“Real World” Results of Open Descending Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aortic Replacement

Abstract

Despite evolution of circulation management strategies and adjunctive techniques for spinal cord and visceral organ protection, the perioperative risk for descending aortic (DTA) and thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) replacement remains significant. In this issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Khan and colleagues1 present pooled outcomes from approximately 12,000 patients who underwent open DTA and TAA replacement. Operative mortality for Crawford extents I, II, III, IV, and V aneurysms was 10.5%, 15.2%, 13.1%, 11.1%, and 13.7%, respectively.