Outcomes Of Aortic Dissection Research Articles

Weekend Effect and Mortality Outcomes in Aortic Dissection: A Prospective Analysis.

Aortic dissection (AD) is a critical heart condition with potentially severe outcomes. Our study aimed to investigate the existence of a "weekend effect" in AD by examining the correlation between patient outcomes and whether their treatment occurred on weekdays versus weekends. Specifically, we prospectively analysed the effect of weekday and weekend treatment on acute AD patient outcomes, both before surgical intervention and during hospitalization, for 124 patients treated from 2019-2021, as well as during 6 months of follow-up. The mean age of the study population was 62.5 years, and patient age exhibited a high degree of variability. We recorded a mortality rate before surgery of 8.65% for the weekend group and 15% for the weekday group, but this difference was not statistically significant. During hospitalization, mortality was 50% in the weekend group and 25% in the weekday group, but this difference was not statistically significant. Discharge mortality was 9.61% in the weekend group and 5% in the weekday group. Our findings suggest that there was no significant difference in mortality rates between patients admitted to the hospital on weekends versus weekdays. Therefore, the period of the week when a patient presents to the hospital with AD appears not to affect their mortality.

Correction: Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Outcome and Reoperation Focusing on Extended Versus Limited Initial Repair

Correction to: Heart Surgery Forum https://journal.hsforum.com/index.php/HSF/article/view/5345, published online 3 March 2023.
 In this article, there are some text corrections that need to be incorporated. The original article has been corrected. The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper:
 In the Result section in the Abstract, “Type of the initial repair had no statically significant relationship with in-hospital mortality with a p-value of 0.12, however in multivariable analysis, cross-clamp time had a statistically significant relation with mortality (p = 0.4).” should instead read “Type of the initial repair had no statistically significant relationship with in-hospital mortality with a p-value of 0.12, however in multivariable analysis, cross-clamp time had a statistically significant relation with mortality (p = 0.04). And “The relationship between the type of the initial repair and the need for reoperation didn’t reach a statically significant value (p = 0.9).” should instead read “The relationship between the type of the initial repair and the need for reoperation didn’t reach a statistically significant value (p = 0.9)”.
 The authors confirm that the mistakes do not affect the results and conclusions of the study and apologize for any inconvenience caused by this mistake.

Incidence and Outcomes of Aortic Dissection in Tabriz, Iran; a Longitudinal Study of 150 Cases.

A comprehensive analysis of the epidemiological features of aortic dissections in Azerbaijan Province, Iran, and their influence on patient survival remains unexplored. This study aimed to determine the incidence of aortic dissection and identify the associated factors of mortality in these patients. A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted using hospital records of patients diagnosed with aortic dissection in Tabriz, Iran, between 2017 and 2021. The 3-month mortality was followed up via telephone calls using the contact numbers provided in the patients' records. Then, independently associated factors of mortality were identified using a multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis. Among the 150 cases of aortic dissection identified, 74% (n = 111) were classified as type A, and 26% (n = 39) were classified as type B. The overall incidence proportion of aortic dissections was 2.35 per 100000 population. In type A dissections, 64% (71 out of 111) of patients received surgical treatment, while 21.6% (24 out of 111) received medical treatment. Among type B dissections, only 23.1% (9 out of 39) underwent surgery. The all-cause mortality rate at 3 months was 52.5% (73 out of 139 patients with complete follow-up), 47 male (54%) and 26 female (50%). Multivariate analysis showed that higher age was independently associated with increased mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.06, p = 0.027). In contrast, patients with DeBakey Type III classification (OR = 0.29; 95% CI: 0.01-0.87, p = 0.027), hypothyroidism (OR = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.01-0.99, p = 0.049), and those who received either surgical treatment (OR = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.05-0.76, p = 0.019) or medical treatment (OR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.04-0.80, p = 0.024) had a lower chance of mortality. Gender was not found to be associated with the outcome. The study revealed an annual incidence rate of aortic dissection as 2.35 per 100000 population. Aortic dissection, regardless of type, remains a highly fatal condition, with over half of patients dying within 3 months of the initial event. To reduce the high mortality rates associated with aortic dissections, it is crucial to implement specific measures for the early identification of patients and ensure prompt and appropriate care.

Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Outcome and Reoperation Focusing on Extended Versus Limited Initial Repair.

The optimal management strategy for acute aortic type A dissection remains controversial. Whether a limited primary (index) repair would increase the need for late aortic reintervention is still an open debate. A total of 393 consecutive adult patients with acute type A aortic dissection who underwent cardiac surgery were analyzed. Our research hypothesis was whether limited aortic index repair (i.e., isolated aorta ascending replacement without an open distal anastomosis with and without a concomitant aortic valve replacement, including hemiarch replacement procedure) is associated with a higher incidence of late aortic reoperation compared with extended repair (i.e., any other surgical procedure that goes beyond that limited approach). Type of the initial repair had no statically significant relationship with in-hospital mortality with a P-value of 0.12, however in multivariable analysis, cross-clamp time had a statistically significant relation with mortality (P = 0.4). From the patients who survived until discharge (N = 311), 40 patients needed a reoperation on the aorta; the mean interval until reoperation was 4.5 years. The relationship between the type of the initial repair and the need for reoperation didn't reach a statically significant value (P = 0.9). In-hospitable mortality after the second operation was 10% (N = 4). We reached two conclusions. 1) An extended prophylactic repair in the initial operation of an acute type A aortic dissection might not lead to a lower incidence of reoperations on the aorta and could increase in-hospital mortality by increasing cross-clamp time, and 2) Reoperation on the aorta could be done safely with acceptable mortality outcomes.

Effects of dexmedetomidine on surgery for type A acute aortic dissection outcome

No study has evaluated the effect of dexmedetomidine in patients who received surgery for type A aortic dissection. This is the first study to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine in aortic dissection patients. This study was executed using data from the Chang Gung Research Database in Taiwan. The CGRD contains the multi‐institutional standardized electronic medical records from seven Chang Gung Memorial hospitals, the largest medical system in Taiwan. We retrospectively evaluate patients who received surgery for acute type A aortic dissection between January 2014 and December 2018. Overall, 511 patients were included, of whom 104 has received dexmedetomidine infusion in the postoperative period. One-to-two propensity score-matching yielded 86 cases in the dexmedetomidine group and 158 cases in the non-dexmedetomidine group. The in-hospital mortality and composite outcome including all-cause mortality, acute kidney injury, delirium, postoperative atrial fibrillation, and respiratory failure, were considered primary outcomes. The in-hospital mortality and composite outcome were similar between groups. The risk of Acute Kidney Injury Network stage 3 acute kidney injury was significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group than in the non-dexmedetomidine group (8.1% vs 19.0%; OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.17–0.86; p = 0.020. The risk of newly-onset dialysis was also significantly lower in the dexmedetomidine group than in the non-dexmedetomidine group (4.7% vs 13.3%; OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11–0.90; p = 0.031). Post-operative dexmedetomidine infusion significantly reduced the rate of severe acute kidney injury and newly-onset dialysis in patients who received surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.

Hemoadsorption of Rivaroxaban and Ticagrelor during Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Operations.

Objective: To analyze the results of hemoadsorption in patients with cardiac surgery to thoracic aortic surgery, who had been loaded beforehand with either Factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban or P2Y12 receptor antagonist ticagrelor.Methods: We investigated 21 of 171 consecutive patients (median age 71 [interquartile range 62, 76] years) who underwent emergency cardiac operations for acute type A aortic dissection between 2014 and 2020. These patients were pretreated with rivaroxaban (n = 9) or ticagrelor (n = 12). In ten of 21 cases (since 2017), we installed a hemoadsorber into the heart–lung machine and compared the results to eleven patients done without hemoadsorber before that time.Results: The operation time was significantly shorter in the adsorber group (286 ± 40 min vs. 348 ± 79 min; p = 0.045). The postoperative 24-hour drainage volume was significantly lower after adsorption (p <0.001; 482 ± 122 ml vs. 907 ± 427 ml) and no rethoracotomy had to be performed (compared to two rethoracotomies [18.9%] among patients without adsorber use). Also, patients without hemoadsorption required significantly more platelet transfusions (p = 0.049).Conclusions: In patients with acute type A aortic dissection who were pretreated with rivaroxaban and ticagrelor, the intraoperative use of CytoSorb hemoadsorption during cardiopulmonary bypass is reported for the first time. The method was found to be effective to prevent from bleeding and to improve the outcome in aortic dissection.

Entry Tear Dominance at CT Angiography Predicts Long-term Clinical Outcomes in Aortic Dissection: Another Piece of the Puzzle.

Entry Tear Dominance at CT Angiography Predicts Long-term Clinical Outcomes in Aortic Dissection: Another Piece of the Puzzle.

Differences in the Area of Proximal and Distal Entry Tears at CT Angiography Predict Long-term Clinical Outcomes in Aortic Dissection.

To identify entry tear variables that are related to adverse clinical events by using CT angiography (CTA) performed during the subacute phase of aortic dissection. In this prospective study conducted from January 2000 to December 2013, participants with an aortic dissection with a patent false lumen and no comorbidities underwent CTA during the subacute phase. Participants were followed up for a survival analysis to assess the time to an adverse aortic event (AAE). The maximum aortic diameter (MAD), proximal and distal tear areas and difference between these areas, and partial false-lumen thrombosis were assessed by using Cox regression for adverse events. Seventy-two participants (mean age, 55 years ± 12 [standard deviation]; 55 men) were evaluated: 47 were surgically treated (type A aortic dissection) and 25 were medically treated (type B aortic dissection). Twenty-two participants had an AAE manifest during follow-up (9.22 years ± 5.78): There were 18 elective surgeries for aneurysmal degeneration, two emergent surgeries for acute aortic syndrome, and two aortic condition-related deaths. A categorical model composed of genetic aortic disease (GAD) (hazard ratio [HR], 3.4 [95% CI: 1.2, 9.9]; P = .02), MAD greater than 45 mm (HR, 6.1 [95% CI: 2.4, 15.8]; P < .001), and tear dominance (HR, 5.2 [95% CI: 2.1, 13]; P < .001), defined as an absolute tear area difference of greater than 1.2 cm2, was used to stratify participants into three risk groups: low, without any risk factors (57% [41 of 72] and 7% [three of 41] had events); intermediate, with one risk factor (31% [22 of 72] and 50% [11 of 22] had events); and high, with two or more risk factors (13% [nine of 72] and 89% [eight of nine] had events; log rank P < .001). Tear dominance demonstrated at CTA performed in the subacute phase of aortic dissection was related to long-term adverse events. Participants without GAD, dominant tears, or MAD greater than 45 mm had conditions that were safely managed with optimal medical treatment and imaging follow-up.Keywords: CT Angiography, Vascular, Aorta, Dissection Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2021See also commentary by Fleischmann and Burris in this issue.

Association of Family History With Incidence and Outcomes of Aortic Dissection

BackgroundAortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening emergency. However, the heritability and association of family history with late outcomes are unclear. ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of family history of AD on the incidence and prognosis of AD and estimate the heritability and environmental contribution in AD in Taiwan. MethodsBoth cross-sectional and cohort studies were conducted using Taiwan National Health Insurance database. A registry parent–offspring relationship algorithm was used to reconstruct the genealogy of this population for heritability estimation. The cross-sectional study included 23,868 patients with a diagnosis of AD in 2015. The prevalence and adjusted relative risks (RRs) were evaluated, and the liability threshold model was used to examine the effects of heritability and environmental factors. Furthermore, a 1:10 propensity score–matched cohort comprising AD patients with or without a family history of AD was included to compare late outcomes in the cohort study. ResultsA family history of AD in first-degree relatives was associated with an RR of 6.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.12 to 9.07). The heritability of AD was estimated to be 57.0% for genetic factors, and 3.1% and 40.0% for shared and nonshared environmental factors, respectively. After excluding individuals with Marfan syndrome or bicuspid aortic valve, a family history of AD was associated with an RR of 6.56 (95% CI: 4.92 to 8.77) for AD. Furthermore, patients with AD and a family history of AD had a higher risk of later aortic surgery than those with AD without a family history (subdistribution hazard ratio: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.76). ConclusionsA family history of AD was a strong risk factor for AD. Furthermore, patients with AD with a family history of AD had a higher risk of later aortic surgery than those with no family history of AD.

