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Background: The strategy for intervention remains controversial for patients presenting with type A aortic dissection (TAAAD) and cerebral malperfusion with neurologic deficit., Methods: Surgically managed patients with TAAAD enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection were evaluated to determine the incidence and prognosis of patients with cerebral malperfusion., Results: A total of 2402 patients underwent surgical repair of TAAAD. Of these, 362 (15.1%) presented with cerebral malperfusion (CM) and neurologic deficits, and 2040 (84.9%) patients had no neurologic deficits at presentation. Patients with CM were more less likely to present with chest pain (66% vs 86.5%; P < .001) and back pain (35.9% vs 44.4%; P = .008). Patients with CM were more likely to present with syncope (48.4% vs 10.1%; P < .001), peripheral malperfusion (52.7% vs 38.0%; P < .001), and shock (16.2% vs 4.1%; P < .001). There was no difference in the incidence of Marfan syndrome (2.8% vs 3.0%; P = .870) or history of known aortic aneurysm (11.7% vs 13.9%; P = .296). Patients with CM were more likely to have a DeBakey I (63.8% vs 47.1%; P < .001) and a pericardial effusion (53.8% vs 40.6; P < .001) on presentation. There was no difference in total arch replacement (21.3% for CM vs 19.5% for no CM; P = .473). Patients with CM had an increased incidence of postoperative cerebrovascular accident (17.5% vs 7.2%; P < .001) and acute kidney injury (28.3% vs 18.1%; P < .001). In-hospital mortality was greater in patients with CM (25.7% vs 12.0%; P < .001)., Conclusions: Fifteen percent of patients with TAAAD presented with CM and neurologic deficits. Despite the fact that this subset of the population was older and more likely to present with peripheral malperfusion, cardiac tamponade, and in shock, in-hospital survival was noted in nearly 75% of the patients. Surgeons may continue to offer lifesaving surgery for TAAAD to this critically ill cohort of patients with acceptable morbidity and mortality., (Copyright © 2019 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze presentation, management, and outcomes of acute aortic dissections with proximal entry tear in the arch., Methods: Patients enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection and entry tear in the arch were classified into 2 groups: arch A (retrograde extension into the ascending aorta with or without antegrade extension) and arch B (only antegrade extension into the descending aorta or further distally). Presentation, management, and in-hospital outcomes of the 2 groups were compared., Results: The arch A (n = 228) and arch B (n = 140) groups were similar concerning the presence of any preoperative complication (68.4% vs 60.0%; P = .115), but the types of complication were different. Arch A presented more commonly with shock, neurologic complications, cardiac tamponade, and grade 3 or 4 aortic valve insufficiency and less frequently with refractory hypertension, visceral ischemia, extension of dissection, and aortic rupture. Management for both groups were open surgery (77.6% vs 18.6%; P < .001), endovascular treatment (3.5% vs 25.0%; P < .001), and medical management (16.2% vs 51.4%; P < .001). Overall in-hospital mortality was similar (16.7% vs 19.3%; P = .574), but mortality tended to be lower in the arch A group after open surgery (15.3% vs 30.8%; P = .090), and higher after endovascular (25.0% vs 14.3%; P = .597) or medical treatment (24.3% vs 13.9%; P = .191), although the differences were not significant., Conclusions: Acute aortic dissection patients with primary entry tear in the arch are currently managed by a patient-specific approach. In choosing the management type of these patients, it may be advisable to stratify them based on retrograde or only antegrade extension of the dissection., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: Advancements in cardiothoracic surgery prompted investigation into changes in operative management for acute type A aortic dissections over time., Methods: One thousand seven hundred thirty-two patients undergoing surgery for type A aortic dissection were identified from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection Interventional Cohort Database. Patients were divided into time tertiles (T) (T1: 1996-2003, T2: 2004-2010, and T3: 2011-2016)., Results: Frequency of valve sparing procures increased (T1: 3.9%, T2: 18.6%, and T3: 26.7%; trend P < .001). Biologic valves were increasingly utilized (T1: 35.6%, T2; 40.6%, and T3: 52.0%; trend P = .009), whereas mechanical valve use decreased (T1: 57.6%, T2: 58.0%, and T3: 45.4%; trend P = .027) for aortic valve replacement. Adjunctive cerebral perfusion use increased (T1: 67.1%, T2: 89.5%, and T3: 84.8%; trend P < .001), with increase in antegrade cerebral techniques (T1: 55.9%, T2: 58.8%, and T3: 66.1%; trend P = .005) and hypothermic circulatory arrest (T1: 80.1%, T2: 85.9%, and T3: 86.8%; trend P = .030). Arterial perfusion through axillary cannulation increased (T1: 18.0%, T2: 33.2%, and T3: 55.7%), whereas perfusion via a femoral approach diminished (T1: 76.0%, T2: 53.3%, and T3: 30.1%) (both P values < .001). Hemiarch replacement was utilized more frequently (T1: 27.0%, T2: 63.3%, and T3: 51.7%; trend P = .001) and partial arch was utilized less frequently (T1: 20.7%, T2: 12.0%, and T3: 8.4%; trend P < .001), whereas complete arch replacement was used similarly (P = .131). In-hospital mortality significantly decreased (T1: 17.5%, T2: 15.8%, and T3: 12.2%; trend P = .017)., Conclusions: There have been significant changes in operative strategy over time in the management of type A aortic dissection, with more frequent use of valve-sparing procedures, bioprosthetic aortic valve substitutes, antegrade cerebral perfusion strategies, and hypothermic circulatory arrest. Most importantly, a significant decrease of in-hospital mortality was observed during the 20-year