Open repair techniques in the aortic arch are still superior

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Conventional arch replacement is a widely applicable surgical procedure.
• Hybrid endovascular and open surgical techniques have emerged as alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and outcomes of conventional open arch replacement versus hybrid procedures.
• To determine if hybrid approaches offer advantages over conventional methods.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature comparing conventional arch replacement with hybrid techniques.
• Analysis of reported immediate and long-term patient outcomes, including invasiveness and technical difficulty.

Main Results:

• Conventional arch replacement is feasible in most patients.
• Hybrid procedures are frequently as invasive and technically demanding as conventional surgery.
• Immediate outcomes of hybrid procedures are not superior, and long-term results are often less favorable than conventional methods.

Conclusions:

• Open conventional arch replacement is considered the gold standard for aortic arch surgery.
• Hybrid procedures do not consistently demonstrate superior outcomes and may have less favorable long-term results.