Sex differences and temporal trends in aortic dissection: a population-based study of incidence, treatment strategies, and outcome in Swedish patients during 15 years.

AimsAs large population-based studies of aortic dissection are lacking, the incidence numbers and knowledge about time-trends and sex differences are uncertain. The objective was to describe incidence, temporal trends and outcome of aortic dissection with particular emphasis on sex differences.Methods and resultsDuring the study period 2002–2016, 8057 patients in Sweden were diagnosed with aortic dissection, identified from the National Patient Register and the Cause of Death Register. A total of 5757 (71%) patients were hospitalized, whereas 2300 (29%) patients were deceased without concurrent hospital stay. The annual incidence was 7.2 per 100 000 (9.1 in men and 5.4 in women), decreasing over time in men (P = 0.005). Mean age in the hospitalized patients was 68 years (SD 13), 2080 (36%) were women. Within the first 14 days after onset, 1807 patients (32%) underwent surgical repair. The proportion of surgically treated increased from the 5-year period 2002–2006 to 2012–2016 [27% vs. 35%, odds ratio (OR) 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39–1.86; P < 0.001]. In hospitalized patients, 30-day mortality decreased between the same periods (26% vs. 21%, OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.59–0.80; P < 0.001). Long-term mortality decreased as well (hazard ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.67–0.82; P < 0.001). Women had higher 30-day mortality than men after acute repair, a sex difference that remained after age adjustment (17% vs. 12%, OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.04–1.82; P = 0.006).ConclusionThis population-based study detected a higher incidence of aortic dissection than prior reports, but a decreasing incidence in men. Surgical therapy was increasingly used and with more favourable outcome but was less frequently offered to elderly patients. The sustained sex differences regarding both incidence and outcome require further attention.

Population-Based Assessment of Aortic-Related Outcomes in Aortic Dissection, Intramural Hematoma, and Penetrating Aortic Ulcer

The aim of the study was to analyze aortic-related outcomes after diagnosis of aortic dissection (AD), intramural hematoma (IMH), and penetrating aortic ulcer (PAU) from a population-based approach. Retrospective review of an incident cohort of AD, IMH, and PAU patients in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1995 to 2015. Primary end point was aortic death. Secondary end points were subsequent aortic events (aortic intervention, new dissection, or rupture not present at presentation) and first-time diagnosis of an aortic aneurysm. Outcomes were compared with randomly selected population referents matched for age and sex in a 3:1 ratio using Cox proportional hazards regression adjusting for comorbidities. Among 133 patients (77 AD, 21 IMH, and 35 PAU), 57% were males, and mean age was 71.8years (standard deviation, 14). Median follow-up was 10years. Of 73 deaths among AD/IMH/PAU patients, 23 (32%) were aortic-related. Estimated freedom from aortic death was 84%, 80%, and 77% at 5, 10, and 15years. There were no aortic deaths among population referents (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] for aortic death in AD/IMH/PAU, 184.7; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 10.3-3,299.2; P<0.001). Fifty (38%) AD/IMH/PAU patients had a subsequent aortic event (aortic intervention, new dissection, or rupture), whereas there were 8 (2%) aortic events among population referents (all elective aneurysm repairs; adjusted HR for any aortic event and aortic intervention in AD/IMH/PAU patients, 33.3; 95% CI, 15.3-72.0; P<0.001 and 31.5; 95% CI, 14.5-68.4; P<0.001, respectively). After excluding aortic events/interventions ≤14days of diagnosis, AD/IMH/PAU patients remained at increased risk of any aortic event (adjusted HR, 10.8; 95% CI, 3.9-29.8; P<0.001) and aortic intervention (adjusted HR, 9.6; 95% CI, 3.4-26.8; P<0.001). Among those subjects with available follow-up imaging, the risk of first-time diagnosis of aortic aneurysm was significantly increased for AD/IMH/PAU patients when compared with population referents (adjusted HR, 10.9; 95% CI, 5.4-21.7; P<0.001 and 8.3; 95% CI, 4.1-16.7; P<0.001 for thoracic and abdominal aneurysms, respectively) and remained increased when excluding aneurysms that formed within 14days of AD/IMH/PAU (adjusted HR, 6.2; 95% CI, 1.8-21.1; P=0.004 and 2.8; 95% CI, 1.0-7.6; P=0.040 for thoracic and abdominal aneurysms, respectively). AD/IMH/PAU patients have a substantial risk of aortic death, any aortic event, aortic intervention, and first-time diagnosis of aortic aneurysm that persists even when the acute phase (≤14days after diagnosis) is uncomplicated. Advances in postdiagnosis treatment are necessary to improve the prognosis in these patients.

