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OBJECTIVES A focal intimal disruption (FID) is a risk factor for adverse aorta-related events in patients with acute type B intramural haematoma. This study evaluated the impact of FIDs on overall survival with a selective intervention strategy for large or growing FIDs. Additionally, this study evaluated the risk factors associated with the growth of FIDs. METHODS This retrospective study included all consecutive patients admitted for acute type B intramural haematomas between November 2004 and April 2021. The primary outcome was overall survival. The secondary outcome was the cumulative incidence of composite aortic events and the growth of FIDs. The latter was calculated on centreline-reconstructed computed tomography images. RESULTS A total of 105 patients were included. A total of 106 FIDs were identified in 73 patients (73/105, 69.5%). The 1- and 5-year cumulative incidence rates of composite aortic events were 36.2% and 39.2%, respectively. The 1- and 5-year overall survival was 93.3% and 81.5%, respectively. Initial maximal aortic diameter and large FIDs during acute phase were significant risk factors for composite aortic events, but not risk factors for overall survival. The early appearance interval of an FID was a significant risk factor for growth of an FID. CONCLUSIONS With a selective intervention strategy for large or growing FIDs, the presence of large FIDs during the acute phase does not affect overall survival. The early appearance interval was associated with the growth of FIDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optimal medical therapy (OMT) for uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (uTBAD) provides excellent short-term outcomes during follow up; however, its long-term therapeutic effectiveness is unsatisfactory. This study evaluated the predictive value of systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) for adverse events among patients with acute uTBAD undergoing OMT. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database between 2013 and 2020. The primary end point in this study was composite outcomes including aortic intervention, all-cause mortality, retrograde type A aortic dissection (rTAAD) and aortic diameter growth > 5 mm. The patients were divided into high and low SII groups according to the optimal cut-off value of SII as determined using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to estimate the hazards ratios and identify the predictors of composite outcomes. Results: A total of 124 patients with acute uTBAD who underwent OMT were enrolled. One patient died during hospitalisation. At the end of a mean follow-up duration of 51 ± 23 months, 53 (43.1%) patients experienced composite outcomes, 15 patients (12.2%) died, 31 (25.2%) underwent aortic intervention, 21 (17.1%) exhibited diameter growth of > 5 mm, and 2 developed rTAAD. The patients were divided into low SII group (n = 78, 62.9%) and high SII group (n = 46, 37.1%) as per the optimal cut-off SII value of 1449. The incidence of composite outcomes in high SII group was significantly higher than that in low SII (28 [60.9%] vs. 26[33.3%], p < 0.01). Patients with high SII demonstrated significantly higher mortality rate than those with a low SII (11 [23.9%] vs. 5 [6.4%], respectively; p < 0.01). In addition, the high SII group had significantly higher rate of aortic-related reinterventions than the low SII group (16 [34.8%] vs. 15 [19.2%], p = 0.03). Multivariable Cox analyses showed that a high SII score was independently associated with composite outcomes rate (hazard ratio, 2.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.22–3.78; p < 0.01). Conclusions: The long-term therapeutic effectiveness of OMT alone in patients with acute uTBAD is unsatisfactory. An SII > 1449 at the time of diagnosis is an independent predictor of OMT failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The management of anastomosis and hemostasis of the dissected aorta remains challenging. This study aims to establish an optimal surgical strategy for type A acute aortic dissection by reviewing single-center data using the turn-up anastomosis technique. Methods: Between 2003 and 2015, 264 consecutive patients with type A acute aortic dissection who underwent emergency surgery within 14 days of symptom onset were enrolled. Results: The mean age of the patients was 67.7 ± 13.4 years, and 129 were males. The operative time and surgical bleeding were 390.9 ± 144.5 min and 2983.8 ± 3026.5 mL, respectively. In-hospital mortality was observed in 25 patients (9.4%), and 3 (1.1%) experienced uncontrolled bleeding (from the aortic root in two patients and coagulopathy due to dabigatran in one patient). Immediate reopening for bleeding was performed in 20 patients, and bleeding from the aortic anastomosis