Clinical outcome of emergency surgery for complicated acute type B aortic dissection

The aim of the present study was to review the clinical profile and outcome of emergency surgery for complicated acute type B aortic dissection.

A total of 34 consecutive patients requiring surgical treatment for complicated acute type B aortic dissection between 2003 and 2010 were examined. The median age was 64.0 years (range, 19-82 years). Indication for emergency surgery was aortic rupture in 11 patients, rapid expansion of the dissecting aorta in 5, dissection involving a non-dissecting aneurysm in 6, and organ malperfusion in 12. All of 3 patients with open aortic rupture died during surgery. Operative mortality was 9.7% (central operation, 14.2%; peripheral operation, 7.1%; thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair, 0%). There were 2 aortic ruptures within 1 week after operation. Two patients suffered from persistent organ malperfusion after emergency surgical relief of ischemia and died. The 1- and 5-year survival rates were 74.1 ± 8.1% and 64.8 ± 11.2%. The actual rate of freedom from aortic events at 1- and 5- years was 83.0 ± 7.0% and 58.7 ± 11.4%.

Emergency surgery for complicated acute type B dissection still has a high mortality rate for patients with open rupture and critical visceral ischemia. Medical treatment is best given immediately after admission, and adequate surgical treatment without delay is crucial.