title: Perioperative risk factors for mortality in patients with acute type A aortic dissection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ege University Medical School, Bornova-Izmir, Turkey. apaydina@efes.net.tr
authors.forename: Anil Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Apaydin
authors.forename: Suat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buket
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Posacioglu
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Islamoglu
authors.forename: Tanzer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Calkavur
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yagdi
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozbaran
authors.forename: Munevver
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuksel
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000150:complications; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000150:complications; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000150:complications; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000098:blood supply; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000150:complications