Management and Outcomes of Aortic Dissection in Pregnancy with Marfan Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

In Marfan Syndrome (MFS), aortic dilatation is one of the main cardiovascular manifestations which deteriorate due to the physiological changes during pregnancy. We aimed to assess the up-to-date management and outcomes of aortic root dilation and dissection (AoD) in pregnancy with MFS. A systematic review was conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Original studies published between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2018 and which described the management and/or outcomes of AoD during or after pregnancy in women with MFS were included. Literature searches were conducted. The PubMed search was performed using terms "Marfan Syndrome" [Mesh] and "Pregnancy" [Mesh] whereas the Google Scholar search was for "Marfan" and "Pregnancy", all words anywhere in the article. The literature search yielded 177 articles on PubMed and 13,900 articles on Google Scholar. Assessment of full-text articles for eligibility after removal of duplicates from both databases yielded 12 eligible studies to be included in the final review. Women with MFS are at high risk of aortic dissection during pregnancy and women with aortic root 41-45 mm should consider avoiding pregnancy. Guideline-specific management of aortic aneurysms in pregnancy will reduce the risk of dissection. Diagnosis and Management of MFS need a multidisciplinary approach and team that should start working early in pregnancy. Further studies are needed to optimize medical and surgical approaches in addition to preconception counselling in highrisk subjects.

Utility of age, creatinine, and ejection fraction score in patients with type B aortic dissection undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair

BackgroundOlder age, renal and cardiac dysfunction are predictors of poor outcome in aortic dissection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the age, creatinine and ejection fraction (ACEF) score with adverse events in patients with type B aortic dissection (TBAD) undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). MethodsThe study enrolled 605 patients from January 2010 to July 2015, who were classified into three groups according to the tertiles of ACEF score: Tertile 1 (≤0.77, n = 204), Tertile 2 (0.77–0.96, n = 205) and Tertile 3 (>0.96, n = 196). The association between ACEF, AGEF (age, glomerular filtration rate and ejection fraction) and the updated version of the ACEF (ACEF II) score with adverse events was analyzed. ResultsAfter a median 3.4 years follow-up, 63 (10.4%) patients died. Multivariable analysis revealed that ACEF score was independently associated with long-term mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.54; 95% confidence interval, 2.09–6.01; p < 0.001). ACEF, AGEF and ACEF II score had similar predictive ability for both in-hospital and long-term death. The in-hospital mortality (1.5% vs. 1.0% vs. 6.6%, p = 0.001) were significantly higher in Tertile 3. In addition, cumulative long-term mortality in Tertile 3 was significantly higher than that in Tertile 1 and 2 (Log-Rank = 23.74; p < 0.001). ConclusionACEF score could be served as an useful and relatively simple tool for pre-TEVAR risk stratification in TBAD patients.

Overview of the current knowledge on etiology, natural history and treatment of aortic dissection.

In this manuscript, we review the etiology, classification, clinical manifestation, behavior, management and outcomes of aortic dissection. We emphasize the importance of genetics in the development of aortic dissection, discuss the role of size in clinical decision-making, and review the mechanism of aortic dissection development as well as the maturation of the dissected aorta.

Outcomes in Aortic Dissection in Patients Presenting to Launceston General Hospital

Outcomes in Aortic Dissection in Patients Presenting to Launceston General Hospital

