stable patients, computed tomography gives additional information about aortic diameters or sites of extrapericardial perforation. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) shows perfusion of the lumina and dependent organs. The surgical strategy in acute aortic dissection type A aims at replacement of the ascending aorta. Reconstructive techniques have to be considered, especially in aortic valve regurgitation without annuloectasia (Figures 5 and 6). In recent times, the use of GRF tissue glue has reduced the need for teflon felt. Involvement of the aortic arch should be treated aggressively up to the point of total arch replacement in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest as part of the primary procedure (Figure 7). Malperfusion phenomena of aortic branches remain risk-factors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Value of echocardiography in patient follow-up after surgically corrected type A aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: To identify patients (pts) at risk of late complications, follow-up after surgery for type A aortic dissection is essential. We assessed the value of echocardiography to monitor patients after surgery for type A aortic dissection. METHODS: 80 out of 108 pts operated between 1989 and 1999 for type A aortic dissection survived surgery. 62 pts with at least one TEE, CT or MRI examinations during follow-up were included in this study. All pts had transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 53 transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), 51 had CT, and 39 had MRI. RESULTS: At the first follow-up, 12 of 48 pts with aortic valve sparing surgery presented with aortic insufficiency >I degrees detected using echocardiography. 16 pts evolved a distal aortic aneurysm of over 5 cm, all seen in TEE, CT and MRI. A distal intimal flap was present in 39 pts and could be seen in TEE, CT and MRI in all patients. A new proximal aortic root dissection took place in 5 pts. Progressive aortic pathology led to reoperation in 9 pts. TEE was especially useful in 2 pts to confirm redissection, in 1 pt to rule out redissection assumed by CT, and in 1 with paraprosthetic blood flow after ascending aortic replacement. MRI led to additional information in 1 patient with false aneurysm of the distal anastomosis and 1 with redissection not seen in TEE 6 month before. CT and MRI were superior to TEE in demonstrating aortic arch pathology, whereas TEE was more effective in showing the flow pattern and residual entry sites. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography is an effective and cost-saving diagnostic tool to monitor pts after surgery for type A aortic dissection, and should be the method of choice to ascertain aortic pathology initially after surgery. Follow-up intervals and need for additional CT or MRI should be determined afterwards according to specific pathologies.     

应用腔内隔绝术治疗胸腹主动脉夹层及随访

目的:总结应用腔内隔绝术治疗Stanford B型主动脉夹层经验并报道中期随访结果。方法:22例急性和2例慢性Stanford B型主动脉夹层患者接受腔内隔绝术治疗,术后1、6、12个月,以后每年随访胸部X线平片与螺旋CT检查。结果:24例患者中23例技术成功,1例因支架故障技术失败,技术成功率95·8%。临床随访:23例技术成功患者中22例假腔内完全血栓形成,1例患者部分血栓形成,1例术后1周死于脑栓塞,1例术后3个月囊性动脉瘤形成需行外科血管置换术。临床成功率87·5%。结论:腔内隔绝术治疗急慢性胸腹主动脉夹层技术可行,中期疗效满意,远期疗效需要进一步随访观察。     

Stanford A型主动脉夹层手术中股动脉插管的应用

目的 :探讨经股动脉插管行主动脉夹层动脉瘤手术的应用。方法 :88例StanfordA型主动脉夹层动脉瘤经股动脉插管建立体外循环进行手术 ,其中 2 6例深低温停循环。结果 :8例 (9. 1% )在术中出现假腔灌注 ;4例 (4. 5 % )脑部并发症 (2例广泛脑缺氧 ,2例脑栓塞 ) ,2例死亡 ,1例不清醒 ,1例偏瘫 ;6例 (8. 0 % )皮肤切口延迟愈合 ,局部感染 1例 (1.3% )。术后插管侧无下肢缺血或股动脉血栓形成。结论 :经股动脉插管行体外循环或左心转流手术治疗主动脉夹层动脉瘤的方法是有效的。采用经人工血管行股动脉插管可有效的降低了股动脉狭窄、血栓形成和下肢缺血的并发症发生率 ;股动脉插管主动脉逆行灌注造成的假腔灌注和脑部并发症在本组发生率虽较低 ,但后果严重。     

Modified sandwich technique for acute aortic dissection

We describe a new method for aortic anastomosis in the repair of acute type A aortic dissection. The anastomosis site is prepared with the adventitial inversion technique, which converts a dissected aorta into a conduit lined with tough adventitia. The end is reinforced with felt strip outside and anastomosed with interrupted everting mattress and running sutures, resulting in complete hemostasis. This modified sandwich technique will likely be useful for the surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection.     

Surgical outcome of subtypes of aortic arch dissection

This study was conducted to investigate if the site of primary intimal tear involving the aortic arch and the surgical approach affect the early and late results of total aortic arch replacement. Between 1993 and November 2001, 42 patients underwent graft replacement of the total aortic arch for aortic dissection. Their mean age was 51.9 +/- 9.8 years, and 38 of them were male. All operations were performed under hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion. Hospital mortality was 28.6% (12 patients). There were 2 late deaths. Multivariate analysis showed that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and ascending aortic replacement with or without valve replacement were significant independent determinants of early death. Patients with the intimal tear originating in the ascending aorta showed a tendency towards lower 7-year survival rates than those with a tear at other aortic sites or with multiple tears, while the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease adversely affected early and late outcomes. We conclude that the primary site of an intimal tear that involves the aortic arch affects early and late survival, but concomitant non-cardiac diseases play an even more important role in the early outcome as they increase the complexity of the operation.     

