title: Management of complicated and uncomplicated acute type B dissection. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The management of acute type B dissection represents a clinical challenge. We undertook a systematic review of the available literature regarding medical, surgical and endovascular treatments of acute type B aortic dissection and combined the eligible studies into a meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  An extensive electronic health database search was performed on all articles published from January 2006 up to November 2013 describing the management of acute type B aortic dissection. Studies including less than 15 patients were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACUTE COMPLICATED TYPE B DISSECTION: overall, 2,531 patients were treated with endovascular repair (TEVAR) and the pooled rate for 30-day/in-hospital mortality was 7.3%. The pooled estimates for cerebrovascular events, spinal cord ischemia (SCI) and total neurologic events were 3.9%, 3.1% and 7.3%, respectively. A total of 1,276 patients underwent open surgical repair and the pooled rate for 30-day/in-hospital mortality was 19.0%. The pooled rate for cerebrovascular events was 6.8%, for SCI 3.3% and for total neurologic complications 9.8%. Acute uncomplicated type B dissection: outcome of 2,347 patients who underwent conservative medical management were analyzed. The pooled 30-day/in-hospital mortality rate was 2.4%. The pooled rate for cerebrovascular events was 1%, for SCI 0.8% and for overall neurologic complications 2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular repair provides a superior 30-day/in-hospital survival for acute complicated type B aortic dissection compared to surgical aortic reconstruction. However, open repair still has a significant role as endovascular repair is not applicable in all patients and there remains concerns regarding the durability of this technique. TEVAR seems to have a more favorable outcome regarding aortic remodeling and the aortic-specific survival rate when compared with medical therapy alone. Randomized controlled trials focusing on the prognostic factors of early and late complications in uncomplicated type B dissections are needed.
authors: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 The Collaborative Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia ; 3 Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Konstantinos G
authors: KG
authors: Moulakakis
authors: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 The Collaborative Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia ; 3 Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Spyridon N
authors: SN
authors: Mylonas
authors: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 The Collaborative Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia ; 3 Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Ilias
authors: I
authors: Dalainas
authors: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 The Collaborative Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia ; 3 Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Kakisis
authors: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 The Collaborative Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia ; 3 Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Kotsis
authors: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 The Collaborative Research Group, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia ; 3 Vascular Unit, 2nd Clinic of Surgery, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors: Christos D
authors: CD
authors: Liapis
keywords: Type B aortic dissection; acute; endovascular; medical treatment