Distal aortic remodelling after the standard and the elongated frozen elephant trunk procedure

The aim of this study was to evaluate abdominal aortic remodelling after the standard compared with the elongated frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique in patients with aortic dissection.

Twenty-six patients underwent surgery and were randomized into 2 groups. Fifteen patients were treated with the standard FET technique. Eleven patients were treated with the advanced FET technique using an additional thoracic stent graft implanted down to the coeliac artery, within 30 days after the first stent graft implantation. Preoperative and postoperative and 5-year follow-up computed tomography aortic scans were obtained along the stent graft (A), between the distal edge of the graft and the coeliac trunk (B) and at the abdominal aorta (C).

In the standard FET group, positive and stable aortic remodelling occurred in segments A (100%), B (87%) and C (87%). Negative remodelling was found in 2/15 (13%) patients; 1 patient had an endovascular reintervention. In the elongated FET group, positive and stable remodelling were observed in segments A (100%), B (100%) and C (90.9%). Negative remodelling occurred in 1/11 (9.1%) patients. No reintervention was required. Cumulative survival, freedom from negative remodelling and distal aortic reintervention in the standard FET group and the elongated FET group were 72 vs 100% (P = 0.29); 67.5 vs 80% (P = 0.58) and 75 vs 100% (P = 0.61), respectively.

The standard FET technique is an adequate measure to induce false lumen thrombosis and improve abdominal aortic remodelling. The elongated FET technique seems to be superior to the standard FET procedure in terms of freedom from aortic remodelling and the distal reintervention rate.