Urgent Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Type-B_0,D Acute Aortic Dissection

The objective of the present study is to clarify safety and efficacy of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), excluding the primary entry in the descending aorta, for type-B_0,D acute aortic dissection (TB_0,DAAD) (so-called retrograde type-A acute aortic dissection).

Forty-six patients with hyperacute-phase (within 2 days after the onset) type-A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD) and TB_0,DAAD underwent urgent (on the admission or next day) intervention (TEVAR or conventional surgical aortic repair [CSAR]) for 2 years. Results of TEVAR for TB_0,DAAD were compared with those of CSAR for TAAAD. Outcomes included 30-day mortality, aortic reintervention, and major complications (stroke and paraplegia/paraparesis). Details of TEVAR were also analyzed.

Seven patients with TB_0,DAAD and 39 patients with TAAAD underwent respectively urgent TEVAR and CSAR. Aortic reintervention was significantly more frequent in the TEVAR than CSAR group (28.6% vs. 0%, P < 0.01). There was no difference in incidence of death and stroke between the TEVAR and CSAR group. All the 7 patients survived and 5 of the 7 (71.4%) patients were relieved of aortic reintervention for 30 days following TEVAR. One patient, however, underwent aortic arch replacement on postoperative day (POD) 1 owing to the patent and nonshrinking ascending false lumen (FL). The entry existed in the aortic arch. Another patient underwent ascending and transverse aortic replacement with frozen elephant trunk on POD13 due to proximal stent graft-induced new entry irrespective of the thrombosed and shrinking ascending FL. Because of the patent and nonshrinking ascending FL, 1 patient underwent additional TEVAR for the residual entry in the distal descending thoracic aorta on POD33 and subsequently ascending aortic replacement 4 months later. No entry was detected in the ascending or transverse aorta. The ascending FL in the other 4 patients was thrombosed early, shrinking gradually, and disappeared at last following TEVAR.

Urgent TEVAR for TB_0,DAAD may be alternative to CSAR in selected cases. Accurate diagnosis of the primary entry location on preinterventional computed tomography scans for exclusion of the entry and cautious selection and delivery of a stent graft to prevent stent graft-induced new entry or endoleak are requisite for success of the procedure, remodeling of the FL, and satisfactory prognosis.