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(Circulation. 2003;108:II-318.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Surgery for Aortic and Peripheral Vascular Disease

Predictors of Adverse Outcome and Transient Neurological Dysfuntion Following Surgical Treatment of Acute Type A Dissections

Marek P. Ehrlich, MD; Martin Schillinger, MD; Martin Grabenwöger, MD; Alfred Kocher, MD; Edda M. Tschernko, MD; Paul Simon, MD; Arthur Bohdjalian, MD; Ernst Wolner, MD

From the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Cardiac Anesthesia, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Correspondence to Marek P. Ehrlich, MD, Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18 to 20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. Phone: 011-43-1-40400/5620; Fax: 011-43-1-40400/5640; E-mail: MarekEhrlich{at}hotmail.com

Predictors of adverse outcome after replacement of the ascending aorta with resection of the intimal tear and open distal anastomosis were analyzed in 167 patients (109 male, median age 56). Median hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) time was 30 minutes (range 12 to 113). Eighty-six patients (pts) had surgery within 24 hours and 81 within 72 hours of symptom onset. Thirty-seven pts had only ascending aortic replacement, 128 had hemiarch repair, and in 2 the entire arch was replaced. The aortic valve was replaced in 37 pts, resuspended in 116, and untouched in 14. Either death or permanent neurological dysfunction was considered an adverse outcome (AO). AO occurred in 30.5% (51/167) of patients overall. Multivariate analysis revealed that the only significant (P<0.05) independent preoperative predictor of AO was hemodynamic instability (OR 6.0). Transient neurological dysfunction (TND) occurred in 19 of 116 patients (16.4%). Significant predictors of TND were increasing age >60 (OR 3.4 and 7.0 in the second and third tertile as compared with the lowest tertile) and coronary heart disease (OR 3.4). Cumulative survival of patients (median follow-up 34 months) was 55% at 1, 49% at 5, and 44% at 8 years, indicating an excessive in-hospital mortality, but excellent long term outcome. Surgical treatment of acute type A dissections is still associated with a high incidence of adverse outcome, but results in excellent long-term survival. Earlier diagnosis, before the development of cardiac tamponade and hemodynamic compromise, is critical to improve the operative salvage rate.

Key Words: aorta • aneurysm • cardiovascular disease