OBJECTIVE: The treatment for a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm remains controversial. This study was undertaken to assess the outcome from surgery. METHODS: Between 1993 and 1998, we have performed 19 operations for a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm. Patients with an impending rupture or a chronic false aneurysm were excluded. There were 11 men and 8 women, with a mean age of 70.5 +/- 6.7 years. The aneurysm was caused by dissection in 8 patients. Of these, 7 were acute (Stanford type A, 6; type B, 1), and the other one was chronic (type B). Aortic rupture occurred into the pericardial cavity (n = 7), into the left lung (n = 6), the mediastinum (n = 3), the pleural cavity (n = 2), or into the esophagus (n = 1). Severely unstable hemodynamics were noted in 12 patients with a rupture into the pericardium, mediastinum, or pleural cavity (Group A). Inotropic support was required in each of these patients. Metabolic acidosis developed all but 1 patient. The 7 patients with a rupture into the lung or esophagus coughed or vomited blood (Group B). The operative approach was anterior (n = 17) or lateral (n = 2). Grafts were placed in the ascending aorta (n = 4), ascending and transverse arch aorta (n = 7), transverse arch aorta (n = 3), or in the descending thoracic aorta (n = 5). Selective cerebral perfusion was used in 13 patients. RESULTS: There were 5 hospital deaths (26.3%). The postoperative complications included central nervous system dysfunction (n = 3), low cardiac output syndrome or cardiac arrhythmias (n = 3), respiratory failure (n = 4), acute renal failure (n = 1), and local or systemic infections (n = 4). The perioperative event-free rate was 36.8% overall, 25% in Group A, and 57.1% in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with unstable hemodynamics require prompt operative intervention. Rupture into the esophagus is associated with a high mortality rate. Rupture in a thoracic aortic aneurysm can be successfully treated with emergency surgery.
OBJECTIVE: The treatment for a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm remains controversial. This study was undertaken to assess the outcome from surgery. METHODS: Between 1993 and 1998, we have performed 19 operations for a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm. Patients with an impending rupture or a chronic false aneurysm were excluded. There were 11 men and 8 women, with a mean age of 70.5 +/- 6.7 years. The aneurysm was caused by dissection in 8 patients. Of these, 7 were acute (Stanford type A, 6; type B, 1), and the other one was chronic (type B). Aortic rupture occurred into the pericardial cavity (n = 7), into the left lung (n = 6), the mediastinum (n = 3), the pleural cavity (n = 2), or into the esophagus (n = 1). Severely unstable hemodynamics were noted in 12 patients with a rupture into the pericardium, mediastinum, or pleural cavity (Group A). Inotropic support was required in each of these patients. Metabolic acidosis developed all but 1 patient. The 7 patients with a rupture into the lung or esophagus coughed or vomited blood (Group B). The operative approach was anterior (n = 17) or lateral (n = 2). Grafts were placed in the ascending aorta (n = 4), ascending and transverse arch aorta (n = 7), transverse arch aorta (n = 3), or in the descending thoracic aorta (n = 5). Selective cerebral perfusion was used in 13 patients. RESULTS: There were 5 hospital deaths (26.3%). The postoperative complications included central nervous system dysfunction (n = 3), low cardiac output syndrome or cardiac arrhythmias (n = 3), respiratory failure (n = 4), acute renal failure (n = 1), and local or systemic infections (n = 4). The perioperative event-free rate was 36.8% overall, 25% in Group A, and 57.1% in Group B. CONCLUSIONS:Patients with unstable hemodynamics require prompt operative intervention. Rupture into the esophagus is associated with a high mortality rate. Rupture in a thoracic aortic aneurysm can be successfully treated with emergency surgery.
Authors: T Juvonen; M A Ergin; J D Galla; S L Lansman; K H Nguyen; J N McCullough; D Levy; R A de Asla; C A Bodian; R B Griepp Journal: Ann Thorac Surg Date: 1997-06 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: P R Vogt; L K von Segesser; Y Goffin; U Niederhäuser; M Genoni; A Künzli; M Lachat; M I Turina Journal: Ann Thorac Surg Date: 1996-09 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: L K von Segesser; T Tkebuchava; U Niederhäuser; A Künzli; M Lachat; M Genoni; P Vogt; R Jenni; M I Turina Journal: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg Date: 1997-08 Impact factor: 4.191
Authors: M A Coady; J A Rizzo; G L Hammond; D Mandapati; U Darr; G S Kopf; J A Elefteriades Journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 1997-03 Impact factor: 5.209
Authors: A W Bradbury; N W Bulstrode; G Gilling-Smith; G Stansby; A O Mansfield; J H Wolfe Journal: Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg Date: 1999-02 Impact factor: 7.069
Authors: R S Mitchell; M D Dake; C P Sembra; T J Fogarty; C K Zarins; R P Liddel; D C Miller Journal: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Date: 1996-05 Impact factor: 5.209