title: Quality of life following surgery of ascending aorta and aortic arch with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgery of the ascending aorta and aortic arch has been challenging since its inception as neurological complications may occur significantly affecting the quality of life (QOL).
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1998 to December 2007, 79 patients mainly suffering aortic dissection (65%) or true aortic aneurysm (34%) underwent surgery on the aortic arch employing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. QOL was assessed with the sickness-impact-profile (SIP) comprising 136 questions and 12 categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients underwent replacement of the ascending aorta, combined with a partial (hemiarch) (n = 33; 42%) or total (n = 46, 58%) arch replacement. Thirty-day mortality was 17.7% (n = 14 patients). Perioperatively, three patients (3.8%) suffered a transitory ischemic attack (TIA) and 5.1% patients suffered a stroke. The median score of the complete questionnaire was 4.7, which demonstrates excellent QOL following such complex surgical procedures. The median physical dimension was 2.5 (0; 8), the psychosocial median score was 3.7 (1.2; 16.1), both underline an only minimal impairment of the daily life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The QOL after following the surgery of ascending aorta and aortic arch with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion is excellent on the long-term as assessed by the SIP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kobuch
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schelker
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirt
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amann
authors.forename: Claudius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Diez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D050792:Circulatory Arrest, Deep Hypothermia Induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010477:Perfusion / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome