The conventional total arch replacement (cTAR) with frozen elephant trunk implantation is commonly regarded as the gold standard for aortic pathologies involving ascending aorta and proximal aortic arch. By combining open supra-aortic vessels debranching and emerging endovascular technologies, hybrid arch repair (HAR) has been increasingly performed as a promising alternative in risky patients with comorbidities and frailties. Nevertheless, the advantages or disadvantages of hybrid arch procedures and cTAR in terms of survival and related outcomes remain controversial. This study is aimed to briefly review the role and results of HAR in the management of aortic arch pathology in comparison of contemporary cTAR.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the initial results of hybrid procedure without sternotomy for aortic arch dissection, and also report our initial experience in performing this procedure. MethodsFrom January 2011 to September 2014, 17 patients diagnosed with aortic arch dissection by CT angiography undergoing the hybrid procedure (thoracic endovascular aortic repair combined with supra-arch branch vessel bypass) in the department of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan General Hospital of Guangzhou Command. There were 12 males and 5 females aged from 46 to 71 years. Their clinical data, including the imaging findings, treatment, and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsLeft common carotid artery (LCCA) to left subclavian artery (LSA) bypass (n=4), right common carotid artery (RCCA) to LCCA to LSA bypass (n=3), RCCA to LCCA bypass merger covered LSA (n=3) were performed. All operations were successful. Laryngeal recurrent nerve injury occurred in one patient. All patients were followed up on the postoperative day 7, 30 and one year. All patients were followed up for 12 to 53 months till September 2015. There was no death, and no complications such as endoleak after the hybrid procedure, stenosis or blockage of the bypass graft during the follow-up period. ConclusionInitial results suggest that the hybrid procedure without sternotomy is a suitable therapeutic option for high risk aortic arch dissection patients in poor general condition with little tolerance to aortic arch replacement．
Objective To summarize treatment experience and evaluate clinical outcomes of surgical therapy for Stanford type A aortic dissection （AD）. Methods Clinical data of 48 patients with Stanford type A AD who underwent surgical treatment in General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Region from October 2006 to March 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 41 males and 7 females with their age of 26-72 （47.6±9.2） years. There were 43 patients with acute Stanford type A AD （interval between symptom onset and diagnosis＜14 days） and 5 patients with chronic AD. There were 19 patients with moderate to severe aortic insufficiency and 6 patients with Marfan symdrome but good aortic valve function，who all received Bentall procedure，total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk implantation. There were 8 patients with AD involving the aortic root but good aortic valve function who underwent modified David procedure，total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk implantation. There were 10 patients with AD involving the ascending aorta who received ascending aorta replacement，total arch replacement and stented elephant trunk implantation. There were 5 patients with AD involving partial aortic arch who underwent ascending aorta and hemiarch replacement. Patients were followed up in the 3rd，6th and 12th month after discharge then once every year. Follow-up evaluation included general patient conditions，blood pressure control，chest pain recurrence，mobility and computerized tomography arteriography （CTA）. ResultsCardiopulmonary bypass time was 121-500 （191.4±50.6） minutes，aortic cross-clamp time was 58-212 （112.3±31.7） minutes，and circulatory arrest and selective cerebral perfusion time was 26-56 （34.8±8.7） minutes. Postoperative mechanicalventilation time was 32-250 （76.2±35.6） hours，and ICU stay was 3-20 （7.1±3.4） days. Thoracic drainage within 24 hours postoperatively was 680-1 600 （1 092.5±236.3） ml. Seven patients （14.5%） died perioperatively including 2 patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome，2 patients with low cardiac output syndrome，1 patient with renal failure，1patient with delayed refractory hemorrhage，and 1 patient with coma. Twenty patients had other postoperative complicationsand were cured or improved after treatment. A total of 38 patients ［92.7% （38/41）］ were followed up for 3-48 （13.0±8.9） months，and 3 patients were lost during follow-up. During follow-up，there were 36 patients alive and 2 patients who died of other chronic diseases. There was no AD-related death during follow-up. None of the patients required reoperation for AD or false-lumen expansion. CTA at 6th month after discharge showed no anastomotic leakage，graft distortion or obstruction.Conclusion According to aortic intimal tear locations，ascending aorta diameter and AD involving scopes，appropriate surgical strategies，timing and organ protection are the key strategies to achieve optimal surgical results for Stanford type A AD. Combined axillary and femoral artery perfusion and increased lowest intraoperative temperature are good methods for satisfactory surgical outcomes of Stanford type A AD.
