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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Novel and Innovative Hybrid Technique for Type A Aortic Dissection
Published on: March 28, 2025
[Coronary malperfusion due to acute type A aortic dissection; surgical strategy and results]
Toshihisa Asakura1, S Gojo, M Ishikawa
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan.
Insights
Coronary malperfusion in acute type A aortic dissection (DAA) is deadly, especially affecting the left coronary artery. Early surgery and strong mechanical support, like left ventricular assist systems (LVAS), improve survival in these critical patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Aortic Disease
Context:
- Acute type A aortic dissection (DAA) can cause lethal coronary malperfusion.
- Left coronary malperfusion leading to acute global myocardial infarction (AMI) presents significant surgical challenges.
- Review of a single institution's experience from 1990-2005 with 260 DAA patients.
Purpose:
- To review experience and illustrate an approach to critically ill patients with DAA and coronary malperfusion.
- To classify malperfusion mechanisms into 4 types based on perioperative findings.
- To discuss individualized surgical management strategies for DAA-associated coronary malperfusion.
Summary:
- Twenty patients (7.7%) with DAA experienced coronary malperfusion (11 left, 9 right).
- Hospital mortality was 22% for right coronary malperfusion and 45% for left.
- Veno-arterial bypass (VAB) was associated with universal mortality; stronger assist devices like LVAS improved survival.
Impact:
- Aggressive myocardial resuscitation and early operation are crucial for managing DAA with coronary malperfusion.
- Veno-arterial bypass is ineffective for DAA-induced severe heart failure.
- Strong mechanical support, including LVAS, is recommended before multi-organ failure exacerbation; supplemental CABG and LV support yield reasonable results.
Abstract:
Coronary malperfusion due to acute type A aortic dissection (DAA) is a lethal complication. It is especially difficult to rescue the patients with left coronary malperfusion because of acute global myocardial infarction (AMI), even with successful surgical treatments, including the replacement of the ascending aorta and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We review our experience and illustrate our approach to these critically ill patients. In addition, we classify the mechanism of malperfusion into 4 types based upon perioperative findings and discuss surgical management indivisually. From January 1990 to April 2005, a total of 260 patients were operated for DAA in our institution. Twenty (7.7%) patients, 11 men and 9 women were suffering from coronary malperfusion due to DAA. The mean age was 55 (range 28-72) years. The right coronary artery was involved in 9 patients, and the left in 11. All procedures such as graft replacement and CABG were done on an emergent or urgent basis. Hospital mortality rate of right coronary malperfusion was 22% (2/9 patients), and that related to left coronary malperfusion was 5/11 (45%). Assisting device was required in 9 cases, veno-arterial bypass (VAB) in 6 cases, left ventricular assist system (LVAS) in 1, left heart bypass (LHB) in 1, LHB+right heart bypass (RHB) in 1. We lost all patients using VAB. Only 3 patients supported with strong assist device survived. Aggressive myocardial resuscitation and early operation are the key factors in the management of these critically ill patients. But once severe myocardial infarction occurs, V-A bypass (percutaneous cardiopulmonary support) is useless in treating patients with DAA who develop severe heart failure. We recommend to implant stronger assist device including LVAS immediately before exacerbation of multiple organ failure. In conclusion, surgical management is not easy for emergency patients with DAA in association with myocardial ischemia. However, reasonable surgical results can be obtained with supplemental CABG and strong mechanical support of the left ventricle.
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