Extended Aortic Repair Using Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique for Marfan Syndrome with Acute Aortic Dissection

Role of hybrid arch debranching in the treatment of newly diagnosed aortic arch malperfusion after repair of acute type A aortic dissection

We present the case of a 41-year-old man who underwent repair of an acute DeBakey type A aortic dissection with a Bentall-De Bono operation and presented with an early aortic arch malperfusion. The malperfusion was successfully treated with a hybrid arch debranching procedure. In this setting, the hybrid arch debranching procedure offers a safe alternative for repair.

Total arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk for type A aortic dissection after Bentall procedure in Marfan syndrome

Background

We seek to report the long-term outcomes of the total arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk (TAR + FET) technique for type A aortic dissection (TAAD) following prior Bentall procedure in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS).

Methods

Between 2003 and 2015, we performed TAR + FET for 26 patients with MFS who developed TAAD following a prior Bentall procedure. Mean age at FET 36.9±9.7 years and 24 were males. TAAD was acute in 8 (30.8%, all new dissections from precious root aneurysm) and chronic in 18 (69.2%, 15 residual and 3 new). The interval from Bentall procedure to FET averaged 6.4±5.8 years, which was significantly longer in the acute group (10.3±6.3 vs. 4.6±4.9, P=0.021). The early and long-term outcomes were compared between two groups and risk factors identified for late adverse events.

Results

Operative mortality was 11.5% (3/26). Stroke, lower limb ischemia and reexploration for bleeding occurred in 1 patient each (3.8%). Follow-up was complete in 100% (23/23) at mean 5.1±2.3 years (range, 0.9-11.2 years). The maximal diameter (DMax) of distal aorta in the chronic group was significantly greater at the unstented descending aorta [DA, (56.4±15.5 vs. 35.6±12.2 mm, P=0.006)] compared to acute patients. The false lumen was obliterated in 95.7% across the FET and 56.5% in the unstented DA. Distal aortic dilation occurred in 13 patients (11 chronic, 68.8%). Of those 11 patients, 4 underwent an open thoracoabdominal aortic repair and 3 died of distal aortic rupture. Late death occurred in 7 patients at mean 3.9±2.5 years. At 6 years, the incidence was 18% for death, 11% for distal aortic reoperation, and 71% for reoperation-free survival. Survival did not differ between two groups (75.0% vs. 71.3%, P=0.851), while acute patients had significantly higher freedom from late rupture and reoperation at 6 years (100% vs. 61.9%, P=0.046). Hypertension was the sole risk factor for distal aortic dilatation [hazard ratio (HR) =7.271; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.814-29.143; P=0.005]. Risk factors for late adverse events were hypertension (HR =6.712; 95% CI, 1.201-37.503; P=0.030) and age <35 years (HR =6.760; 95% CI, 1.154-39.587; P=0.034).

Conclusions

The TAR and FET technique was feasible and efficacious for TAAD following previous Bentall procedure in patients with MFS. Early and late survival did not differ with acute and chronic dissections, while freedom from late rupture and reoperation is significantly higher in patients with acute TAAD. Patients with hypertension and aged <35 years are at higher risk for late distal aortic dilation, reoperation and death.

Endovascular Repair by Graft-to-Graft Bridging in a Patient with Marfan Syndrome

We report a case of chronic aortic dissection in a patient with Marfan syndrome in which we performed thoracic endovascular repair after aortic root replacement, total arch replacement with open stent grafting and thoracoabdominal aortic repair. We consider that endovascular repair of the dissected descending aorta in a patient with Marfan syndrome can be effective when graft-to-graft bridging is performed as the "finishing procedure".

Safety and pitfalls in frozen elephant trunk implantation

The frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure, or open stent grafting, is a tool for the combined open and endovascular treatment via a median sternotomy of extensive aortic disease involving both aortic arch and descending thoracic aorta. The technique aims to stabilize the maximum extent of the thoracic aorta in one step, with the goal of either rendering a secondary intervention to the downstream aorta unnecessary or producing an easy landing zone for secondary thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) or open surgery. Even though large case series have reported good results, we still have no conclusive evidence as to which patients and what kind of pathologies benefit from this technique. The surgical sequences described for total arch replacement with the FET procedure are just as varied as the associated devices and indications. This article focuses on important perioperative and surgical aspects, as well as potential complications during FET procedures.