Stent Graft Placement For Type Research Articles

Bilateral Versus Unilateral Antegrade Cerebral Perfusion in Arch Reconstruction for Aortic Dissection

The superiority of bilateral versus unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) has been the subject of much debate. This study aimed to compare the two methods of cerebral perfusion. Between September 2005 and June 2011, 263 patients (median age 51.4±10.1 years, range, 26 to 75; 200 men) underwent open aortic arch reconstruction with hypothermic circulatory arrest and bilateral or unilateral ACP. Among them, 231 patients had acute aortic dissection, 12 had subacute aortic dissection, 20 had chronic aortic dissection, 7 had Marfan syndrome, 8 had reconstruction secondary to endovascular stent graft placement for type B dissection, and 9 had bicuspid aortic valve. Our patient cohort is divided into those protected with hypothermic circulatory arrest and bilateral ACP (group A, n=128) and those with hypothermic circulatory arrest and unilateral ACP (group B, n=135). There was no significant difference between groups A and B in cardiopulmonary bypass time, cross-clamp time, or cerebral perfusion time. Overall in-hospital mortality was 11.7% for group A and 11.1% for group B (p=0.877). Postoperative temporary and permanent neurologic dysfunction was 5.5% versus 6.7% and 12.5% versus 10.4%, respectively (group A versus group B: p=0.685, p=0.587). Intensive care unit time was 9.4±9.8 days for group A and 8.4±14.0 days for group B (p=0.972). Hospitalization was 24.3±14.6 days for group A and 23.1±21.1 days for group B (p=0.172). Unilateral ACP with hypothermic circulatory arrest is a safe cerebral protection technique for open aortic arch reconstruction, and is not inferior to bilateral ACP with hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Surgical treatment for retrograde type A aortic dissection after endovascular stent graft placement for type B dissection

Retrograde type A aortic dissection (RTAD) is a life-threatening and underestimated complication of endovascular stent graft placement for type B dissection. Here, we retrospectively investigated our experience of surgical treatment for RTAD after endovascular stent graft placement for type B dissection. Between June 2006 and September 2011, nine patients with RTAD were transferred to our department for surgery. Total arch replacement was performed in six patients and three patients underwent subtotal arch replacement. Associated procedures consisted of ascending aorta replacement in nine patients, coronary artery bypass grafting in one patient and aortic valve plasty in two patients. All operations were performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 158.33 ± 29.18 min. The myocardial ischaemic time was 78.11 ± 28.30 min. The antegrade cerebral perfusion time was 38.67 ± 12.34 min. The mean ventilation time was 45.63 ± 24.74 h. A tracheotomy was necessary in one patient. The ICU time was 7.00 ± 6.80 days and the in-hospital duration was 25.33 ± 11.95 days. There was no in-hospital mortality. The mean follow-up was 34.79 ± 19.37 months and eight patients are still alive. One patient was lost to follow-up. Surgical treatment for RTAD is a safe alternative and the results are encouraging.

Retrograde Type A Aortic Dissection After Endovascular Stent Graft Placement for Treatment of Type B Dissection

Retrograde type A aortic dissection has been deemed a rare complication after endovascular stent graft placement for type B dissection. However, this life-threatening event appears to be underrecognized and is worth being investigated further. Eleven of 443 patients developed retrograde type A aortic dissection during or after stent grafting for type B dissection from August 2000 to June 2007. Of these 11 patients, 3 had Marfan syndrome. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the rate of freedom from this event at 36 months is 97.4% (95% confidence interval, 0.95 to 0.99). The new entry was located at the tip of the proximal bare spring of the stent graft in 9 patients, was within the anchoring area of the proximal bare spring in 1, and remained unknown in 1 patient. Eight patients were converted to open surgery, and 2 received medical treatment. One patient suddenly died 2 hours after the primary stent grafting, and 2 died within 1 week after the surgical conversion, so mortality reached 27.3%. During the follow-up from 3 to 50 months, type I endoleak was identified in 1 patient 3 months after the surgical exploration and disappeared at 6 months. Retrograde type A aortic dissection after stent grafting for type B dissection appears not to be rare and results from mixed causes. Fragility of the aortic wall and disease progression may predispose to it, whereas stent grafting-related factors make important and provocative contributions. Avoiding aortic arch stent grafting in Marfan patients, preferably selecting the endograft without the proximal bare spring for patients with a kinked aortic arch or with Marfan syndrome (if endografting is used), improving the device design, and standardizing endovascular manipulation might lessen its occurrence.