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Abstract Background Contemporary management of uncomplicated type B aortic dissections (uTBAD) is based on the acuity and various morphological features. Medical therapy is mandatory, while the risks of early thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are balanced against the potential for rupture, complex surgery, and death. Improved aortic morphology following TEVAR is documented, but evidence for improved overall survival is lacking. The costs and impact on quality of life are also needed. Methods The trial is a randomized, open-label, superiority clinical trial with parallel assignment of subjects at 23 clinical sites in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. Eligibility includes patients aged ≥ 18 with uTBAD of

Background : Contemporary management of uncomplicated type B aortic dissections (uTBAD) is based on the acuity and various morphological features. Medical therapy is mandatory, while the risks of early thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) are balanced against the potential for rupture, complex surgery, and death. Improved aortic morphology following TEVAR is documented, but evidence for improved overall survival is lacking. The costs and impact on quality of life are also needed. Methods: The trial is a randomized, open-label, superiority clinical trial with parallel assignment of subjects at 23 clinical sites in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. Eligibility includes patients aged ≥ 18 with uTBAD of < 4 weeks duration. Recruited subjects will be randomized to either standard medical therapy (SMT) or SMT + TEVAR, where TEVAR must be performed between 2–12 weeks from the onset of symptoms. Discussion: This trial will evaluate the primary question of whether early TEVAR improves survival at 5 years among uTBAD patients. Moreover, the costs and the impact on quality of life should provide sorely needed data on other factors that play a role in treatment strategy decisions. The common Nordic healthcare model, with inclusion of all aortic centers, provides a favorable setting for carrying out this trial, while the robust healthcare registries ensure data validity. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05215587. Registered on January 31, 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The frequency of concomitant cusp pathology in aortic root aneurysm with or without aortic regurgitation is not well known, and the sensitivity and specificity of two-dimensional trans-oesophageal echocardiography (2D TEE) in its detection has not yet been specified.Objectives: We analysed the type and frequency of concomitant cusp alterations in root aneurysm referred for surgery. Sensitivity and specificity of 2D TEE in detecting these alterations were determined.Methods: In 582 patients (age 56.8±15.4 years, 453 male) with trileaflet aortic valves undergoing root replacement for regurgitation (n=347) or aneurysm (n=235), details of valve morphology were analysed. In a subcohort (n=281), intraoperative TEEs were analysed retrospectively and correlated with the intraoperative findings.Results: Any cusp pathology was present in 90.9% (prolapse: n=473; retraction: n=30; calcification: n=14; fenestration: n=12), morphologically normal cusps were seen in only 52 patients (8.93%). Valve-sparing surgery was performed in 525 (90.2%) instances, composite replacement in 57 (9.8%). Preoperative TEE correctly identified any postroot repair prolapse in 70.6% and any retraction in 85%. The sensitivity of TEE in detecting any prolapse was 68.6% (specificity of 79.5%). The sensitivity was highest for the right cusp and intermediate for the non-coronary.Conclusions: Cusp prolapse is frequent in root aneurysm and trileaflet aortic valves. Prolapse is underdiagnosed by 2D TEE in many cases because pre-existent stretching of cusp tissue is masked by the geometric effects of root dilatation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAcute aortic dissection (AAD) is more common in critically ill patients, and hyperglycemia is an adverse factor affecting the mortality of critically ill patients.ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between admission blood glucose level and in-hospital mortality in patients with AAD.MethodsA retrospective analysis of the case data of non-diabetic AAD patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2015 to August 2020. According to admission blood glucose level, all cases were divided into: the hyperglycemia group (>7.8 mmol/L) and the normal blood glucose group (≤7.8 mmol/L) ; Cox proportional hazard modelwas used to evaluate the correlation between admission blood glucose and in-hospital mortality in AAD patients; Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the survival curve; ROC analysis was conducted to evaluate the predicting values of admission blood glucose for the in-hospital mortality in AAD patients; Cox regression model were performed to determine influencing factors for in-hospital mortality in AAD patients.ResultsA total of 491 AAD patients were collected including 165 (33.6%) cases in the hyperglycemia group and 326 (66.4%) cases in the normal blood glucose group. Compared to the normal glucose group, higher in-hospital mortality was found in the hyperglycemia group (19.4% vs 10.4%, χ2=4.172, P=0.006) ; In the unadjusted Cox model, the relative risk of death in the hyperglycemia group was 1.943〔95%CI (1.199, 3.150) , P=0.007〕; After adjusting for age and sex in moderately adjusted model, it was 1.900〔95%CI (1.171, 3.082) , P=0.009〕 in the hyperglycemia group compared with the normal blood glucose group; After adjusting for age, gender, hypertension, coronary heart disease, smoking, Stanford type, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, the risk of in-hospital death in the hyperglycemia group was 1.840〔95%CI (1.124, 3.010) , P=0.015〕. The area under the ROC curve of admission blood glucose for predicting in-hospital death of AAD patients is 0.612 (0.546, 0.696) , when the admission blood glucose cut-off value was 9.4 mmol/L, the sensitivity was 37.9% and the specificity was 84.9%, respectively. The results of multivariate Cox regression model analysis showed that Stanford type A〔HR=4.277, 95%CI (1.942, 9.420) , P

