Surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Several innovative approaches have been introduced in the surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection. This study examines the effects of these new techniques on the early and late outcomes of patients with this disease.
METHODS: The records of patients who had surgery for acute type A aortic dissection during an 18 year interval were reviewed. There were 109 patients: 81 men and 28 women, with a mean age of 57 years, range 23 to 80. Most patients were acutely ill and 15 were in shock at the time of surgery. Operations were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass with femoral artery and right atrial cannulation. In 55 patients, the aorta was clamped and retrograde femoral perfusion was used throughout the procedure (group I). In 54 patients, no clamp was used; under circulatory arrest the primary tear was resected whether in the ascending aorta or transverse arch, and antegrade cardiopulmonary bypass was started after completion of the distal anastomosis (group II). Postoperative computed tomographic or magnetic resonance scans were completed annually.
RESULTS: There were 16 operative deaths (15%): 11 (20%) in group I, and 5 (9.2%) in group II (p = 0.10). There were 10 strokes: 8 (14.5%) in group I and 2 (3.7%) in group II (p = 0.05). After a mean follow-up time of 59 +/- 45 months for group I, 31 (56%) patients were alive, and after a mean follow-up time of 45 +/- 26 months for group II, 44 (81%) patients were alive. The actuarial survival of group II was higher than group I, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.09). Postoperatively, a patent false lumen was found in 91% of group I patients and in 59% of group II (p = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that avoidance of aortic clamping, resection of the primary tear in the ascending aorta or transverse arch, and antegrade perfusion after completion of the distal anastomosis improve the early and late outcomes of surgery for acute type A aortic dissection.