timespan., (Copyright © 2017 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Postoperative myocardial infarction remains a serious complication in cardiac surgery. The incidence and impact of this condition in acute type A aortic dissection are poorly understood., Methods: A total of 1445 patients with acute type A aortic dissection who underwent surgery were enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection from 1996 to 2013. Individuals with preoperative myocardial infarction at hospital presentation and a history of myocardial infarction were excluded. Patients with postoperative myocardial infarction (n = 38, 2.6%) were compared with those without postoperative myocardial infarction (n = 1407, 97.4%)., Results: The postoperative myocardial infarction group was more often of white race (100% vs 90%, P = .043) with bicuspid aortic valve (15.6% vs 4.5%, P = .015). Imaging demonstrated more aortic root involvement (75.8% vs 49.5%, P = .003), pericardial effusion (65.5% vs 44.1%, P = .022), and coronary artery compromise (27.3% vs 10.2%, P = .022). Patients with postoperative myocardial infarction were more frequently hypotensive or in shock during surgery (42.9% vs 25.5%, P = .021). Patients with postoperative myocardial infarction were more likely to have undergone root replacement (54.5% vs 33.3%, P = .011), coronary artery bypass grafting (28.6% vs 7.4%, P < .001), or aortic valve replacement (40.0% vs 23.8%, P = .027), and less likely to have had complete arch replacement (2.8% vs 14.0%, P = .050). Median circulatory arrest time was higher in postoperative myocardial infarction (60 vs 38 minutes, P = .024). In-hospital mortality (57.9% vs 16.3%, P < .001) and Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year mortality (P = .007) were distinctly higher in postoperative myocardial infarction., Conclusions: Postoperative myocardial infarction is a devastating complication of type A aortic dissection repair. It is associated with bicuspid aortic valve, root involvement, pericardial effusion, and extent of surgical repair. Patients with postoperative myocardial infarction have higher serious postoperative complications, in-hospital mortality, and 5-year mortality rates than those without postoperative myocardial infarction., (Copyright © 2016 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: Shock is among the most dreaded and common complications of type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD). However, clinical correlates, management, and short- and long-term outcomes of TAAAD patients presenting with shock in real-world clinical practice are not known., Methods and Results: We evaluated 2,704 patients with TAAAD enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection between January 1, 1996, and August 18, 2012. On admission, 407 (15.1%) TAAAD patients presented with shock. Most in-hospital complications (coma, myocardial or mesenteric ischemia or infarction, and cardiac tamponade) were more frequent in shock patients. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in TAAAD patients with than without shock (30.2% vs 23.9%, P=.007), regardless of surgical or medical treatment. Most shock patients underwent surgical repair, with medically managed patients demonstrating older age and more complications at presentation. Estimates using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that most (89%) TAAAD patients with shock discharged alive from the hospital survived 5years, a rate similar to that of TAAAD patients without shock (82%, P=.609)., Conclusions: Shock occurred in 1 of 7 TAAAD patients and was associated with higher rates of in-hospital adverse events and mortality. However, TAAAD survivors with or without shock showed similar long-term mortality. Successful early and aggressive management of shock in TAAAD patients has the potential for improving long-term survival in this patient population., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Acute type B aortic dissection (ABAD) can lead to visceral malperfusion, a potentially life-threatening complication. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presentation, management, and outcomes of ABAD patients with visceral ischemia who are enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection., Methods: Patients with ABAD enrolled in the registry between 1996 and 2013 were identified and stratified based on presence of visceral ischemia at admission. Demographics, medical history, imaging results, management, and outcomes were compared for patients with versus without visceral ischemia., Results: A total of 1456 ABAD patients were identified, of which 104 (7.1%) presented with visceral ischemia. Preoperative limb ischemia (28% vs 7%, P < .001) and acute renal failure (41% vs 14%, P < .001) were more common among patients with visceral ischemia. Endovascular treatment and surgery were offered to 49% and 30% of the visceral ischemia cohort, respectively; remaining patients were managed conservatively. The in-hospital mortality was 30.8% for patients with visceral ischemia and 9.1% for those without visceral ischemia (odds ratio [OR] 4.