Differences in clinical presentation, management, and outcomes of acute type a aortic dissection in patients with and without previous cardiac surgery.
BACKGROUND
There are less data on the clinical and diagnostic imaging characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with previous cardiac surgery (PCS) presenting with acute type A aortic dissection (AAD).


RESULTS
In 617 patients with AAD, we evaluated the differences in the clinical characteristics, management, and in-hospital outcomes of the cohorts with and without PCS. A history of PCS was present in 100 of 617 patients. Patients with PCS were more likely to be males (P=0.02), older (P=0.014), and to have a history of previous aortic dissection (P<0.001) or aneurysms (P<0.001). In contrast, PCS patients were less likely to have presenting chest pain (P<0.001). Cardiac tamponade was less common in PCS patients (P=0.007). Fewer AAD patients with PCS underwent surgical repair (P=0.001). Hospital mortality was not adversely influenced by PCS (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81 to 2.63), but a trend for increased death was seen in patients with previous aortic valve replacement (AVR) (OR, 2.31; 95% CI, 0.98 to 5.43). Age 70 years or older, previous AVR, shock, and renal failure identified PCS patients at risk for death.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study highlights differences in clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of AAD patients with PCS. Importantly, PCS, with the exception of previous AVR, does not adversely influence early outcomes of AAD patients, including those undergoing surgical repair. However, because of otherwise dismal outcomes with medical management of AAD, our data indicate that a history of PCS (even that of previous AVR) should not preclude physicians from recommending surgical correction of type A aortic dissection in appropriate patients.
Collins
J Stewart
JS
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich, USA.
Evangelista
Arturo
A
Nienaber
Christoph A
CA
Bossone
Eduardo
E
Fang
Jianming
J
Cooper
Jeanna V
JV
Smith
Dean E
DE
O'Gara
Patrick T
PT
Myrmel
Truls
T
Gilon
Dan
D
Isselbacher
Eric M
EM
Penn
Marc
M
Pape
Linda A
LA
Eagle
Kim A
KA
Mehta
Rajendra H
RH
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000209:etiology; D019090:Case Management; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012769:Shock / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome