Long-Term Outcomes of Chronic Type B Aortic Dissection Treated by Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair

Staging reinterventions for remodeling of residual aortic dissection: a single-center retrospective study

Objective

Inadequate remodeling of residual aortic dissection (RAD) following repair of Stanford A or B aortic dissections has been identified as a significant predictor of patient mortality. This study evaluates the short- to mid-term outcomes of staged reinterventions for RAD at a single center with prospective follow-up.

Methods

Data were retrospectively collected from patients with RAD who underwent staged reinterventions or received none-surgery treatment in the Cardiovascular Surgery Department of our hospital between July 2019 and December 2021. The cohort included 54 patients with residual distal aortic dissection post-primary surgery, comprising 28 who underwent open surgery and 26 who received thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent staged stent interventions for distal dissection [staged reintervention (SR) group] and those who did not undergo surgery (non-surgery group). For the SR group, second or third staged stent interventions were performed. The study assessed distal remodeling of aortic dissection between the groups, focusing on endpoints such as mortality (both general and aortic-specific), occurrences of visceral branch occlusion, necessity for further interventions, and significant adverse events. Morphological changes were analyzed to determine the therapeutic impact.

Results

The study encompassed 54 participants, with 33 in the SR group and 21 in the non-surgical control group. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were statistically comparable across both groups. During an average follow-up of 31.5 ± 7.0 months, aortic-related mortality was 0% in both groups; all-cause mortality was 3% (one case) and 5% (one case) in the SR and control groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference noted. In the SR group, a single patient experienced complications, including renal artery thrombosis, leading to diminished blood flow. An increased true lumen (TL) area and a decreased false lumen area at various aortic planes were observed in the SR group compared to the control group.

Conclusion

The staged reintervention strategy for treating RAD is safe and provides promising early results.

Outcomes of fenestrated endovascular abdominal aortic repair in distal entry tears of chronic debakey IIIb aortic dissection

Currently, there have been very few reports within the literature which specifically address using fenestrated and branched stent grafts to completely isolate and repair distal entry tears of chronic DeBakey IIIb aortic dissection. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a 3-dimensional (3D) printed aortic model-guided fenestrated stent in the treatment of distal tears of chronic DeBakey IIIb aortic dissection after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). The study was a one-center retrospective study comprising 36 patients who underwent TEVAR and fenestrated endovascular abdominal aortic repair (F-EVAR) between April 2014 and December 2022. Patient data was compiled and analysed for preoperative, intraoperative, and perioperative characteristics. In total, 36 patients (12 females and 24 males) were incorporated into this study. All of the patients included in this study had hypertension, and among them, the leading cause for undergoing II-stage F-EVAR was the progression of a false lumen, accounting for 24 cases (66.7% of the total). The technical success rate was 97.2% and there were no cases of 30-day mortality, myocardial infarction, permanent paraparesis, or organ failure. One year post-F-EVAR treatment, surviving patients showed significant false and true lumen remodelling with 100% complete false-lumen thrombosis. A total of five patients died during the follow-up, two patients died related to aorta complications and three patients died of heart failure, multiple organ failure, or septic shock. II-stage F-EVAR was safe and feasible operation to repair all distal tears of chronic DeBakey IIIb aortic dissection.

A Systematic Review and an Updated Meta-Analysis of Fenestrated/Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair of Chronic Post-Dissection Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms

The objective of this study is to present the current outcomes of fenestrated/branched endovascular repair (F/BEVAR) for post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (PDTAAAs). A systematic review of the literature according to PRISMA guidelines up to October 2023 was conducted (protocol CRD42023473403). Studies were included if ≥10 patients were reported and at least one of the major outcomes was stated. A total of 10 studies with 585 patients overall were included. The pooled estimate for technical success was 94.3% (95% CI 91.4% to 96.2%). Permanent paraplegia developed with a pooled rate of 2.5% (95% CI 1.5% to 4.3%), whereas a cerebrovascular event developed with a pooled rate of 1.6% (95% CI 0.8% to 3.0%). An acute renal function impairment requiring new-onset dialysis occurred with a pooled rate of 2.0% (95% CI 1.0% to 3.8%). Postoperative respiratory failure was observed with a pooled estimate of 5.5% (95% CI 3.8% to 8.1%). The pooled estimate for 12-month overall survival was 90% (95% CI 85% to 93.5%), and the pooled estimates for 24-month and 36-month survival were 87.8% (95% CI 80.9% to 92.5%) and 85.5% (95% CI 76.5% to 91.5%), respectively. Freedom from reintervention was estimated at 83.9% (95% CI 75.9% to 89.6%) for 12 months, 82.8% (95% CI 68.7% to 91.4%) for 24 months and 76.1% (95% CI 60.6% to 86.8%) for 36 months. According to the present findings, F/BEVAR can be performed in PD-TAAAs with high rates of technical success and good mid-term results.