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-7.0, P < .0001). Mortality rates were similar after surgical and endovascular management of visceral ischemia (25.8% and 25.5%, respectively, P = not significant). Among the visceral ischemia group, medical management was a predictor of mortality in multivariate analysis (OR, 5.91; 95% CI, 1.2-31.0; P = .036)., Conclusions: Patients with ABAD complicated by visceral ischemia have a high risk of mortality. We observed similar outcomes for patients treated by endovascular management versus surgery, whereas medical management was an independent predictor of mortality. Early diagnosis and intervention for visceral ischemia seems to be crucial., (Copyright © 2015 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Few data exist on clinical/imaging characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with type A acute dissection and mesenteric malperfusion., Methods: Patients with type A acute dissection enrolled in the International Registry for Acute Dissection (IRAD) were evaluated to assess differences in clinical features, management, and in-hospital outcomes according to the presence/absence of mesenteric malperfusion. A mortality model was used to identify predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with mesenteric malperfusion., Results: Mesenteric malperfusion was detected in 68 (3.7%) of 1809 patients with type A acute dissection. Patients with mesenteric malperfusion were more likely to be older and to have coma, cerebrovascular accident, spinal cord ischemia, acute renal failure, limb ischemia, and any pulse deficit. They were less likely to undergo surgical/hybrid treatment (52.9% vs 87.9%) and more likely to receive only medical (30.9% vs 11.6%) or endovascular (16.2% vs 0.5%) management (P < .001). Overall in-hospital mortality was 63.2% and 23.8% in patients with and without mesenteric malperfusion, respectively (P < .001). In-hospital mortality of patients with mesenteric malperfusion receiving medical, endovascular, and surgical/hybrid therapy was 95.2%, 72.7%, and 41.7%, respectively (P < .001). At multivariate analysis, male gender (odds ratio [OR], 1.7; P = .002), age (OR, 1.1/y; P = .002), and renal failure (OR, 5.9; P = .020) were predictors of mortality whereas surgical/hybrid management (OR, 0.1; P = .005) was associated with better outcome., Conclusions: Type A acute aortic dissection complicated by mesenteric malperfusion is a rare but ominous complication carrying a high risk of hospital mortality. Surgical/hybrid therapy, although associated with 2-fold hospital mortality, appears to be associated with better long-term outcomes in the management of type A acute aortic dissection in this setting., (Copyright © 2013 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Performing preoperative coronary angiography (CA) before surgical repair of a type A acute aortic dissection (TA-AAD) remains controversial. Although the information provided by CA may be useful in planning the surgical approach, the potential delay to surgery and complications of CA may confer added risk of death before definitive repair of the aorta., Methods: We analyzed 1,343 patients from January 27, 1996, to May 3, 2010, with TA-AAD from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection who underwent surgical or endovascular repair during the index hospitalization, with (n = 156) or without (n = 1,187) preoperative CA. The main outcomes measured were in-hospital complications and in-hospital and long-term mortality., Results: Patients who underwent preoperative CA were more likely to have a history of atherosclerosis and present with electrocardiographic signs of myocardial ischemia/infarction. In the preoperative CA group, significant delays from the onset of symptoms to the time of surgery occurred. In-hospital postoperative complications and mortality rates were largely similar between the 2 groups. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, preoperative CA had no significant effect on in-hospital risk-adjusted mortality when compared to the validated International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection risk score. Long-term mortality was similar between patients receiving preoperative CA and those who did not; long-term rehospitalization rates were higher, although largely insignificantly, among preoperative CA recipients through 5 years of follow-up., Conclusions: Preoperative CA is infrequently performed on patients with TA-AAD, except, occasionally, on patients at high risk for myocardial ischemia. When performed, preoperative CA was not associated with any significant changes in in-hospital and long-term mortality., (Copyright © 2011 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We have shown that the systemic sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is activated in patients with chronic mitral regurgitation (MR). However, the fate of systemic SNS activity after surgical correction of MR is currently unknown., Methods: We examined 14 patients with MR who had normal sinus rhythm with an investigational, preoperative cardiac catheterization, including arterial norepinephrine (NE) sampling and [(3)H]-NE infusions and arterial blood sampling to determine NE kinetic parameters using a 2-compartment modeling analysis. The arterial NE and NE kinetic parameters were determined in all patients after mitral valve surgery (MVS) at a mean of 12 months. A 2-dimensional echocardiographic examination was also performed before and after MVS., Results: The average extravascular NE release rates (NE(2)) before and after MVS were 1.89 +/- 0.66 and 2.26 +/- 0.82 microg/min/m(2) (P =.24), respectively. The average left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic dimension, fractional shortening, and ejection fraction decreased, whereas the mean LV end-systolic dimension did not change between the pre- and post-MVS echocardiographic studies. However, these group averages were comprised of patients with MR in whom the NE(2) and echocardiographic values both increased and decreased. This lack of homogeneity was a reflection of our new observation that the pre- to post-MVS changes in NE(2) were directly proportional to the changes in LV end-systolic dimension (r = 0.91, P <.001) and inversely related to the changes in LV fractional shortening (r = -0.82, P <.001) and ejection fraction (r = -0.78, P <.001)., Conclusions: The response in systemic SNS activity in patients with MR after MVS is not homogeneous, and these changes are concordant with the post-MVS changes in LV size and systolic performance. These data further support our earlier observations and extend them to suggest that systemic SNS activation in patients with chronic MR is related to LV remodeling and impaired systolic performance.