Analysis of factors influencing the remodeling of abdominal false lumen after thoracic aortic endovascular repair

Objective: To examine the factors influencing the false lumen remodeling of abdominal aortic segment in the midterm and longterm after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Methods: The data of patients with type B aortic dissection diagnosed and underwent TEVAR at the Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, the First Medical Center, People's Liberation Army General Hospital, from November 2009 to November 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients of acute or subacute long segment dissection with residual tears of abdominal but no thoracic segment and follow-up for more than one year were enrolled. Patients with operation-related complications, and dissection caused by trauma and Marfan syndrome were excluded. A total of 51 patients were enrolled, including 45 males and 6 females, with an age of (49.4±10.6) years (range: 31 to 72 years). The patients included in the analysis were divided into stable and enlarged group. The criteria for inclusion in the enlarged group were any of the following: (1) the maximum growth rate of the abdominal segment false lumen was ≥3 mm/year; (2) the maximum diameter of the abdominal aorta was ≥50 mm; (3) the diameter of the abdominal segment false lumen increased more than 10 mm. χ2 test, t-test and nonparametric test were used for univariate analysis. The variables with P≤0.1 were included in the Logistic multivariate stepwise regression to analyze the independent correlation factors, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the cut-off value of the quantitative data. Results: All patients were divided into stable group (n=30) and enlarged group (n=21). The follow-up time of all patients was 42(29) months (range: 12 to 115 months). There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics, endovascular treatment characteristics and postoperative medication between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with stable group,the number of residual tears around visceral arteries was more (2(1) vs. 1(1), Z=-2.829, P=0.005) and the number of lumbar arteries originating from false lumen was more (5(6) vs. 3(5), Z=-2.025, P=0.043) early after TEVAR in enlarged group. The number of residual tears around visceral arteries (OR=3.966, 95%CI: 1.552 to 10.131, P=0.004) was found to be the independent influence factor for the poor remodeling of the abdominal false lumen in multivariate Logistic regression analysis. ROC curve analysis showed that the cut-off value of the number of residual tears around visceral arteries was 2 at least (area under curve: 0.718). Conclusion: The incidence of poor remodeling of the abdominal false lumen after TEVAR was high. The number of residual tears around visceral arteries (≥2) could be independent influence factor to predict the poor remodeling of abdominal false lumen, and the follow-up of such patients should be strengthened in clinic.