Increased Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio is Associated with In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Aortic Dissection

i ne prognostic relevance of hematological parameters in cardiovascular diseases has been well demonstrated. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the association between the hematological parameters, particularly neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and outcomes of aortic dissection (AD). Two hundred patients diagnosed with AD were retrospectively recruited and compared with 76 subjects with ascending aortic dilatation (AAD) and 92 subjects with normal aortic diameters. The independent relation between hematological parameters and in-hospital mortality was analyzed by regression analysis. The NLR was significantly higher in the AD group compared to the AAD and control groups (median 8.83 [8.13] vs. median 1.95 [1.10] vs. median 1.71 [0.77], respectively; p = 0.01). The NLR was higher in the deceased (n = 57) compared to the surviving patients (n = 143) (median 10.37 [10.86] vs. median 7.84 [8.17]; p = 0.01). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis revealed that a NLR measurement higher than > 8.78 predicted in-hospital mortality for patients with acute aortic dissection with a sensitivity of 67.4% and a specificity of 57.2% (AUC: 0.672; p = 0.01). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, increased aortic diameter, acute dissection, and increased levels of NLR remained as the independent markers of in-hospital mortality within the study population. In patients with AD, NLR levels were increased compared to patients with AAD and controls and were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. This finding implicates that admission hematological parameters may have clinical importance in evaluating the mortality risk in patients with AD.

TCT-569 Aortic Dissection and Mortality During Pregnancy in the United States: A 10-Year Analysis

Aortic dissection during pregnancy is a morbid condition for both the mother and her fetus. There is scant data on the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of aortic dissection during pregnancy. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database was queried for cases of pregnancy and aortic dissection

Acute type B aortic dissection: insights from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection.

Acute type B aortic dissection comprises approximately one-third of all aortic dissection cases. Although this catastrophic cardiovascular condition was first described in the medical literature over two centuries ago, data on the optimal diagnostic and treatment modalities for type B dissection was slow to evolve throughout the latter half of the twentieth century, even as newer diagnostic techniques and management strategies became commonplace. To further elucidate contemporary practice patterns and outcomes of aortic dissection, the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD) was established in 1996. Over the past two decades, IRAD publications have steadily increased our knowledge and understanding about aortic dissection. Specifically in recent years, analyses of IRAD data have gone beyond simply characterizing the patient with acute type B aortic dissection and have attempted to identify the means by which the outcome of such a patient could be improved. Thus, we present herein three areas in which IRAD data has recently advanced our understanding of acute type B aortic dissection: temporal classification especially for the subacute time period, risk stratification for identifying complicated cases, and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

Incidence, risk factors, outcome and projected future burden of acute aortic dissection.

Acute aortic dissection has a high mortality rate, despite well-established treatment guidelines (1). Data on risk factors, incidence and outcome of aortic dissection are limited, largely due to a lack of contemporary population-based studies of this condition. Existing hospital-based studies, often from specialist centers or studies of retrospective registry data such as the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection (IRAD), may underestimate incidence and case fatality by incomplete inclusion of deaths prior to hospital admission, which might also bias assessment of risk factors and predictors of outcome. This research highlight outlines the findings of our recent population-based research of acute aortic dissection, which is the first-ever prospective epidemiological study of this condition (2). We studied event rates, incidence, risk factors, early case fatality, and long-term outcome of all acute aortic events occurring in a population of 92,728 in Oxfordshire, UK, during 2002-2012, as part of the Oxford Vascular Study (OXVASC). Using current incidence data and Office of National Statistics (ONS) population projections (3), we went on to predict UK incidence event rates for acute aortic dissection over the next 40 years.

Successful surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection without the use of blood products

We report successful surgical treatment of type A aortic dissection in a Jehovah's Witness without the use of any blood products. An interposition graft replacement of the ascending aorta was carried out. This was under right axillo-atrial cardiopulmonary bypass with antegrade cerebral perfusion via right a subclavian and left carotid cannula for 24 minutes at 28°C. Body temperature was kept at 32°C throughout. Autologous transfusion was deployed using cell salvage and a preoperative haemodilution technique. The patient was given tranexamic acid, desmopressin, recombinant factor VIIa, folic acid and epoetin alfa. Patients who object to transfusion represent a significant challenge, especially those who are at a high risk of coagulopathy associated with inherent aortic dissection leading to perturbed haemodynamics, cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermic circulatory arrest. Type A aortic dissection repair is possible in patients refusing the use of blood products with blood salvage techniques and synthetic products that can limit the risk of bleeding. Minimal hypothermia is vital to preserve platelet function and avoid coagulopathy. Thus, a combination of normothermic/minimal hypothermia and antegrade cerebral protection with a blood conservation strategy can be deployed for a successful surgical outcome in aortic dissection without transfusion.