Conservative treatment of type A aortic dissection following hybrid arch repair

Abstract

Objective

Type A aortic dissection (TAAD) following hybrid arch repair (HAR) is a lethal complication. Open surgical repair is the ideal treatment, but this can be difficult, as most candidates have complications and are unsuitable for the conventional open aortic repair. We herein report three cases of TAAD after HAR and assess the treatment options.

Methods

Of 261 aortic arch repair cases between April 2010 and March 2018, 38 underwent HAR using debranching of all the arch vessels followed by stent graft implantation landing proximally in zone 0 (type 1 HAR). Three cases suffered from TAAD, and their background characteristics and post-operative outcomes were studied retrospectively.

Results

The three TAAD cases were elderly with a high risk of mortality due to comorbidities. TAAD for Cases 1, 2, and 3 was detected on post-operative day (POD) 11, POD11, and during the procedure, respectively. Case 1 was complicated with both respiratory and renal failures, and Case 3 suffered from severe neurological impairment when TAAD was detected. No additional open aortic repair was performed in any cases. Case 3 died on POD5 due to aortic rupture. Cases 1 and 2 have survived for more than 50 months since their initial surgeries.

Conclusions

TAAD following HAR can be detected with post-operative imaging despite a lack of signs noted during the intra- and post-operative periods. Conservative therapy might, therefore, be an acceptable option for subacute-onset TAAD following HAR with stable hemodynamics, even though such patients do required a very careful follow-up.

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