老年主动脉夹层的外科治疗

目的:探讨老年主动脉夹层的外科治疗策略、疗效及预后。方法:回顾性分析本院外科治疗35例老年主动脉夹层患者的临床资料。患者年龄60～77岁,平均(64.9±4.6)岁;男性28例,女性7例;按Debakey分型,Ⅰ型14例,Ⅱ型1例,Ⅲ型20例。结果:全组死亡3例,死亡率8.6%。行降主动脉腔内修复手术18例,杂交手术(即先行主动脉头臂血管转流术,同期行主动脉夹层腔内覆膜支架置入术)3例,均无死亡。开胸手术14例,包括升主动脉置换术2例(同期行主动脉瓣置换1例),升主动脉+半弓置换5例(同期行主动脉瓣置换2例,冠状动脉旁路移植手术1例),升主动脉置换+支架象鼻术2例,升主动脉+全弓置换+支架象鼻术3例,降主动脉置换术2例,共死亡3例,死亡原因为急性肾功能衰竭、多脏器功能不全、心跳骤停及纵隔感染。结论:老年主动脉夹层病情凶险,外科开胸手术治疗死亡率较高,采取杂交手术及微创腔内修复治疗,效果满意。     

Current treatment of acute type A aortic dissection. Surgical treatment and treatment of malperfusion syndrome

Acute type A aortic dissection is a surgical emergency. Treatment is based on dissected ascending aortic replacement and correction of an associated aortic insufficiency. Catheterization of the axillary artery, open distal anastomosis and systematic resection of the intimal tear are the main surgical evolutions of the last years. They allowed to significantly reduce intraoperative mortality rate particularly due to bleeding. Thirty days mortality rate of operated aortic dissection is about 20 to 30%. Visceral malperfusion syndromes induced by aortic dissection represent an important cause of postoperative death. An early diagnosis and treatment appears necessary. Thoracoabdominal CT scan allows understanding mechanisms inducing malperfusion. Aortography and an emergency endovascular procedure allow restoring arterial blood flow before renal or mesenteric irreversible ischemia. Collaboration between radiologist, anesthesiologist and surgeon is necessary to optimize survival of acute type A aortic dissection.     

仿“Z”字主动脉窦部成形技术在急性Stanford A型主动脉夹层中的应用

目的：评估仿“Z”字主动脉窦部成形技术在急性Stanford A型主动脉夹层中的临床疗效;方法：回顾性分析自2014年9月至2018年12月在武汉亚洲心脏病医院大血管中心共收治急性Stanford A型主动脉夹层412例,其中入组125例,包含主动脉瓣重度关闭不全患者60例。男性80例,女性45例;年龄 30-77岁,平均年龄（51.9±9.37）岁。该组患者根部处理均应用仿“Z”字主动脉窦部成形技术,远端半主动脉弓置换15例,全主动脉弓置换110例。全主动脉弓置换患者均置入“象鼻”支架。结果：全组体外循环时间（170±41.2）min;主动脉阻断时间（130.1±30.6）min;深低温停循环时间（25.1±5.9）min。术后随访1.5月—4.3年,术后所有患者主动脉瓣返流程度均为0-1级。 术后经食道超声检查即刻主动窦部残余夹层3例,分别随访1.5年、2.5年和3.0年,未形成动脉瘤,主动脉窦部直径分别为4.3cm、4.2cm和4.5cm。余患者随访期间未发现因主动脉瓣返流及窦部情况再次手术。结论;仿“Z”字主动脉窦部成形技术在急性Stanford A型主动脉夹层中的临床疗效较好,手术操作简单、易掌握、安全有效、易开展。尤其在合并主动脉瓣反流的患者中,避免了换瓣手术,缩短了手术时间,提高了患者的生活质量。     

急性期Standford B型主动脉夹层腔内修复术后早、中期随访结果

目的 评价急性期StanfordB型胸主动脉夹层(TAD)腔内修复术后早、中期手术效果.方法 2009年11月至2012年6月完成80例急性期Stanford B型胸主动脉夹层腔内修复术,手术在发病72 h内完成.手术前行胸腹主动脉夹层强化CT检查,在DSA手术室全麻下切开股动脉进行支架置入术,出院前进行CTA检查,手术后半年至一年内复查CTA.结果 14例患者手术后失去随访.5例术后造影提示有Ⅰ型内漏,4例1年内复查消失或造影剂溢出量明显减少,1例手术后仍有明显Ⅰ型内漏,1年后接受再次支架手术成功.其余支架安装后造影显示破口封闭,无内漏.住院期间死亡2例,1例为高龄患者降主动脉破裂,1例为夹层逆行撕裂至升主动脉后破裂.住院期间发生严重低氧血症8例,急性肾功能不全6例,均经治疗后恢复.结论 急性期Stanford B型胸主动脉夹层进行腔内修复术,术后早期并发症发生率高,中期效果理想.     

Two-step aortic cross-clamping technique for acute type-a aortic dissection in octogenarians

In octogenarians, due to the high mortality and morbidity, acute type-A aortic dissection requires a less invasive surgical approach. We describe a method in which replacement of the ascending aorta and stenting of the dissected arch are performed with mild hypothermic extracorporeal circulation.