Remnant aortic remodelling in younger patients after acute type I aortic dissection surgery

To study the influence of age on remnant aortic remodelling after acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection (AD) surgery.

Between January 1999 and December 2013, 118 acute type I AD patients (26 aged <50 years, Group A; 92 aged  ≥ 50 years, Group B) with either ascending or ascending hemiarch replacement in whom preoperative and >1-month postoperative chest computed tomography (CT) were available were included.

At median CT follow-up of 35.1 (interquartile range, 14.1-65.2) months, the aortic dimensions in Group A increased significantly from the baseline values at the root, arch and descending thoracic aorta levels at 40.8 ± 5.3 mm to 43.1 ± 6.5 mm ( P  = 0.010), 36.8 ± 7.1 mm to 40.7 ± 8.8 mm ( P  = 0.043) and 36.7 ± 6.8 mm to 42.8 ± 11.4 mm ( P  = 0.009), respectively. In Group B, only the descending thoracic aorta had increased significantly from the baseline at 37.8 ± 4.8 mm to 40.7 ± 9.4 mm ( P  = 0.002). Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between younger age and aortic size increase, especially at the aortic sinus level. No significant between-group differences in mortality and reoperation rates were seen during the follow-up of 45.0 ± 33.6 months vs 44.1 ± 31.7 months, respectively.

A significantly greater tendency for the remnant aorta to undergo more rapid and generalized adverse remodelling was seen in younger patients after acute type I AD surgery.