Background: Population-based epidemiologic studies of aortic dissections (ADs) are needed. This study aimed to report clinical characteristics, incidences, and mortality rates for adult patients admitted to Danish hospitals with type A AD (TAAD) or type B AD (TBAD) from 1996 through 2016.Methods: We conducted a nationwide, population-based register study. All cases of AD registered with International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes in the Danish National Patient Registry at time of admission to a hospital with available medical records underwent validation. Data were merged between nationwide health registries including the cause of death registry. Patients with validated AD were matched 1:10 on sex and age with patients with hypertension from the general Danish population.Results: Of 5018 registered cases of AD, 4183 cases underwent review and 3023 (60.2%) were confirmed as AD. After exclusions, the distribution of validated TAAD and TBAD was 1620 (60.5%) and 1059 (39.5%; P<0.001), 67.5% and 67.0% of patients were men, and mean ages at dissection were 63.5±12.9 and 67.5±12.2 years (P<0.001), respectively. The most prevalent comorbidities for TAAD were hypertension (55.2%), thoracic aortic aneurysms (14.6%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (13.1%); for TBAD, the most prevalent comorbidities were hypertension (64.1%), aortic aneurysms at any location (7.5% to 12.0%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (15.7%). The overall mean annual incidence rate was 4.2/100 000 patient-years. Incidence was significantly higher for TAAD (2.2/100 000) compared with TBAD (1.5/100 000; P<0.001). The 30-day mortality rates for validated TAAD and TBAD were 22.0% and 13.9% (P<0.001), respectively, with no significant changes over time or between sexes. Adjusted 5-year overall mortality rates for TAAD and TBAD were hazard ratio 3.2 (2.9 to 3.5; P<0.001; aortic-related cause of death, 57.0%) and hazard ratio 2.1 (1.9 to 2.4; P<0.001; aortic-related cause of death, 42.8%), respectively, compared with the general hypertensive population. Among patients who survived 30 days from dissection, the adjusted 5-year overall mortality rates were hazard ratio 1.1 (1.0 to 1.3; P=0.12; aortic-related cause of death, 23.2%) and hazard ratio 1.4 (1.2 to 1.6; P<0.001; aortic-related cause of death, 25.6%) for TAAD and TBAD, respectively.Conclusions: Hypertension, aortic aneurysms, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the most prevalent comorbidities. The 30-day mortality frequencies were consistent over time with no significant differences between sexes. The 5-year mortality rate was higher for TAAD than TBAD. If the patient survived 30 days from dissection, the mortality rate for patients with TAAD was comparable with that of the general hypertensive population, but the mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with TBAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction: Iatrogenic acute aortic dissection (IAAD) type A is a rare but potentially fatal complication of cardiac surgery. Methods: The purpose of this article is to review the literature since the first reports of IAAD in 1978, examining its clinical characteristics and describing operative details and surgical outcomes. Moreover, we reviewed the recent literature to identify current trends and risk factors for IAAD in minimally invasive cardiac surgery procedures, often related to femoral artery cannulation for retrograde perfusion. Results: We found that IAAD ranges from 0.04 to 0.29% of cardiac patients in overall trials and ranged from 0.12 to 0.16% between 1978-1990, before the minimally invasive surgical era. And we concluded that since the first cases to the recent reports, the incidence of IAAD has not significantly changed. As minimally invasive procedures are on the rise, some authors think that the incidence of IAAD could increase in the future; we think that using all the precaution - such a strict monitoring of perfusion pressure throughout the intervention, avoiding extremely high jet pressures using vasodilators, repositioning of arterial cannula, or splitting perfusion in both femoral arteries -, this complication can be extremely reduced. Finally, we describe a very singular case occurring during mitral valve replacement followed by spontaneous dissection of left anterior descending artery one month later. Conclusion: The present article adds to the literature a more detailed clinical picture of this entity, including patients' characteristics, the mechanism, timing, and localization of the tear, and mortality details.

We present the case of a 38-year-old male with a diagnosis of Stanford A aortic dissection and associated coarctation of the thoracic aorta. Acute dissection associated with coarctation of the aorta is a rare problem and difficult to manage surgically. Establishing a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with adequate flows is the main objective of the procedure; optimal cannulation ensures the protection of cerebral and visceral organs. We successfully performed aortic valve re-implantation surgery (T. David Surgery), replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch, as well as debranching of the supra-aortic trunks. The cannulation technique was axillary and femoral to guarantee flows through the coarctation area.

We present the case of an acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection with malperfusion. The patient underwent valve resuspension, ascending aortic and partial arch replacement, debranching of the innominate artery, and placement of a small-diameter stent within the left common carotid artery, after which antegrade deployment of a stent-graft into the proximal descending thoracic aorta was performed to expand the true lumen. Distal malperfusion was exacerbated by the stent-graft’s traversal into the false lumen, necessitating further endovascular repair to reestablish flow to the distal aorta. Mitigation before stent-graft placement (for example, inserting a wire within the true lumen under fluoroscopic guidance to ensure stent-graft placement in the true lumen) and prompt corrective procedures are paramount, given the grim consequences of prolonged distal ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction: The aim of this study is to compare postoperative outcomes and follow-up of two different modifications facilitating surgical technique of frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure for complex thoracic aortic diseases - zone 0 (fixation with total arch debranching) and zone 3 (fixation with islet-shape arch repair). Methods: From May 2012 to December 2018, data were collected from 139 patients who had been treated with FET procedure for complex thoracic aortic diseases. According to Ishimaru arch map, patients with proximal anastomotic site of hybrid graft at zone 0 and zone 3 were grouped as Group A (n=58, 41.7%) and Group B (n=81, 58.3%), respectively. Mean age of study population was 54.7±11.4 years, and 111 patients were male (79.9%). Results: In-hospital mortality was observed in 20 (14.4%) patients (n=12, acute type A aortic dissection, and n=4, previous aortic dissection surgery). There was no significant difference between both groups in terms of in-hospital mortality. Four patients from Group A and three patients from Group B had permanent neurological deficit (P=0.32). Three patients from both groups had transient spinal cord ischemia (P=0.334). Although mean total perfusion time was longer in Group A, duration of visceral ischemia, when compared with Group B, was shorter (P

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2020.09.015

Abstract Introduction: Valve-reimplantation and remodelling techniques used in aortic reconstruction provide successful early, mid, and long-term results. We present our early and late-term experience with 110 patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) who underwent aortic valve repair (AVr) or valve-sparing aortic root surgeries (VSARS) due to aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm. Methods: Nine hundred eighty-two patients who underwent aneurysm or dissection surgery and aortic valve surgery between April 1997 and January 2017 were analysed using the patient database. A total of 110 patients with AR who underwent AVr or VSARS due to aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm were included in the study. Results: In the postoperative period, a decrease was observed in AR compared to the preoperative period (P

Background: Resveratrol, a dietary supplement that intervenes in cellular metabolism, has been shown to reduce aortic growth rate in a mouse model of Marfan syndrome (MFS), a condition associated in humans with life-threatening aortic complications, often preceded by aortic dilatation. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effects of resveratrol on aortic growth rate in patients with MFS ., Methods: In this investigator-initiated, single-arm open-label multicentre trial, we analysed resveratrol treatment in adults aged 18-50 years with MFS. The primary endpoint was the change in estimated annual aortic growth at five predefined levels in the thoracic aorta after 1 year of resveratrol treatment, evaluated using a linear mixed model. Aortic diameters were measured by cardiac MRI at three time points to analyse the annual aortic expansion rate before and after initiation of treatment. Additionally, annual aortic growth was compared with growth in a previously conducted losartan randomised clinical trial., Results: 898 patients were screened of which 19% (168/898) patients met the inclusion criteria.36% (61/168) patients signed informed consent and 93% (57/61) aged 37±9 years, of which 28 males (49%) were included in the final analysis of the study. 46% (26/57) had undergone aortic root replacement prior to the study. Aortic root diameters remained stable after 1.2±0.3 years of resveratrol administration. A trend towards a decrease in estimated growth rate (mm/year) was observed in the aortic root (from 0.39±0.06 to -0.13±0.23, p=0.072), ascending aorta (from 0.40±0.05 to -0.01±0.18, p=0.072) and distal descending aorta (from 0.32±0.04 to 0.01±0.14, p=0.072)., Conclusion: Resveratrol treatment for 1 year may stabilise the aortic growth rate in adult patients with MFS. However, a subsequent randomised clinical trial with a longer follow-up duration and a larger study cohort is needed to establish an actual long-term beneficial effect of this dietary supplement in patients with MFS., Trial Registration Number: NL66127.018.18., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ Group.)

Background: Acute aortic dissection (AD) in pregnancy poses a lethal risk to both mother and fetus. However, well-established therapeutic guidelines are lacking. This study aimed to investigate clinical features, outcomes and optimal management strategies for pregnancy-related AD., Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicentre cohort study including 67 women with acute AD during pregnancy or within 12 weeks postpartum from three major cardiovascular centres in China between 2003 and 2021. Patient characteristics, management strategies and short-term outcomes were analysed., Results: Median age was 31 years, with AD onset at median 32 weeks gestation. Forty-six patients (68.7%) had type A AD, of which 41 underwent immediate surgery. Overall maternal mortality was 10.4% (7/67) and fetal mortality was 26.9% (18/67). Compared with immediate surgery, selective surgery was associated with higher risk of composite maternal and fetal death (adjusted RR: 12.47 (95% CI 3.26 to 47.73); p=0.0002) and fetal death (adjusted RR: 8.77 (95% CI 2.33 to 33.09); p=0.001)., Conclusions: Immediate aortic surgery should be considered for type A AD at any stage of pregnancy or postpartum. For pregnant women with AD before fetal viability, surgical treatment with the fetus in utero should be considered. Management strategies should account for dissection type, gestational age, and fetal viability., Trial Registration Number: NCT05501145., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Keywords: aneurysm, dissecting; genetic testing; guideline; Loeys Dietz syndrome; Marfan syndrome EN aneurysm, dissecting genetic testing guideline Loeys Dietz syndrome Marfan syndrome 1805 1807 3 12/15/22 20221213 NES 221213 The newly released aortic guidelines represent a significant and clinically important update of the 2010 recommendations, and reflect the substantial expansion of knowledge over the past decade.[1] The timely identification of patients at higher risk for aortic dissection to offer medical and surgical treatment in the elective rather than the emergent setting remains an important clinical concept for this disease, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality despite remarkable improvements in surgical treatment. It is now recognized that several genes cause nonsyndromic hereditary thoracic aortic disease in a fashion similar to that previously known for syndromic hereditary thoracic aortic disease, such as Marfan syndrome (MFS) or Loeys Dietz syndrome (LDS). Furthermore, treatment of hypertension in patients with aortic disease should target a blood pressure of <120/70 mm Hg, if tolerated, and -blocker therapy is recommended as first-line treatment. [Extracted from the article]

Abstract Background Postoperative cerebral complications (PCC) are common and serious postoperative complications for patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for PCC in these patients and to provide a scientific basis for effective prevention of PCC. Methods In this retrospective case-control study, 125 patients with AAD who underwent thoracotomy in our department from October 2017 to October 2018 in the department of cardiovascular surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital were divided into two groups: patients with PCC (n = 12), and patients without PCC (n = 113). The general clinical data, the types of corrective surgeries, the intraoperative situations, the postoperative complications, and the midterm outcomes of the patients were analyzed. Results The patients with PCC were significantly older than the patients without PCC (P = 0.016), and the incidence of the preoperative cerebral disease history in the patients with PCC was significantly higher than those of the PCC (−) group (P = 0.024). The Euro SCORE II of patients with PCC was dramatically higher than the patients without PCC (P = 0.005). There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (P = 0.010) and the length of moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (MHCA) combined with selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) (P = 0.000). The monitoring of rcSO2 indicated that there was significant difference between the two groups in terms of the bilateral baseline (P = 0.000). Patients with PCC were observed to have experienced significantly longer intubation times (P = 0.000), ICU stays (P = 0.001), and postoperative hospital stays (P = 0.009), and they also had dramatically higher rates of pulmonary infection (P = 0.000), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (P = 0.041) and tracheotomy (P = 0.022) after surgeries. The duration of MHCA+SCP (OR:9.009, P = 0.034) and the average baseline value of rcSO2 (OR:0.080, P = 0.009) were ultimately identified as significant risk factors. Conclusions PCC has a serious influence on the prognoses of patients following surgical treatment with AAD. The duration of MHCA+SCP and the average baseline value of rcSO2 were the independent risk factors for PCC.

