BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to identify the perioperative risk factors for death in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AADA). METHODS: Between 1993 and 2001, 108 consecutive patients (86 men; mean age, 53 years) underwent emergent operations for AADA. All patients but 2 underwent replacement of the ascending aorta with an open distal anastomosis during a period of hypothermic circulatory arrest. In addition, 22 patients had hemiarch and 5 had total arch replacement. Aortic root was replaced in 20 and repaired with gelatin-resorcinol-formaldehyde glue in 39 patients; aortic valve was separately replaced in 3, resuspended in 24, and remained untouched in 22 patients. RESULTS: Overall in-hospital mortality was 25%. Mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with preoperative dissection complications than in those without (21/36 [58%] vs 6/72 [8%], p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, predictors of mortality were presence of rupture, renal failure, and intestinal malperfusion, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass > or = 200 minutes, blood loss > or = 500 mL, and transfusion of blood > or = 4 units. Location of the intimal tear, extent of the replacement, type of the aortic root repair, and duration of hypothermic circulatory arrest did not emerge as predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Major determinants of surgical mortality in patients with AADA are preoperative complications. Earlier diagnosis remains essential to improve the survival rate.
BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to identify the perioperative risk factors for death in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AADA). METHODS: Between 1993 and 2001, 108 consecutive patients (86 men; mean age, 53 years) underwent emergent operations for AADA. All patients but 2 underwent replacement of the ascending aorta with an open distal anastomosis during a period of hypothermic circulatory arrest. In addition, 22 patients had hemiarch and 5 had total arch replacement. Aortic root was replaced in 20 and repaired with gelatin-resorcinol-formaldehyde glue in 39 patients; aortic valve was separately replaced in 3, resuspended in 24, and remained untouched in 22 patients. RESULTS: Overall in-hospital mortality was 25%. Mortality rate was significantly higher in patients with preoperative dissection complications than in those without (21/36 [58%] vs 6/72 [8%], p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, predictors of mortality were presence of rupture, renal failure, and intestinal malperfusion, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass > or = 200 minutes, blood loss > or = 500 mL, and transfusion of blood > or = 4 units. Location of the intimal tear, extent of the replacement, type of the aortic root repair, and duration of hypothermic circulatory arrest did not emerge as predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Major determinants of surgical mortality in patients with AADA are preoperative complications. Earlier diagnosis remains essential to improve the survival rate.