Prognosis of patients undergoing emergency surgery for type A acute aortic dissection without exclusion of the intimal tear

Abstract

To investigate the prognosis after emergency surgery for acute type A aortic dissection with an unknown entry site and to identify the predictors of postoperative aortic dilatation. The subjects were 102 patients undergoing emergency surgery for acute type A dissection from July 2005 to October 2010. They were divided into group I (n=45) undergoing aortic surgery without tear resection and group II (n=57) undergoing resection that included the intimal tear. The postoperative hospital mortality was similar, 13.3% (n=6) in group I and 12.3% (n=7) in group II. Of the 102 patients, 69 underwent follow-up computed tomography scanning after discharge, and the aortic diameter was significantly increased in group I compared with that in group II (P=.035). Dilatation of the descending aorta occurred in 21 patients (30.4%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a patent false lumen (P=.027) and nonexclusion of the entry site (P=.012) were independent risk factors for aortic dilatation. No difference was found in the freedom from aorta-related clinical events at 4 years, with a rate of 81.9% in group I and 74.4% in group II. Also, no difference was found in the 4-year actuarial survival rate between groups I and II (86.4% and 78.5%, respectively). The prognosis of patients without exclusion of the entry site was acceptable. Careful follow-up isneeded for patients with a patent false lumen or nonexcluded entry because of the risk of aortic dilatation.