Abstract Introduction: Type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) remains a challenging cardiac emergency despite the availability of various management strategies. This study compared the outcomes of supracoronary ascending aortic replacement (SCAAR) with aortic valve (AV) resuspension with those of modified Bentall's operation for type A AAD and the progression of aortic regurgitation (AR), long-term dilatation of aortic root and proximal arch, and long-term mortality in SCAAR patients. Methods: Sixty patients underwent surgery for type A AAD (January 2005 to December 2015). Forty-three patients underwent SCAAR with AV resuspension and 17 underwent modified Bentall's operation. All patients were followed up. Results: Upon follow-up of SCAAR patients (n=40), there was significant reduction in aortic root size (preoperative 39.3 mm [9.4] vs. postoperative 33.1 mm [9.1]; P

Abstract Introduction: In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the results of type A intramural hematoma (TA-IMH) cases that underwent ascending aortic surgery. Methods: One hundred ninety-four patients who underwent aortic surgery between 2010 and 2018 were included in this study. TA-IMH was differentiated according to tomography angiographic images. Demographic data, operation type, hypothermic circulatory arrest times, echocardiographic findings, wall thickness of IMH, complications, and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. Results: TA-IMH (n=14) or type A aortic dissection (AD) (n=35) data were collected from patients’ files and 49 cases were enrolled into the study. Bentall operation was performed in eight patients (type A AD = six [17.1%], TA-IMH = two [14.3%]); 41 patients underwent tubular graft interposition of ascending aorta (AD = 29 [82.9%], TA-IMH = 12 [85.7%]). There was no significant difference in terms of age, gender distribution, aortic dimensions, cardiopulmonary bypass times, hypothermic circulatory arrest times, hospital ward stay, and intensive care unit stay between the two groups. The mortality rate of AD group was 34.4% and of TA-IMH group was 14.3%. There was no significant difference in terms of mortality between the groups. In our study, 45.7% of patients had hypertension and that rate was lower than the one found in the literature. In addition, bicuspid aorta was not observed in both groups. Connective tissue disease was not detected in any group. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of aorta is beneficial for TA-IMH. Our aortic surgical indications comply with the European aortic surgical guidelines. Hypertension control should be provided aggressively.

Background/Aims Untreated rupture of the thoracic aorta is associated with a high mortality rate. We aimed to review the clinical results of endovascular treatment for ruptured thoracic aortic disease. Methods We retrospectively reviewed data on 37 patients (mean age, 67.0 ± 15.18 years) treated for ruptured thoracic aortic disease from January 2005 to May 2016. The median follow-up duration was 308 days (interquartile range, 61 to 1,036.5). The primary end-point of the study was the composite of death, secondary intervention, endoleak, and major stroke/paraplegia after endovascular treatment. Results The etiologies of ruptured thoracic aortic disease were aortic dissection (n = 11, 29.7%), intramural hematoma (n = 7, 18.9%), thoracic aortic aneurysm (n = 14, 37.8%), and traumatic aortic transection (n = 5, 13.5%). Three patients died within 24 hours of thoracic endovascular aortic repair, and one showed type I endoleak. The technical success rate was 89.2% (33/37). The in-hospital mortality rate was 13.5% (5/37); no deaths occurred during follow-up. The composite outcome rate during follow-up was 37.8% (14/37), comprising death (n = 5, 13.5%), secondary intervention (n = 5, 13.5%), endoleak (n = 5, 13.5%), and major stroke/paraplegia (n = 3, 8.1%). Left subclavian artery revascularization and proximal landing zone were not associated with the composite outcome. Low mean arterial pressure (MAP; ≤ 60 mmHg, [hazard ratio, 13.018; 95% confidence interval, 2.435 to 69.583, p = 0.003]) was the most significant predictor and high transfusion requirement in the first 24 hours was associated with event-free survival (log rank p = 0.018). Conclusions Endovascular treatment achieves high technical success rates and acceptable clinical outcome. High transfusion volume and low MAP were associated with poor clinical outcomes.

