[Open surgical treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Experience in 45 patients]

Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) is an infrequent disease and demands a highly specialized and experienced management. Open repair (OR) is the gold standard but it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Paraplegia and renal failure are the most important complications.

To report our results with OR treatment of TAAA.

Descriptive study including all patients with TAAA operated electively and consecutively by OR between 1983 and 2019. Main outcomes are operative mortality, renal and neurological morbidity, and long-term survival.

We report 45 operated patients aged 33 to 84 years, 74% males. Aneurysm extension according to Crawford classification was I in 18%, II in 18 %, III in 36% and IV in 29%. Operative mortality was 4%. The frequency of paraplegia or paraparesis at discharge was 9%. No patient was discharged on hemodialysis. Survival at 5 and 10 years were 60% and 40% respectively.

OR of TAAA is a complex procedure. Our results show perioperative mortality rates comparable to highly experienced centers. Although being a major procedure, OR remains an alternative to treat this serious condition.