title: Combined surgical and endovascular treatment of acute aortic dissection type A: preliminary results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The established treatment modality of acute Stanford type A dissection includes repair of the ascending aorta and various portions of the aortic arch, whereas the descending aorta is left untreated. We report a simultaneous approach of open repair of the ascending aorta with transluminal stent grafting of the descending aorta to minimize the consequences of an untreated descending aorta.
  
  
  METHODS
  From April 2001 to February 2002, 8 consecutive patients (3 women [37.5%] and 5 men [62.5%]) with a mean age of 55.7 years (range, 45 to 70 years) were intended to be treated with the combined method of surgical repair of the ascending aorta and transluminal stent grafting into the descending aorta during the period of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Circulatory arrest time ranged between 30 and 67 minutes (average, 38.8 minutes). Specially designed Talent stent grafts (32 to 40 mm in diameter, length 13 cm) were inserted under direct vision and deployed with the proximal end at the origin of the left subclavian artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intraoperative stent graft placement was successful in 7 patients (87.5%). Because of severe kinking of the distal arch, stent insertion failed in 1 patient (12.5%). One patient with a history of preoperative stroke in the middle cerebral artery died because of intracerebral bleeding on postoperative day 2, resulting in an in-hospital mortality of 12.5%. Mean intensive care unit stay was 6.4 days (range, 2 to 21 days) and overall hospital stay was 18.2 days (range, 7 to 33 days). Completion computed tomographic scans revealed complete thrombosis of the false lumen in 2 patients and partial thrombosis in 4 patients. Follow-up was complete and ranged from 1 to 9 months (mean, 5.4 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study shows that combined surgical and endovascular treatment of acute type A dissection is feasible, and at least partial thrombosis of the false lumen can be achieved, potentially minimizing the risk of further dilatation or rupture. Additionally, the stent graft expands the otherwise sickle-shaped true lumen, thereby ameliorating distal aortic perfusion. Long-term results are warranted to demonstrate the effectiveness of this new combined treatment modality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fleck
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hutschala
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czerny
authors.forename: Marek P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: Marie-Theres
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Kasimir
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cejna
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolner
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grabenwoger
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed