Outcomes of 3309 thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2016 May;151(5):1323-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2015.12.050. Epub 2016 Jan 14.

Abstract

Objective: Since the pioneering era of E. Stanley Crawford, our multimodal strategy for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair has evolved. We describe our approximately 3-decade single-practice experience regarding 3309 thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs and identify predictors of early death and other adverse postoperative outcomes.

Methods: We analyzed retrospective (1986-2006) and prospective data (2006-2014) obtained from patients (2043 male; median age, 67 [59-73] years) who underwent 914 Crawford extent I, 1066 extent II, 660 extent III, and 669 extent IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, of which 723 (21.8%) were urgent or emergency. Repairs were performed to treat degenerative aneurysm (64.2%) or aortic dissection (35.8%). The outcomes examined included operative death (ie, 30-day or in-hospital death) and permanent stroke, paraplegia, paraparesis, and renal failure necessitating dialysis, as well as adverse event, a composite of these outcomes.

Results: There were 249 operative deaths (7.5%). Permanent paraplegia and paraparesis occurred after 97 (2.9%) and 81 (2.4%) repairs, respectively. Of 189 patients (5.7%) with permanent renal failure, 107 died in the hospital. Permanent stroke was relatively uncommon (n = 74; 2.2%). The rate of the composite adverse event (n = 478; 14.4%) was highest after extent II repair (n = 203; 19.0%) and lowest after extent IV repair (n = 67; 10.2%; P < .0001). Estimated postoperative survival was 83.5% ± 0.7% at 1 year, 63.6% ± 0.9% at 5 years, 36.8% ± 1.0% at 10 years, and 18.3% ± 0.9% at 15 years.

Conclusions: Repairing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms poses substantial risks, particularly when the entire thoracoabdominal aorta (extent II) is replaced. Nonetheless, our data suggest that thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair, when performed at an experienced center, can produce respectable outcomes.

Keywords: aneurysm (aorta); aortic dissection; aortic operation; outcomes; thoracoabdominal.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / mortality*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / surgery*
  • Aortic Dissection / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Dissection / mortality
  • Aortic Dissection / surgery*
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / adverse effects
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / methods*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Databases, Factual
  • Elective Surgical Procedures / adverse effects
  • Elective Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Emergency Treatment / adverse effects
  • Emergency Treatment / methods
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hospital Mortality*
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications / mortality
  • Postoperative Complications / physiopathology
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Survival Analysis
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States