Five-year results of using the 'frozen elephant trunk' technique for thoracic aortic dissection

The Frozen Elephant Trunk Procedure Using New Russian Hybrid Prosthesis "Soft Elephant Trunk": the Early Experience

Aim      To present the first experience of performing the Frozen Elephant Trunk (FET) surgery in patients with thoracic aorta disease using a new Russian hybrid stent graft "Soft Elephant Trunk".Material and methods  Between 2014 and 2021, 170 patients with thoracic aortic disease underwent complete aortic arch replacement using the FET technique. In 70 of these cases (since June 2019), a hybrid graft "Soft Elephant Trunk" was used. A specific feature of this graft is the conical reduction of the radial force of nitinol crowns and the soft distal end without radial force. The study endpoints were early postoperative results, as well as the absence of reoperations on the aorta, absence of stent-graft-associated complications, including distal stent-graft-induced fenestration, and survival at a mid-term follow-up of up to 2.5 years.Results Interventions were performed in patients with A type aortic dissection (n=51; 72.9 %), type B aortic dissection (n=13; 18.6 %), and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) (n=6; 8.5 %). In 14 (20 %) of these cases, interventions were performed after a primary intervention on the proximal aorta. Acute aortic dissection was diagnosed in 17 (24.3 %) cases. Aortic root replacement was performed in 21 (30 %) cases, David procedure in 5 (7.2 %) cases, Bentall-DeBono procedure in 11 (15.7 %) cases, and supracoronary graft placement in 33 (47.1 %) cases. There were no cases of paraplegia or paraparesis. Respiratory insufficiency was observed in 8 (11.4%) cases. In one (1.4%) case, acute renal failure developed, which required renal replacement therapy. In-hospital mortality was 4.3 % (3 patients died). Mean follow-up duration was 9 [4.25; 16] months. Three-year survival was 94 % (95 % confidence interval, CI: 88-99.9) and absence of reoperation was 96.6 % (95 % CI: 90.1-100). There were no cases of distal stent-graft-induced fenestration in this group.Conclusion      The new hybrid graft, due to its specific structure, provides prevention of distal stent-graft-induced fenestration and, thereby, a stable long-term result. Using this stent-graft is effective in patients with thoracic aorta pathology undergoing the FET surgery. However, further studies are needed to determine potential advantages and disadvantages of this new hybrid graft, to obtain long-term results and accumulate experience.

[Surgical treatment of mega aorta syndrome: a single-center experience]

OBJECTIVE

To present our experience in the treatment of severe patients with mega aorta syndrome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 49 patients with mega aorta syndrome for the period from May 2015 to March 2021. All patients underwent total aortic replacement from sinotubular junction (with staged aortic root repair, if necessary) to abdominal aorta bifurcation. All surgeries were elective. All patients were divided into two groups: group I (n=33; 67.3%) - staged replacement, group II (n=16; 32.7%) - one-staged replacement of the aorta via thoracophrenolumbotomy. The primary endpoints were mortality, perioperative parameters and complications. We also analyzed long-term freedom from aortic redo surgery and survival rate.

RESULTS

Both groups were comparable by pre-, intra- and postoperative parameters. The interval between surgeries for staged approach was 7.1±2.3 months. Rehabilitation time considering two stages was longer in group I (13±2 vs. 5.5±1.1 months, p=0.0001). Between-stage mortality rate was 12% (n=4). Intraoperative mortality was absent in both groups. In-hospital mortality was 3% and 12% (p=0.25), overall mortality with between-stage interval - 10.2% and 12% (p=1.000), respectively. The follow-up period was similar (18±22.7 (range 1-71) and 23.3±19.1 (range 1-51) months, respectively (p=0.63)). In group I, 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rate considering between-stage mortality was 89% (95% CI 78-100%), 77.1% (95% CI 60.1-98.8%), 77.1% (95% CI 60.1-98.8%), respectively. In group II, 1-year and 3-year survival rate was 86.5% (95% CI 70.5-100%), p_log-rank=0.88. Overall freedom from redo surgery was 92.9% (95% CI 80.3-100%) vs. 90.9% (95% CI 75.4-100%), p_log-rank=0.072.