was observed at three proximal and two distal sites. Proximal re-dissection was observed in 18 patients; in all of which, glue was used, although two re-ruptures of the aortic root were observed among those without glue use. The rates of freedom from all-cause death, aortic death, and aortic events at postoperative 5 years were 78.5 ± 2.7%, 86.8 ± 2.1%, and 74.4 ± 2.9%, respectively. When these values were stratified according to the operative extent, no significant differences were observed. Conclusions: Turn-up anastomosis facilitates short circulatory arrest, short operative time, and stable hemostasis, with few anastomotic complications during surgery for type A acute aortic dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To present the performance and safety of the Treovance stent graft for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in a "real- world" patient cohort. Methods: Patients from 2 centers, deemed unfit for open repair, were electively treated with the Treovance endograft. Clinical preoperative, operative, and up to 1-year postoperative follow-up data of patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: This study included 46 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (44 male), mean age of 78 years + 8 standard deviation (SD; range: 58-93 years). All met the manufacturer's recommended anatomical requirements: average maximum sac diameter 63 mm + 10 SD (range: 52-86 mm), proximal neck length 29 mm + 12 SD (range: 11-60 mm), and neck angulation 30° + 21 SD (range: 0°-70°). Fourteen had moderate to severe iliac tortuosity. A primary technical success rate of 80% was achieved (100% assisted primary technical success rate): 7 patients required adjunctive procedures intraoperatively and 2 successful treatments for type I endoleaks, which occurred within 24 hours postoperatively. There was 100% survival at 1-year follow-up; however, 4 (8.7%) patients required reintervention: 1 for a type I endoleak, 2 for limb stenosis, and 1 for a type II endoleak with an enlarging sac. No other device-related complications were identified. Reintervention and complication rates in hostile versus nonhostile anatomies were not statistically significant (P = .28 and P = .42, respectively). Conclusion: The Treovance stent graft has a comparable safety profile to other next-generation stent grafts during the first year after endovascular aneurysm repair, which provides a rationale for further interrogation of its outcomes through clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate whether the entry site of acute type B aortic dissection affects late outcomes. METHODS: Inpatient and outpatient records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: We identified 224 cases of acute type B aortic dissection between 1998 and 2013. Of these 224 patients, 168 were men and the age was 64.2 ± 12.6 (range 23-94) years, from which 130 presented with the entry at a location downstream of the distal aortic arch, 67 with the entry at the outer curvature of the distal aortic arch and 27 with the entry at the inner curvature. At the initial presentation, 127 patients had descending false lumen thrombosis. The 30-day mortality rate was 2%, and 8% of patients had malperfusion. The entry at the outer curvature was associated with a higher risk of 30-day mortality. Patients with the entry at a location downstream were significantly older, and had a higher chance for primarily thrombosed descending false lumen and a lower risk of malperfusion. At follow-up (6.0 ± 4.1 years), the actuarial survival rates were 97, 83 and 60%, freedoms from open aortic surgery were 96, 91 and 86%, aortic intervention were 73, 66 and 63% and aortic events were 71, 60 and 52% at 1, 5 and 10 years, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the outer curvature entry and maximum aortic diameter were correlated with open aortic surgery, aortic intervention and aortic events. Of the 127 patients with primarily thrombosed false lumen, the outer curvature entry was significantly correlated with aortic events. CONCLUSIONS: The primary entry at the outer curvature of the distal aortic arch, as well as the large aortic diameter, is associated with a higher risk of late open aortic surgery, aortic intervention and aortic events in acute type B aortic dissection. Thus, the entry site should be taken into consideration in the establishment of an appropriate treatment indication of type B aortic dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author reflects on the effect of the entry site in patients with acute Stanford type B aortic dissection. The author states the major role of doctors in handling cardiac surgical surgery as well as their responds to acute phase. Also investigated is the identification of risk in sub-group for early adverse events and location of the primary entry.