title: Long-term effectiveness of total arch replacement for type A aortic dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With recent improvements in cerebral protection during aortic arch repair, total aortic arch replacement has become an accepted surgical method for acute type A aortic dissection involving the aortic arch. Our surgical strategy is to perform total arch replacement with a branched graft using antegrade selective cerebral perfusion for the patients with type A aortic dissection involving the aortic arch. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this strategy on late outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 1988 to April 2003, 46 patients underwent total arch replacement for acute type A dissection involving the aortic arch. Operations were performed with hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, antegrade selective cerebral perfusion during the arch repair, and open distal anastomosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hospital mortality was 6.5% (3 patients), and permanent neurologic dysfunction was observed in 1 patient. During the follow-up period (mean, 5.4 years; range, 13 months to 15.6 years), 2 patients died, but the causes were not related to the aorta or aortic valve. Survival rates at 5 and 10 years postoperatively were 89.6% +/- 5.2% and 82.7% +/- 8.2%, respectively. Of the 41 survivors, 3 patients underwent successful reoperation for the distal thoracic aorta. Freedom from reoperation was 93.6% +/- 4.6% and 88.7% +/- 6.5% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. The residual false lumen in the thoracic aorta was frequently thrombosed (76.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total arch replacement for acute type A dissection may decrease the risk of late complications related to the false lumen and lead to excellent long-term survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyushu Koseinenkin Hospital, Kitakyushu, Japan. ochiaiy@alto.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ochiai
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imoto
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sese
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000601:surgery*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data