Temporal and Morphological Patterns Predict Outcome of Endovascular Repair in Acute Complicated Type B Aortic Dissection

Objectives The aim was to analyse early and late outcomes in patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute or subacute non-traumatic type B aortic dissection (TBAD), with the particular aims of identifying prognostic morphological predictors, and to assess the magnitude of the impact of the timing of TEVAR. Methods This was a retrospective, two centre, population based consecutive case series. The study group consisted of all the 53 patients undergoing TEVAR for complicated TBAD in Stockholm during the 12 year period 2004–2015. Demographic data, risk factors, operative, and outcome variables were registered and analysed. The CT scans were thoroughly retrospectively examined. Results Nearly half (24 patients; 45%) underwent TEVAR within 48 h of the onset of the initial symptoms, another 20 within 2 weeks, and nine in the subacute phase (15 – 90 days). The median age was 63 years (range 32–88) and 20 patients (38%) were women. The 30 day mortality was 17% (nine patients). Eight of these nine patients were treated within the first 48 h; urgent intervention (0–48 h) was associated with increased mortality (crude OR 14.0; 95% CI 1.6–122). All the nine patients had a false lumen area (FLA) at the level of the tracheal bifurcation exceeding 50% of the aortic cross sectional area at that segment, a finding significantly associated with increased mortality ( p  = .04), with a 25% 30 day mortality if the FLA > 50% ( n  = 36) at that segment, but 0% if the FLA was Conclusions All the early deaths demonstrated a FLA >50% of the total aortic cross sectional area at the level of the tracheal bifurcation. Patients needing urgent TEVAR had markedly worse outcome. The first finding may become an additional tool for future risk stratification.