Introduction. The aorta is a major blood vessel that supplies all segments of the human body. Acute aortic syndrome is a term that implies a life-threatening aortic disease. Due to the speed of examination and widespread availability, computed tomography angiography is a front-line diagnostic modality for emergencies and diseases of the abdominal aorta. The aim of this study was to provide a wide range of potentially life-threatening abnormalities of the abdominal aorta in daily clinical and radiological practice through a series of computed tomography angiography images and three-dimensional virtual reconstruction. Abdominal aortic aneurysm is defined as a 50% increase in diameter more than the normal arterial diameter. One of the most important complications of an aneurysm is a rupture that can be acute or chronic, presenting with various clinical manifestations. Aortic dissections are caused by abnormality of the tunica media layer, forming an intimal-medial flap and two types of lumen. A penetrating aortic ulcer may erode through the internal elastic lamina of the aortic wall and allow formation of hematoma within the tunica media. Occlusive disease of the abdominal aorta may refer to the late stage of chronic aortoiliac occlusive disease, whereas the acute and/or subacute form occurs due to sudden thrombosis or occlusion. Conclusion. The recognition of specific radiological signs of abdominal aortic disease using computed tomography angiography contributes to optimal treatment of patients and reduces mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study is to compare postoperative outcomes and follow-up of two different modifications facilitating surgical technique of frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure for complex thoracic aortic diseases -- zone 0 (fixation with total arch debranching) and zone 3 (fixation with islet-shape arch repair). Methods: From May 2012 to December 2018, data were collected from 139 patients who had been treated with FET procedure for complex thoracic aortic diseases. According to Ishimaru arch map, patients with proximal anastomotic site of hybrid graft at zone 0 and zone 3 were grouped as Group A (n=58, 41.7%) and Group B (n=81, 58.3%), respectively. Mean age of study population was 54.7±11.4 years, and 111 patients were male (79.9%). Results: In-hospital mortality was observed in 20 (14.4%) patients (n=12, acute type A aortic dissection, and n=4, previous aortic dissection surgery). There was no significant difference between both groups in terms of in-hospital mortality. Four patients from Group A and three patients from Group B had permanent neurological deficit (P=0.32). Three patients from both groups had transient spinal cord ischemia (P=0.334). Although mean total perfusion time was longer in Group A, duration of visceral ischemia, when compared with Group B, was shorter (P<0.001). Five-year survival rate was 82.8% in Group A and 81.5% in Group B (P=0.876). Conclusion: FET procedure is a feasible repair technique in the treatment of complex aortic diseases, providing satisfactory early results. Because of its advantageous aspects, zone 0 fixation with debranching is the preferred technique in our clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a devastating surgical emergency, with high operative mortality. Several scoring algorithms have been used to establish the expected mortality in these patients. Our objective was to define the predictive factors for mortality in our center and to validate the EuroSCORE and Penn classification system. Methods: Patients who underwent surgery for AAD from 2006 to 2016 were retrieved from the institution's database. Preoperative, operative and postoperative variables were collected. Observed and expected mortality was calculated by EuroSCORE. Logistic regression analysis and Cox regression analysis were performed to find predictors of operative mortality and survival, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted for logistic EuroSCORE, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated. Results: 87 patients (27.6% female) underwent surgery for AAD. The mean age was 58.6±9.7 years. Expected and observed operative mortality was 25.8±15.1% and 20.7%, respectively. Penn Aa, Ab and Abc shared similar observed/expected (O/E) mortality ratio. The only independent predictor of operative mortality (OR: 3.63; 95% CI: 1.19-11.09) and survival (HR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.5-4.8) was female gender. EuroSCORE showed a very poor prediction capacity, with an AUC=0.566. Conclusion: Female gender was the only independent predictor of operative mortality and survival in our institution. EuroSCORE is a poor scoring algorithm to predict mortality in AAD, but with consistent results for Penn Aa, Ab and Abc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ruptured aortic aneurysm and aortic dissections are potentially preventable disorders associated with high mortality. Screening of individuals at risk may translate into elective surgical interventions and lowered mortality. It is uncertain if the risk of aortic dilation of varying degrees aggregates within families.Methods: We investigated the risk of having thoracic and abdominal aortic sizes in the highest quartile (measured by computed tomography scans and indexed for body size) if at least 1 parent did so in the Framingham Heart Study cohorts, and estimated the incidence rates and hazard ratios of developing aortic aneurysm or dissection among first-degree relatives of those with aortic aneurysm or dissection, in comparison with age- and sex-matched controls (1:10 for aortic aneurysm and 1:100 for aortic dissection) using the Danish nationwide administrative registries.Results: In the Framingham Heart Study, offspring (n=235) whose parent(s) had a sex- and age-standardized aortic size in the upper quartile had a multivariable-adjusted ≈3-fold increased odds ratio of belonging to the upper quartile themselves. In Denmark, a total of 68 939 individuals (mean age, 42 years) had a first-degree relative with aortic aneurysm and 7209 persons (mean age, 39 years) had a first-degree relative with aortic dissection. During an average follow-up of 7 years, first-degree relatives of patients with aortic aneurysm and dissection had a hazard ratio of 6.70 (95% CI, 5.96-7.52) for developing aortic aneurysm and a hazard ratio of 9.24 (95% CI, 5.53-15.44) for dissection in comparison with matched controls. These estimates remained unchanged on adjusting for several comorbidities, including prevalent hypertension, bicuspid aortic valve, and the Marfan syndrome. For both aortic aneurysm and dissections, the absolute event rates approached 1 per 1000 person-years for first-degree relatives versus 11 to 13 (aortic aneurysm) and 2 to 3 (aortic dissections) per 100 000 person-years among controls.Conclusions: Increased aortic size, a precursor of aortic aneurysm and a risk factor for dissection, clusters in families. The incidence rates of aortic aneurysm and dissections approach the incidence rates of other common cardiovascular conditions in first-degree relatives, supporting the use of systematic screening for these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inherited thoracic aortopathies denote a group of congenital conditions that predispose to disease of the thoracic aorta. Aortic wall weakness and abnormal aortic hemodynamic profiles predispose these patients to dilatation of the thoracic aorta, which is generally silent but can precipitate aortic dissection or rupture with devastating and often fatal consequences. Current strategies to assess the future risk of aortic dissection or rupture are based primarily on monitoring aortic diameter. However, diameter alone is a poor predictor of risk, with many patients experiencing dissection or rupture below current intervention thresholds. Developing tools that improve the risk assessment of those with aortopathy is internationally regarded as a research priority. A robust understanding of the molecular pathways that lead to aortic wall weakness is required to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets that could improve patient management. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the genetically determined mechanisms underlying inherited aortopathies and critically appraise the available blood biomarkers, imaging techniques, and therapeutic targets that have shown promise for improving the management of patients with these important and potentially fatal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Aortic dissection (AD) has been recognized to be associated with an inflammatory process. Clinical observations demonstrated that patients with AD had an elevated interleukin (IL)-6 level in comparison to hypertensive or healthy controls. Adverse events such as acute lung injury, postimplantation syndrome, and death are associated with an elevated IL-6 level. Thus, circulating IL-6 could be a reliable biomarker for the diagnosis of AD and for the eveluation of the therapeutic outcomes and the prognosis of AD patients. Therapeutic interventions aiming at attenuating the inflammatory status by IL-6 neutralization could effectively decrease the IL-6 level and thus reverse the progression of the disorder of AD patient. Endovascular aortic repair can effectively control the inflammatory cytokines. Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest during aortic arch replacement shows better neuroprotectve effect with an improved IL-6 level of the cerebrospinal fluid. These results facilitate the understanding of the etiology of AD and guide the directions for the treatment of acute AD in the future. More effective therapeutic agents developed based on the theories of IL-6 signaling involved in the mechasims of AD are anticipated.

