Endovascular treatment of thoracic dissection

[Treatment of a patient with acute thoracoabdominal aortic dissection complicated by haemothorax]

Total left-sided haemothorax is a rare and severe complication of acute DeBakey type III aortic dissection. The primary aim of treatment is immediate arrest of haemorrhage and stabilization of the haemodynamic status of the patient. Endovascular isolation of the ruptured thoracic portion of the aorta using a stent graft (TEVAR) has recently become the 'gold standard' in treatment of acute, rupture-complicated aortic dissections of this localization. Described in the article is a clinical case report concerning successful endovascular treatment of a seriously ill patient with dissection of the thoracoabdominal portion of the aorta, rupture and massive haemorrhage into the left pleural cavity. The patient underwent endoprosthetic repair of the descending aorta in the setting of a hybrid operating room under local anaesthesia, followed by drainage of the left pleural cavity. The postoperative period was uneventful with no complications. The patient was discharged in a satisfactory condition on day 10 after the emergency surgical intervention. An important advantage of TEVAR for aortic ruptures is a minimally invasive nature of the procedure, consisting in no need to perform either sternothoracotomy or to connect a heart-lung machine, thus decreasing surgical wound, reducing the risk of perioperative life-threatening haemorrhage, and contributing to early activation of the patient.

Endovascular management of acute aortic dissection

Acute dissection of the thoracic aorta is a potentially life-threatening condition which requires collaborative treatment from multiple specialties for optimal patient outcomes. Dissections involving the ascending aorta and aortic arch have traditionally been managed entirely by surgery, while dissections beyond the arch vessels have most commonly been relegated to medical management. This algorithm has been undergoing a paradigm shift over the past two decades due to improvements in stent graft technology, better understanding of the hemodynamic interactions of the true and false lumen and their influence on organ and limb perfusion, and improvements in medical management and long term surveillance for dissection-related complications. This manuscript includes a brief discussion of the pathogenesis and etiology of dissection, followed by an in-depth review of the medical and endovascular techniques utilized to treat patients afflicted by this condition.

Acute aortic dissection type A

Background

Acute aortic dissection type A (AADA) is a life-threatening vascular emergency. Clinical presentation ranges from pain related to the acute event, collapse due to aortic rupture or pericardial tamponade, or manifestations of organ or limb ischaemia. The purpose of this review was to clarify important clinical issues of AADA management, with a focus on diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Methods

Based on a MEDLINE search the latest literature on this topic was reviewed. Results from the German Registry for Acute Aortic Dissection Type A (GERAADA) are also described.

Results

Currently, the perioperative mortality rate of AADA is below 20 per cent, the rate of definitive postoperative neurological impairment approaches 12 per cent and the long-term prognosis after surviving the acute phase of the disease is good. Many pathology- and therapy-associated factors influence the outcome of AADA, including prompt diagnosis with computed tomography and better cerebral protection strategies during aortic arch reconstruction. Endovascular technologies are emerging that may lead to less invasive treatment options.

Conclusion

AADA is an emergency that can present with a wide variety of clinical scenarios. Advances in the surgical management of this complex disease are improving outcomes.