CONCLUSION

One-stage total aortic replacement via thoracophrenolumbotomy is safe surgical treatment for mega aorta syndrome, especially in young patients with low surgical risk. Favorable outcomes may be expected in specialized centers with extensive experience in aortic surgery. Compared to staged approach, total aortic replacement eliminates the risks of between-stage aortic rupture. Therefore, it is a worthy alternative to other methods.

[Predictors of early adverse events after the frozen elephant trunk procedure]

AIM

The aim of this study was to identify predictors of adverse events after the frozen elephant trunk procedure in the early postoperative period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between March 2012 and March 2020, a total of 273 patients were operated on for aortic pathology. A retrospective analysis aimed at identifying probable predictors was performed on 83 patients who underwent the FET procedure. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression was used to identify predictors of such adverse events as postoperative delirium, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, and in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

According to the findings of the optimal multivariate regression model, separate reimplantation of the supra-aortic branches was a significant predictor of postoperative delirium (OR 10.41; 95% CI 1.1-35.45; p=0.05); significant risk factors for prolonged respiratory support were the duration of surgery (OR 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.03; p<0.001) and postoperative acute renal injury (OR 8.72; 95% CI 1.67-57.38; p=0.014). Independent risk factors for postoperative renal injury turned out to be the true lumen diameter of the descending aorta (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.72; p=0.015) and chronic type A aortic dissection (OR 44.07; 95% CI 3.29-2354.8; p=0.014); statistically significant risk factors for in-hospital mortality were multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (OR 14.34; 95% CI 1.69-155.48; p=0.016) and coronary artery stenosis (OR 3.36; 95% CI 1.19-13.26; p=0.042).

CONCLUSION

Separate reimplantation of the supra-aortic branches, duration of surgery, acute kidney injury, chronic aortic dissection, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, true lumen diameter of the descending aorta, coronary atherosclerosis and haemoglobin level were statistically significant predictors of adverse events in the early postoperative period.

[Hybrid aortic repair in patients with type III aortic dissection and concomitant proximal aortic lesion]

OBJECTIVE

To report our own experience of hybrid treatment using FET technique in patients with type A aortic dissection and concomitant lesion of aortic arch and ascending aorta.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

There were 90 (28,3%) FET procedures for the period from January 2010 to August 2019. Type B aortic dissection was diagnosed in 19 (45,2%) patients. Type B aortic dissection combined with aortic arch aneurysm occurred in 11 (58%) cases, ascending aorta aneurysm - 15 (79%) cases. Patients underwent total arch and ascending aorta replacement via median sternotomy (upper partial J-shaped sternotomy in 3 cases). Valve-sparing interventions were performed in 58% of cases (aortic root repair - 6 (32%) patients, David procedure - 5 (26%) cases). Intraoperative features, early postoperative morbidity and in-hospital mortality were retrospectively analyzed. In long-term period, distal aortic remodeling, survival rate and incidence of redo interventions were evaluated.

RESULTS

Mean CPB time was 166±27 min, aortic cross-clamping time - 93±23 min, duration of circulatory arrest - 43±11 min. Neurological complications and paraplegia were absent. In-hospital mortality was absent. Reversible acute renal failure without need for hemodialysis developed in 2 cases (11%). Two patients underwent repeated intervention (TEVAR) due to dSINE and negative aortic remodeling. Annual survival rate was 100%. Freedom from redo aortic surgery was 89,5%.

CONCLUSION

FET surgery is an adequate alternative treatment for type B aortic dissection combined with lesion of aortic arch and ascending aorta. This approach ensures a one-stage repair in patients with contraindications to TEVAR. Unlike thoracotomy, FET procedure is valuable for simultaneous correction of cardiac and proximal aortic lesion, stabilizing the distal segments of dissected aorta. This is obvious advantage of this technique.