Management of noncerebral malperfusion complicating acute type A dissection

Vital organ malperfusion in acute type A aortic dissection is associated with worse outcomes, especially when multiple organ systems are involved, and when coronary or mesenteric malperfusion is present. To achieve the two goals of central aortic repair and adequate and timely reperfusion, mechanism and organ-specific strategy in the methods and sequence of repair should be considered. For dynamic aortic malperfusion, reperfusion can be quickly achieved by femoral artery perfusion, and the fenestrated frozen elephant trunk operation, in which the proximal end of device is secured to zone 1 or 2 and distal 1 or 2 supra-aortic vessels are preserved by fenestration of the fabric, seems optimal as a method of central aortic repair. For coronary malperfusion, percutaneous coronary intervention before central aortic repair may have a role. However, it should be kept in mind that the door-to-unloading time is also important to reduce the area of myocardial infarction, and retrograde cardioplegia is not distributed to most of the right ventricle, which can be critical when right coronary malperfusion is present. Static mesenteric malperfusion should be addressed first, and second-look laparotomy should not be hesitated after central aortic repair. The use of a hybrid operating room may be an optimal solution to achieve both goals.