Distal Reoperations after Repair of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection-Incidence, Causes and Outcomes

In patients with acute type A aortic dissection (A-AAD) whether initial repair should include also aortic arch replacement is still debated. We aimed to assess if extensive aortic repair prevents from reoperations patients with A-AAD.

Outcomes after distal reoperation following repair of A-AAD (n = 285; 1977 to 2018) were analysed in 22 of 226 who underwent ascending aorta/hemiarch replacement (Group $$ ) and 7 of 59 who had ascending aorta/arch replacement (Group $$ ).

Distal reoperation was more common in Group $$ (n = 22) than in Group $$ (n = 0) (p $$ 0.001) while thoracic endovascular stenting was more frequent in Group $$ (7 vs 3, p $$ 0.001). Indications for reoperation were pseudoaneurysm at distal anastomosis (n = 4, 18%) and progression of aortic dissection (n = 18, 82%) in Group $$ . Indication for thoracic endovascular stenting was progressive aortic dissection in 3 patients of Group $$ and in 6 of Group $$ . Second reoperation was required in 2 patients from Group $$ (2%) during a mean follow-up of 5 years. Median follow-up was 4 years in Group $$ and 7 years in Group $$ (p = 0.36). Hospital mortality was 14% in Group $$ and 0% in Group $$ (p = 0.3). Actuarial survival is 68 $$ 10%, and 62 $$ 11% for Group $$ and 100% for Group $$ at 5 and 10 years (p = 0.076).

Distal reoperations after A-AAD repair have an acceptable mortality. An extensive initial repair has lower rate of reoperation and better mid-term survival and should be indicated especially for young patients in experienced centers.