title: Preoperative antithrombin III activity predicts outcome after surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute Stanford type A aortic dissection is associated with substantial perioperative morbidity and mortality. A sepsis-like state may lead to antithrombin (AT) III consumption and deficiency. The impact of preoperative AT III activity on outcome in patients undergoing emergency surgery is yet unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured preoperative AT III activity in 99 consecutive patients undergoing emergency aortic surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection during a 4-year period in a retrospective study. Cardiovascular co-morbidities, risk factors and surgical data were recorded and patients were followed for 30-day mortality, and occurrence of multiple organ failure (MOF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the first 30 days, 15 patients (15%) died, and 8 patients (8%) had MOF. Median AT III levels (IQR) in 30-day non-survivors versus survivors were 64% (52-72) versus 90% (75-97) (p<0.001), and in patients with versus without MOF were 66% (52.3-77.3) versus 88% (72-96) (p=0.018), respectively. Adjusted odds ratios for 30-day mortality and MOF for AT III activity (per % increments) were 0.92 (p=0.007), and 0.96 (p=0.012), respectively, indicating a significant inverse relationship between AT III activity and outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a strong inverse association between preoperative AT III activity and adverse outcome in patients undergoing surgical repair of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection. Larger studies are necessary to determine a cut-off value for AT III and to assess whether patients with low AT III levels benefit targeted therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Vienna General Hospital, Medical School, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gottfried H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Sodeck
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schillinger
authors.forename: Marek P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ehrlich
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grabenwoeger
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Exner
authors.forename: Anton N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Laggner
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Domanovits
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000378:metabolism*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000990:Antithrombin III