Objective: This study aims to compare aortic morphology between repaired coarctation patients and controls, and to identify aortic morphological risk factors for hypertension and cardiovascular events (CVEs) in coarctation patients., Methods: Repaired coarctation patients with computed tomography angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were included, followed-up and compared with sex-matched and age-matched controls. Three-dimensional aortic shape was reconstructed using patients' CTA or MRA, or four-dimensional flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance in controls, and advanced geometrical characteristics were calculated and visualised using statistical shape modelling. In patients, we examined the association of geometrical characteristics with (1) baseline hypertension, using multivariable logistic regression; and (2) cardiovascular events (CVE, composite of aortic complications, coronary artery disease, ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure hospitalisation, stroke, transient ischaemic attacks and cardiovascular death), using multivariable Cox regression. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method selected the most informative multivariable model., Results: Sixty-five repaired coarctation patients (23 years (IQR 19-38)) were included, of which 44 (68%) patients were hypertensive at baseline. After a median follow-up of 8.7 years (IQR 4.8-15.4), 27 CVEs occurred in 20 patients. Aortic arch dimensions were smaller in patients compared with controls (diameter p<0.001, wall surface area p=0.026, volume p=0.007). Patients had more aortic arch torsion (p<0.001) and a higher curvature (p<0.001). No geometrical characteristics were associated with hypertension. LASSO selected left ventricular mass, male sex, tortuosity and age for the multivariable model. Left ventricular mass (p=0.014) was independently associated with CVE, and aortic tortuosity showed a trend towards significance (p=0.070)., Conclusion: Repaired coarctation patients have a smaller aortic arch and a more tortuous course of the aorta compared with controls. Besides left ventricular mass index, geometrical features might be of importance in long-term risk assessment in coarctation patients., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Evidence to guide management of postdissection abdominal aortic aneurysms (PDAAA) is lacking. This study describes the outcomes of open repair of PDAAA. A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all consecutive patients treated with open repair for PDAAA after a Stanford type A or type B thoracic aortic dissection between January 2006 and December 2017 in two vascular referral centers. Preceding type B dissection treatment could include conservative or surgical management. Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality, complication rates, survival, and reintervention-free survival. Survival and reintervention-free survival were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Reintervention was defined as any endovascular or surgical intervention after the index procedure. Included were 36 patients (27 men [75%]) with a median age of 64 years (range, 35-81 years). The 30-day mortality was 2.7%. The median follow-up was 16 months (range, 0-88 months). The postoperative course was uneventful in 21 patients (58%). The most frequent complications were postoperative bleeding requiring repeat laparotomy (n = 4), pneumonia (n = 3), congestive heart failure (n = 2), new-onset atrial fibrillation (n = 2), mesenteric ischemia requiring left hemicolectomy (n=1), and ischemic cerebrovascular accident (n = 1). Renal failure requiring hemodialysis developed in one patient. The overall survival at 1 year was 88.8%. Reintervention-free survival was 95.5% after 1 year and 88.6% after 2 years. Open repair of PDAAA can be performed with a low mortality rate and an acceptable complication rate, comparable with elective open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms without dissection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with in-hospital mortality in type A acute aortic dissection (AAD). Methods: A total of 96 patients who presented to the emergency department between January 2013 and June 2018 with a diagnosis of type A AAD were enrolled in this study. White blood cell count subtypes such as NLR and PLR were calculated at the time of admission. The end point was in-hospital mortality. Results: Of the 96 type A AAD patients included in this analysis, 17 patients (17.7%) died during hospitalization. NLR and PLR were significantly elevated in patients with type A AAD (P<0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve, the best NLR cut-off value to predict in-hospital mortality was 9.74, with 70.6% sensitivity and 76.8% specificity, whereas the best PLR cut-off value was 195.8, with 76.5% sensitivity and 78.1% specificity. Conclusion: Admission NLR and PLR levels were important risk factors and independently associated with in-hospital mortality of type A AAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The feasibility and effectiveness of delaying surgery to transfer patients with acute type A aortic dissection-a catastrophic disease that requires prompt intervention-to higher-volume aortic surgery hospitals is unknown. We investigated the hypothesis that regionalizing care at high-volume hospitals for acute type A aortic dissections will lower mortality. We further decomposed this hypothesis into subparts, investigating the isolated effect of transfer and the isolated effect of receiving care at a high-volume versus a low-volume facility.Methods: We compared the operative mortality and long-term survival between 16 886 Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with an acute type A aortic dissection between 1999 and 2014 who (1) were transferred versus not transferred, (2) underwent surgery at high-volume versus low-volume hospitals, and (3) were rerouted versus not rerouted to a high-volume hospital for treatment. We used a preference-based instrumental variable design to address unmeasured confounding and matching to separate the effect of transfer from volume.Results: Between 1999 and 2014, 40.5% of patients with an acute type A aortic dissection were transferred, and 51.9% received surgery at a high-volume hospital. Interfacility transfer was not associated with a change in operative mortality (risk difference, -0.69%; 95% CI, -2.7% to 1.35%) or long-term mortality. Despite delaying surgery, a regionalization policy that transfers patients to high-volume hospitals was associated with a 7.2% (95% CI, 4.1%-10.3%) absolute risk reduction in operative mortality; this association persisted in the long term (hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.75-0.87). The median distance needed to reroute each patient to a high-volume hospital was 50.1 miles (interquartile range, 12.4-105.4 miles).Conclusions: Operative and long-term mortality were substantially reduced in patients with acute type A aortic dissection who were rerouted to high-volume hospitals. Policy makers should evaluate the feasibility and benefits of regionalizing the surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection in the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2016.12.007

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Objectives: To describe the incidence of acute aortic dissection in a clearly defined population, to assess onset symptoms and admission biochemical marker levels and to analyse variables potentially associated to mortality., Methods: Medical records and CT angiograms of all patients hospitalised for acute aortic dissection in the Stockholm County during the 5-year period 2012-2016 were reviewed. The patients were followed until date of death or until 31 December 2020. The annual incidence was determined. Associations between clinical and biochemical variables and 30-day mortality, respectively, were analysed using multivariable logistic regression models., Results: A total of 344 patients were included. The mean annual incidence of acute aortic dissection was 4.1 per 100 000. Median age was 67 years (range 24-91) and 34% (n=118) were women. Type A dissection was predominant; 220 patients (64%) had type A and 124 (36%) had type B. Painless dissection was more common in type A than in type B (18% vs 15%, p=0.003). Type A dissection patients also more commonly had elevated plasma troponin T (44% vs 21%, p<0.001) and thrombocytopenia (26% vs 15%, p=0.010) than type B dissection patients on admission. Overall, 30-day mortality was 28% in type A and 11% in type B (p<0.001). Both painless dissection (OR 4.30, 95% CI 1.80 to 10.28, p=0.001) and elevated troponin T (OR 3.78, 95% CI 2.01 to 7.12, p<0.001), respectively, were associated with increased 30-day mortality in all acute aortic dissection patients. Thrombocytopenia was associated with elevated 30-day mortality only in patients with type A (OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.53 to 6.21, p=0.002)., Conclusions: Nearly two-thirds of acute aortic dissection patients had type A. Levels of troponin T and platelets, respectively, paired with presence or absence of typical symptoms may become useful adjuncts in risk stratification of patients with acute aortic dissection., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: Aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm rupture are aortic emergencies and their clinical outcomes have improved over the past two decades; however, whether this has translated into lower mortality across countries remains an open question. The purpose of this study was to compare mortality trends from aortic dissection and rupture between the UK, Japan, the USA and Canada., Methods: We analysed the WHO mortality database to determine trends in mortality from aortic dissection and rupture in four countries from 2000 to 2019. Age-standardised mortality rates per 100 000 persons were calculated, and annual percentage change was estimated using joinpoint regression., Results: Age-standardised mortality rates per 100 000 persons from aortic dissection and rupture in 2019 were 1.04 and 1.80 in the UK, 2.66 and 1.16 in Japan, 0.76 and 0.52 in the USA, and 0.67 and 0.81 in Canada, respectively. There was significantly decreasing trends in age-standardised mortality from aortic rupture in all four countries and decreasing trends in age-standardised mortality from aortic dissection in the UK over the study period. There was significantly increasing trends in mortality from aortic dissection in Japan over the study period. Joinpoint regression identified significant changes in the aortic dissection trends from decreasing to increasing in the USA from 2010 and Canada from 2012. In sensitivity analyses stratified by sex, similar trends were observed., Conclusions: Trends in mortality from aortic rupture are decreasing; however, mortality from aortic dissection is increasing in Japan, the USA and Canada. Further study to explain these trends is warranted., Competing Interests: Competing interests: All authors report no relevant conflicts of interest., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: The reliability of assessment of the artery of Adamkiewicz before the aortic repair is highly dependent on the display of the continuity of this artery with the aorta, mainly around the vertebral pedicle, by computed tomography angiography (CTA). We hypothesized that the sharp filter kernel can improve visualization of this continuity of the vessel structure because of its edge enhancement and high-spatial resolution. This study was performed to compare the subjective and objective image quality of spinal CTA reconstructed with sharp and smooth filter kernels.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 40 consecutive patients who had undergone 80-kV CTA to detect the artery of Adamkiewicz before aortic repair. We measured the CT number and the contrast-to-noise ratio of the anterior spinal artery to the spinal cord. Furthermore, the continuity of the artery of Adamkiewicz was evaluated using a 3-point scale (2 points, absolute; 0 points, undetectable).Results: CTA with the sharp filter kernel showed a significantly higher CT number and contrast-to-noise ratio of the spinal artery than did CTA with the smooth filter kernel (P < .001 for both). Moreover, the sharp filter kernel showed a significantly higher continuity of the artery of Adamkiewicz with the aorta than did the smooth filter kernel (P < .001).Conclusions: The sharp filter kernel significantly improved the image quality in low-tube-voltage CTA for the assessment of the artery of Adamkiewicz. Thus, CTA with the sharp filter kernel can generate a high-confidence level in the evaluation of the artery of Adamkiewicz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective In patients presenting with acute type-A aortic dissection (aTAAD), lactic acid measurement is a frequently used analysis for diagnosis of acute ischemia, which may have a dismal prognosis. The aim of the current study was to determine the performance of perioperative arterial lactic acid measurements in predicting outcome in aTAAD patients. Design Retrospective, observational study. Setting Cardiothoracic surgery unit at a tertiary-level hospital. Participants The study involved 285 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for aTAAD. Interventions Preoperative and postoperative lactic acid levels were measured and evaluated together with clinical data related to outcome, including in-hospital and 1-year mortality. Measurements and Main Results Altogether, 37 patients (13%) died during the index hospital admission, and survival was 84.4 ± 2.2 at 1 year. Preoperative cardiac malperfusion (odds ratio [OR] 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-7.3) and cerebral malperfusion (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.2-5.6) were associated significantly with poorer 1-year survival. The area under the curve (AUC) for in-hospital and 1-year mortality in relation to preoperative lactic acid levels was 0.684 and 0.673, respectively, corresponding to a lactic acid cut-off for in-hospital mortality of 2.75 mmol/L (sensitivity 56%; specificity 72%) and a cut-off for 1-year mortality of 2.85 mmol/L (sensitivity 48%; specificity 74%). The AUC for in-hospital and 1-year mortality in relation to lactic acid levels measured postoperatively on arrival at the intensive care unit was 0.582 and 0.498, respectively. Conclusion Although hyperlactemia in aTAAD indicates an increased risk of postoperative mortality, the sole use of lactic acid levels as a tool for accurate assessment of postoperative mortality is inadvisable due to its poor discriminatory performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and dissection are fatal diseases that cause aortic rupture and sudden death. The small GTP-binding protein GDP dissociation stimulator (SmgGDS) is a crucial mediator of the pleiotropic effects of statins. Previous studies revealed that reduced force generation in aortic smooth muscle cells (AoSMCs) causes TAA and thoracic aortic dissection. Methods: To examine the role of SmgGDS in TAA formation, we used an angiotensin II (1000 ng·min−1·kg−1, 4 weeks)–induced TAA model. Results: We found that 33% of Apoe −/− SmgGDS +/− mice died suddenly as a result of TAA rupture, whereas there was no TAA rupture in Apoe −/− control mice. In contrast, there was no significant difference in the ratio of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture between the 2 genotypes. We performed ultrasound imaging every week to follow up the serial changes in aortic diameters. The diameter of the ascending aorta progressively increased in Apoe −/− SmgGDS +/− mice compared with Apoe −/− mice, whereas that of the abdominal aorta remained comparable between the 2 genotypes. Histological analysis of Apoe −/− SmgGDS +/− mice showed dissections of major thoracic aorta in the early phase of angiotensin II infusion (day 3 to 5) and more severe elastin degradation compared with Apoe −/− mice. Mechanistically, Apoe −/− SmgGDS +/− mice showed significantly higher levels of oxidative stress, matrix metalloproteinases, and inflammatory cell migration in the ascending aorta compared with Apoe −/− mice. For mechanistic analyses, we primary cultured AoSMCs from the 2 genotypes. After angiotensin II (100 nmol/L) treatment for 24 hours, Apoe −/− SmgGDS +/− AoSMCs showed significantly increased matrix metalloproteinase activity and oxidative stress levels compared with Apoe−/− AoSMCs. In addition, SmgGDS deficiency increased cytokines/chemokines and growth factors in AoSMCs. Moreover, expressions of fibrillin-1 (FBN1), α-smooth muscle actin (ACTA2), myosin-11 (MYH11), MYLLK , and PRKG1 , which are force generation genes, were significantly reduced in Apoe −/− SmgGDS +/− AoSMCs compared with Apoe−/− AoSMCs. A similar tendency was noted in AoSMCs from patients with TAA compared with those from control subjects. Finally, local delivery of the SmgGDS gene construct reversed the dilation of the ascending aorta in Apoe −/− SmgGDS +/− mice. Conclusions: These results suggest that SmgGDS is a novel therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of TAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has become an affordable tool for assisting heart surgeons in the aorta endovascular field, both in surgical planning, education and training of residents and students. This technique permits the construction of physical prototypes from conventional medical images by converting the anatomical information into computer aided design (CAD) files. Objective: To present the 3D printing feature on developing prototypes leading to improved aortic endovascular surgical planning, as well as transcatheter aortic valve implantation, and mainly enabling training of the surgical procedure to be performed on patient's specific condition. Methods: Six 3D printed real scale prototypes were built representing different aortic diseases, taken from real patients, to simulate the correction of the disease with endoprosthesis deployment. Results: In the hybrid room, the 3D prototypes were examined under fluoroscopy, making it possible to obtain images that clearly delimited the walls of the aorta and its details. The endovascular simulation was then able to be performed, by correctly positioning the endoprosthesis, followed by its deployment. Conclusion: The 3D printing allowed the construction of aortic diseases realistic prototypes, offering a 3D view from the twodimensional image of computed tomography (CT) angiography, allowing better surgical planning and surgeon training in the specific case beforehand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2017.03.013

Brachial artery aneurysms are rare but potentially limb threatening condition. The presented case here is a 52-year old male referred to the emergency department complaining a sudden onset and progressive pain with coldness of his right upper extremity during brushing. The right upper extremity was pulseless and three-dimensional computed tomography showed an aneurysm of the proximal right brachial artery associated with arterial occlusion in its distal branch. Embolectomy was done, the aneurysm resected, and the artery successfully re-vascularised by interposing a saphenous vein graft.

Introduction: Conventional techniques of surgical correction of arch and descending aortic diseases remains as high-risk procedures. Endovascular treatments of abdominal and descending thoracic aorta have lower surgical risk. Evolution of both techniques - open debranching of the arch and endovascular approach of the descending aorta - may extend a less invasive endovascular treatment for a more extensive disease with necessity of proximal landing zone in the arch. Objective: To evaluate descending thoracic aortic remodeling by means of volumetric analysis after hybrid approach of aortic arch debranching and stenting the descending aorta. Methods: Retrospective review of seven consecutive patients treated between September 2014 and August 2016 for diseases of proximal descending aorta (aneurysms and dissections) by hybrid approach to deliver the endograft at zone 1. Computed tomography angiography were analyzed using a specific software to calculate descending thoracic aorta volumes pre- and postoperatively. Results: Follow-up was done in 100% of patients with a median time of 321 days (range, 41-625 days). No deaths or permanent neurological complications were observed. There were no endoleaks or stent migrations. Freedom from reintervention was 100% at 300 days and 66% at 600 days. Median volume reduction was of 45.5 cm³, representing a median volume shrinkage by 9.3%. Conclusion: Hybrid approach of arch and descending thoracic aorta diseases is feasible and leads to a favorable aortic remodeling with significant volume reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cabrol shunt has been introduced for surgical repair of type A aortic dissection (TAAD) without robust evidence supporting its routine preventive use., Methods: Adult patients with TAAD from China 5A study were included if surgically repaired between 2016 and 2022. Primary outcome was operative mortality according to Society of Thoracic Surgeons criterion. Overall, we compared clinical outcomes in patients with and without Cabrol shunt, and subgroup analysis were further examined between Cabrol shunt and outcome among patients with or without root replacement., Results: 3283 patients were finally identified for analysis, with median age of 51 (IQR 41-59) years, 2389 men, and 2201 treated with Cabrol shunt technique. Cabrol shunt-treated patients were more severely ill before surgery than those without Cabrol shunt. Overall, the rate of operative mortality was 6.6% (146/2201 in Cabrol shunt group and 71/1082 in non-Cabrol shunt group), with no association between Cabrol shunt and operative mortality (OR 1.012 (95% CI 0.754 to 1.357); p=0.938). Stratified by root replacement, Cabrol shunt was associated with similar risk of operative mortality either in patients without root replacement (OR 1.054 (0.747 to 1.487); p=0.764) or in patients with root replacement (OR 1.194 (0.563 to 2.536); p=0.644) (P interaction=0.765). Results were similar in multiple sensitivity analysis., Conclusion: Cabrol shunt was not associated with either a greatly lowered or an increased risk of operative mortality, regardless of aortic root replacement. Our study did not support the use of Cabrol shunt as a routine preventive strategy in the treatment of TAAD., Trial Registration Number: NCT04398992., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)