ObjectiveTo establish a mouse model of pressure overload-induced heart failure via suprasternal notch approach. MethodsMale mice were separated into a sham group and an experiment group. Through suprasternal notch approach, the aortic arch port between the origin of the right innominate and left common carotid arteries was partially clipped with tantalum clip, which had a remaining opening of 0.35 mm or 0.25 mm in diameter to cause progres-sively increased afterload. Echocardiography was performed 10 weeks after aortic arch clipped or sham surgery to deter-mine left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), left ventricular posterior wall end-diastolic thickness (LVPWD), ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS). After hemodynamic recordings were completed, mouse body weight (BW) and heart weight (HW) were measured for obtaining HW/BW ratio (mg/g). After heart function examination, mice blood sample was collected for evaluation of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). At the end, part of left ventricular free wall was excised, and hematoxylin and eosin stain was made for histopathological examination. ResultsThe HW/BW, LVEDD and serum NT-proBNP significantly increased in the experiment group compared with those in the sham group (P < 0.01, respectively). The LVPWD, EF and FS significantly decreased compared with the sham group (P < 0.01, respectively). Histopathological examination showed malalignment and rupture of cardiac muscle fibers, hypertrophy and degeneration of myocardial cells, part of which had local or patchy necrosis in left ventricule postoperatively 10 weeks. ConclusionThe model of pressure overload-induced heart failure in mice established through suprasternal approach is simple, minimally invasive and reliable.
Increasing evidences show that a gradual trend away from deep hypothermia toward moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest, which has been proved to be safe and effective in clinic. By summarizing and analyzing the research progress and applying status of the moderate hypothermia circulatory arrest with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion, the article aims at promoting the application of this tenique as a cerebral protection strategy in aortic arch surgery for adults in China.
Objective To summarize the methods and experiences of surgical treatment of aortic arch diseases with four branches aortic graft under deep hypothermia circulatory arrest （DHCA） and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion （ASCP）. Methods In 2004 from September to December, surgical treatment of 12 patients with 7 aortic aneurysm（4 cases with ascending aorta and aortic arch aneurysm, 3 cases with aneurysm of aortic isthmus） and 5 aortic dissection（DeBakey Ⅰ 1 case, DeBakey Ⅱ 3 cases, DeBakey Ⅲ 1 case） were collected in Gunma Prefectural Cardiovascular Center. All operations were carried out under DHCA and ASCP, and four branches aortic graft were used to replace the aortic arch. The Bentall procedure, total and partial arch replacement and elephant trunk technique were undertaken in different patients. Results Total 12 patients recovered from the great vessel diseases smoothly without severe cerebral and other systematic complications, the time of operation was 5.5±1.7 h, the period of DHCA was 42.2±12.9min, 4 cases with no blood transfusion, the time of hospitalization was 22.3±7.2d. Conclusion ASCP is a safe. and effective method of cerebral protection during circulation arrest, and four branches aortic graft may shorten the time of DHCA and simplify the procedure of aortic arch replacement.
Objective To determine risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery underdeep hypothermic circulatory arrest （DHCA） and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion （ASCP）. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 113 patients who underwent aortic arch surgery under DHCA＋ASCP in the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital， Medical School of Nanjing University from October 2004 to April 2012. According to whether they regained consciousness within 24 hours after surgery， all the 113 patients were divided into normal group （73 patients including 55 males and 18 females with their average age of 48.1±10.9 years） and delayed recovery group （40 patients including 29 males and 11 females with their average age of 52.2±11.4 years）. Risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after surgery were evaluated by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Nine patients （8.0%） died postoperatively， including 5 patients with multi-organ failure， 2 patients with heart failure， 1 patient with mediastinal infection， and 1 patient with pulmonary hemorrhage. There were 7 deaths （17.5%） in the delayed recovery group and 2 deaths （2.7%） in the normal group， and the in-hospital mortality of the delayed recovery group was significantly higher than that of the normal group （P=0.016）. A total of 94 patients （including 65 patients in the normal group and 29 patients in the delayed recovery group） were followed up for 4-95 months. Eight patients （including 5 patients in the normal group and 3 patients in the delayed recovery group） died during follow-up， including 2 patients with stroke， 3 patients with heart failure， 2 patients with pulmonary hemorrhage and 1 patient with unknown cause. Ten patients were lost during follow-up. Univariate analysis showed that age （P=0.042）， hypertension （P=0.017）， emergency surgery （P=0.001）， cardiopu- lmonary bypass （CPB） time （P=0.007）， aortic cross-clamp time （P=0.021）， and blood transfusion（P=0.012）were risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery. Multivariate logistic regression showed that emergency surgery （P=0.005） and CPB time＞240 minutes （P=0.000） were independent risk factors of delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery. Conclusion Delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery is attributed to a combination of many risk factors. Correct patient diagnosis， lesion site and involved scope should be made clear preoperatively in order to choose appropriate surgical strategies. During the surgery， strengthened brain protection， shortened operation time， improved surgical techniques， and perioperative stable circulation maintenance are all important measures to prevent delayed recovery of consciousness after aortic arch surgery.
