Aortic Dissection Repair Using the STABILISE Technique Associated with Arch Procedures: Report of Two Cases

Current perspectives in acute type B aortic dissections: a literature review

In this new millennial, endovascular strategies have revolutionized the treatment of acute type B aortic dissection (aTBAD). With reduced in-hospital mortality and good long-term outcomes TEVAR has become the gold standard for the treatment of complicated dissection and is gaining increasing support for its preventive applicability in some uncomplicated dissections. With this new paradigm came a shift of the treatment goal where just covering the entry tear is not enough and instead achieving long-term positive thoracoabdominal remodeling is needed. More extensive approaches with composite device designs (covered stent graft and bare metal stent) emerged to answer this aortic conundrum. At 5-year of follow-up, "Provisional ExTension To Induce COmplete Attachment technique" (PETTICOAT) and its evolution "Stent assisted balloon induced intimal disruption and relamination in aortic dissection repair" (STABILISE) seem to be safe techniques that can allow, when anatomically feasible, excellent aortic remodeling and, in some cases, even the healing of the dissection. Nevertheless, STABILISE results, although promising, are mostly based on small series and therefore need to be validated by analyzing medium-long-term results from the international registry. Given the plethora of new data and the disparity of expert opinions on the best treatment to adopt, in this review we aim to summarize the current knowledge on the results of these different strategies for acute TBAD.

Stent-Assisted Balloon-Induced Intimal Disruption and Relamination in Aortic Dissection Repair (STABILISE): A Meta-Analysis of Early Outcomes

BACKGROUND

This meta-analysis aims to determine the early clinical outcomes and rate of complete false lumen obliteration associated with the stent-assisted balloon-induced intimal disruption and relamination in aortic dissection repair (STABILISE) technique in the management of aortic dissection.

METHODS

Electronic databases searches were performed on PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies reporting early outcomes of the STABILISE technique. In addition, we retrospectively analyzed all patients treated with the STABILISE technique for aortic dissection at our institution. The case series data were pooled with relevant studies to perform a meta-analysis of proportions using random-effects models.

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety two patients from 9 relevant studies were pooled with an additional 13 patients undergoing STABILISE at our institution over a 3-year period. Pooled in-hospital mortality rate was 6% [95% confidence interval (CI); 3%-10%, I2 = 0.00%] and the overall rate of intraoperative aortic rupture was 4% [95% CI; 2%-8%, I2 = 0.00%]. The rate of in-hospital reintervention was 8% [95% CI; 5%-14%, I2 = 13.37%]. Median follow-up ranged from 8 to 36 months. Pooled cumulative mortality at follow-up was 8% [95% CI; 4%-18%, I2 = 23.15%]. The overall rate of late reintervention was 11% [95% CI; 7%-17%, I2 = 0.00%]. Complete obliteration of the false lumen in the thoracic aorta was achieved in 93% of patients [95% CI; 84%-97%, I2 = 47.49%] and in the abdominal aorta in 86% of patients [95% CI; 79%-91%, I2 = 0.00%].

CONCLUSIONS

The STABILISE technique carries an acceptable operative safety profile with low in-hospital morbidity and mortality and excellent complete false lumen obliteration.

Outcomes of Secondary Endovascular Aortic Repair After Frozen Elephant Trunk

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the midterm outcomes of secondary extension of frozen elephant trunk (FET) by means of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

METHODS

This single-center prospective study was conducted in a tertiary aortic center on consecutive patients having undergone TEVAR with an endograft covering most of the 10 cm FET module with 2 to 4 mm oversizing. All patients were monitored by computerized tomography angiography (CTA) at sixth month and yearly thereafter.

RESULTS

From January 2015 to July 2022, among 159 patients who received FET, 30 patients (18.8%) underwent a TEVAR procedure (13 for a thoracoabdominal aneurysm, 11 for a chronic aortic dissection and 6 for an emergency procedure). All connections were successfully achieved with 2 postoperative deaths (6.6%) and 1 paraplegia (3.3%). At a median follow-up of 21 months (interquartile range [IQR], 4.2-34.7), 5 patients (25%) required a fenestrated-branched endovascular aortic repair (F-BEVAR) extension followed by 4 patients with 5 reinterventions, 3 for a Type 3 endoleak due to disconnection between FET and TEVAR endograft, and 2 unrelated to the FET for a secondary Type 1C endoleak. All reinterventions were successful, without mortality or morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

In this series, FET connection with a TEVAR endograft was effective with low postoperative morbidity but with a risk of aortic reintervention related to disconnection between the FET and TEVAR endograft. These results suggest the need for annual CTA monitoring with no time limit in patients following connection of the FET with a TEVAR endograft.

CLINICAL IMPACT

In this series of 30 patients, midterm outcomes of secondary extension of frozen elephant trunk (FET) by thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) showed 3 disconnections (10%) with a Type 3 endoleak between FET and TEVAR. These findings suggest the need for annual CTA monitoring with no time limit. But so far, only a few studies provide some information after one year while the risk of disconnection increases over time and becomes a concern after 3 years. This is the new message brought by our study.

Changing Management of Type B Aortic Dissections

The purpose of this manuscript is to review recent trends in the management of acute type B aortic dissection. Due to its efficacy and low morbidity, thoracic endografting has rapidly been adopted as the treatment of choice for most patients with malperfusion or rupture as a consequence of acute aortic dissection. This technology is increasingly applied to patients without rupture or malperfusion, so-called "uncomplicated" dissections, to reduce the incidence of late aneurysmal degeneration in the ungrafted segments of the thoracoabdominal aorta. A variety of techniques have been proposed, including intentional rupture of the dissection membrane to obliterate the false lumen as well as the candy-plug technique to eliminate retrograde flow in the false lumen.

Chronic Thoracic Aortic Dissection: How to Treat, When to Intervene

Thoracic aortic dissection (AD) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Acute aortic syndrome is the first presentation of the disease in most cases. While acute AD management follows concrete guidelines because of its urgent and life-threatening nature, chronic AD is usually overlooked, although it concerns a wide spectrum of patients surviving an acute event. Acute AD survivors ultimately enter a chronic aortic disease course. Patients with chronic thoracic AD (CTAD) require lifelong surveillance and a proportion of them may present with symptoms and late complications demanding further surgical or endovascular treatment. However, the available data concerning the management of CTAD is sparse in the literature. The management of patients with CTAD is challenging as far as determining the best medical therapy and deciding on intervention are concerned. Until recently, there were no guidelines or recommendations for imaging surveillance in patients with chronic AD. The diagnostic methods for imaging aortic diseases have been improved, while the data on new endovascular and surgical approaches has increased significantly. In this review, we summarize the current evidence in the diagnosis and management of CTAD and the latest recommendations for the surgical/endovascular aortic repair of CTAD.

Aortic remodeling after endovascular aortic repair and tailored distal entry tears exclusion in Crawford type III or IV dissection aneurysm

BACKGROUND

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) can only promote 55-80% false lumen (FL) thrombosis when only the proximal primary tear is covered during the repair of type B aortic dissection (TBAD). This study evaluated the effectiveness and clinical outcome of tailored exclusion of the primary entry tear with TEVAR and distal fenestrations with ancillary devices in patients with subacute or chronic Crawford type III and IV aortic dissection aneurysm.

METHODS

All patients underwent either TEVAR for primary entry tear; subsequently, various ancillary devices were applied on each distal fenestration. These techniques included covered stent occlusion of detached visceral artery entry tears, TL stenting and FL occlusion with vascular plugs in the common iliac artery dissection, or TEVAR coverage for multiple fenestrations from segmental arteries. This case series included nine patients (seven men and two women; mean age: 63.4 years) during January 2013 to May 2019. Outcome analysis included the rates of technical success and procedure-related complications, completeness of FL occlusion, aortic remodeling, and midterm mortality at 2 years.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up duration was 37.7 months without in-hospital mortality. One patient was lost to follow-up at the second month, the rest of patients were all alive during the follow-up period. All patients achieved complete FL thrombosis, and six patients exhibited aneurysm diameter shrinkage.

CONCLUSION

Tailored exclusion of visceral and iliac distal fenestrations with proximal primary tear coverage can promote FL thrombosis and aortic remodeling in the visceral aortic segment in patients with Crawford type III or IV aortic dissection aneurysm.

A new dissection-specific hybrid stent graft for patients with DeBakey type I aortic dissection

OBJECTIVES

We present our first experience of using a new dissection-specific hybrid stent graft (SG) (the 'Soft Elephant Trunk') in the frozen elephant trunk technique, in patients with non-acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection.

METHODS

Between September 2016 and February 2021, patients with non-acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection underwent the frozen elephant trunk procedure at our centre using 3 SG types: group Z used stiff, distal Z-shaped nitinol SGs (E-Vita, Medtronic); group R used a stiff, ring-shaped nitinol SG (Thoraflex); and group S used a soft, distal dissection-specific SG. Predictors of distal SG-induced new entry were analysed. End points were hospital- and midterm-follow-up results.

RESULTS

The study comprised 109 patients with 46 (42.2%), 22 (20.2%) and 41 (37.6%) patients in groups Z, R and S, respectively. No significant differences were found in early outcomes. Freedom from distal SG-induced new entry was comparable in groups Z, R and S (68.9% vs 92.9% vs 100%, log-rank = 0.14). There was no significant difference in follow-up between the groups. Four-year survival rates were 80.44%, 71.59% and 95.06% in groups Z, R and S, respectively. On multivariable analysis, the presence of connective tissue disorders [hazard ratio (HR) = 5.62, P = 0.11] and SG diameter (HR = 1.37, P = 0.034) were strong predictors of distal SG-induced new entry.

CONCLUSIONS

Dissection-specific hybrid SG with a soft distal end is effective in patients with non-acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection. Compared to non-soft distal SGs, this can reduce the incidence of distal complications. Long-term outcomes are necessary to determine the potential advantages and disadvantages of the new prosthesis.

When to Consider Deferral of Surgery in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection: A Review

Background

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a surgical emergency with an operative mortality of up to 30%, a rate which has not changed meaningfully in over two decades. A growing body of research has highlighted several comorbidities and presenting factors in which delay or permanent deferral of surgery may be considered; however, modern comprehensive summative reviews are lacking. The urgency and timing of this review are underscored by significant challenges in resource utilization posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This review provides an update on the current understanding of risk assessment, surgical candidacy, and operative timing in patients with ATAAD.

Methods

A literature search was conducted through PubMed and Embase databases to identify relevant studies relating to risk assessment in ATAAD. Articles were selected via group consensus based on quality and relevance.

Results

Several patient factors have been identified which increase risk in ATAAD repair. In particular, frailty, advanced age, prior cardiac surgery, and use of novel anticoagulant medications have been studied. The understanding of malperfusion syndromes has also expanded significantly, including recommendations for surgical delay. Finally, approaches to triage have been significantly influenced by resource limitations related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While medical management remains a reasonable option in carefully selected patients at prohibitive risk for open surgery, endovascular therapies for treatment of ATAAD are rapidly evolving.

Conclusions

Early surgical repair remains the preferred treatment for most patients with ATAAD, however, improvements in risk stratification should guide appropriate delay or permanent deferral of surgery in select individuals.