Reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root in patients with previous cardiac surgery.
BACKGROUND
First time operations on the ascending aorta are performed with low mortality, few complications, and excellent long-term results. Reoperations for aortic pathology in patients with previous cardiac surgery carry significantly more risk. Technical issues during the procedure, as well as age, preoperative New York Heart Association class, and perioperative renal dysfunction, have been shown to contribute heavily to worse outcomes. We analyzed our results with aortic reoperations with the intent of further reducing surgical risk through alterations in surgical technique or patient selection.


METHODS
From July 1997 until October 2005, 147 patients having previous cardiac surgery presented with aneurysm or dissection of the ascending aorta or root. Perioperative data were retrospectively analyzed. Morbidity, mortality, and risk factors for these events were calculated.


RESULTS
Eight patients expired (5.4%) after their reoperation. Significant (p < 0.05) univariate risk factors for mortality included age greater than 75 years (< 0.001), previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (< 0.008), cardiopulmonary bypass greater than 240 minutes (< 0.01), need for intraaortic balloon pump support (< 0.001), need for new CABG (< 0.007), postoperative cerebrovascular accident (< 0.032), and tracheostomy (< 0.003). Age 75 years or older (p < 0.025) was the only significant variable for death by multivariate analysis. A majority of patients (n = 87, 60%) required circulatory arrest to complete their procedure. However, neither arch involvement nor type of aortic root procedure was predictive of perioperative mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgery on the ascending aorta and root in patients who have had previous cardiac surgery can be performed with low mortality. Advanced age and significant coronary disease may negatively influence surgical results.
Girardi
Leonard N
LN
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. lngirard@med.cornell.edu
Krieger
Karl H
KH
Mack
Charles A
CA
Lee
Leonard Y
LY
Tortolani
Anthony J
AJ
Isom
O Wayne
OW
D000367:Age Factors; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D012086:Reoperation; D012307:Risk Factors