ObjectiveTo investigate the results of emergent aortic arch replacement using moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest and unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (MHCA+UACP).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 146 patients who underwent emergent aortic arch replacement using MHCA+UACP in our institution from January 2008 to June 2018. There were 111 males and 35 females aged 60.3±7.2 years. According to different surgical approaches, patients were divided into two groups: a total arch replacement (TAR) group (n=104) and a semi arch replacement (SAR) group (n=42). Right axillary artery was cannulated for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cerebral perfusion. Core temperature at the onset of MHCA was 23.4±1.4 ℃. UACP was initiated at 18-22 ℃ with the flow of 5-10 ml/(kg·min). Flow was adjusted to maintain cerebral perfusion pressure of 50–60 mm Hg.ResultsCPB time was 235.0±42.0 min. Aortic clamp time was 154.0±29.0 min. Circulatory arrest (CA) time was 48.1±13.0 min. The CPB time and CA time of the TAR group were longer than those of SAR group. Overall mortality rate was 9.6%. Complications included permanent neurological dysfunction (PND), temporary neurological dysfunction (TND), acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring dialysis and delayed extubation (mechanical ventilation time >72 hours). Overall incidence of PND and TND was 2.7% and 6.8%, respectively. The incidence of AKI requiring dialysis was 4.1%. The incidence of delayed extubation was 21.9%. No difference of mortality rate or incidence of complications was found between the two groups. The average follow-up was 63.0±33.1 months. The 5-year survival rate was 72.6% in the TAR group and 85.5% in the SAR group.ConclusionEmergent aortic arch replacement using MHCA+UACP can be accomplished with excellent results.
Objective To compare the outcome of patients with the strategy of conventional and steady cooling ＆ rewarming and cold reperfusion , who suffered from DeBakey type Ⅰ aortic dissection or aortic arch aneurysm and underwent the total aortic arch replacement. Methods Thirty-two patients who underwent total arch replacement were randomly allocated to one of two strategies of temperature management in cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB）, conventional group （group C, 16 cases） and steady cooling ＆. rewarming and cold reperfusion group （group S, 16 cases）. The jugular bulb venous oxygenation saturation （SjvO2）, jugular bulb venous oxygen tension （PivO2） and jugular bulb venous blood temperature （JVBT） were tested or monitored during the operation. Preoperative and postoperative neurological examinations and brain computerized tomography scan were performed. Results All patients survived the operations and were discharged from hospital. No new brain infarction occurred. Transient neurologic dysfunction occurred in 2 patients of the group S and 3 patients of the groupC. The “cooling ＆ rewarming blanket-impress puple” occurred in 4 cases of the group C. The SjvO2, PjvO2, lowest nasopharyngeal temperature and the post operative nasopharyngeal temperature of the patients in group S were significantly higher than those of the patients in group C （SjvO2 0.85±0. 11 vs. 0. 74±0.23, PjvO2 36. 9± 15.6mmHg vs. 24.5±7.7mmHg, P（ 0.01 ）. While the highest brain temperature, wake time and ICU stay in group S were remarkably lower than those in group C （P 〈0. 01,0. 05）. Conclusion With less postbypass afterdrop and satisfactory clinical outcome, the strategy of steady cooling ＆ rewarming and cold reperfusion can effectively avoid brain hyperthermia and mismatch of cerebral blood flow metabolism in the surgery of total aortic arch replacement.
Aortic arch disease is one of the research hotspots and treatment difficulties in the field of aorta, including aortic arch aneurysms, pseudoaneurysm, ulcer, dissection and intramural hematoma. By summarizing the clinical data of the vascular surgery center of Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in the past five years and combining with the latest theories of the cutting-edge development of aortic surgery, the authors proposed the "HENDO" concept, including using hybrid technique (H), endovascular repair (Endo) and open surgery (O), properly to treat aortic arch pathologies individually. The authors advocated the establishment of HENDO team and cooperation mechanism in large aortic centers, to eliminate technical shortcomings of a single surgeon by fully mastering the three main technology clusters by teamwork. Accordingly, the best treatment for each patient can be administrated and the survival rate and quality of life can be improved eventually.