Surgical Strategy for Chronic Type B Dissecting Aortic Aneurysm to Prevent Aorta-Related Events.

OBJECTIVE This study was aimed to evaluate the outcomes of performing open repair or thoracic endovascular aortic repair for chronic type B dissecting aortic aneurysm. METHODS From July 2004 to February 2019, 52 patients underwent surgery as open repair (n=32) or endovascular repair (n=20) for chronic type B dissecting aortic aneurysm. Replacement of the aorta was limited to the aneurysmal portion with or without reconstructing the visceral arteries or the segmental arteries. Stent grafts were deployed in the true lumen above the celiac artery to cover the primary entry for even DeBakey IIIb dissection. RESULTS Operative mortality and morbidity rates, including spinal cord ischemia incidence, did not differ between the groups. Operative mortality and morbidity rates, including spinal cord ischemia incidence, did not differ between the groups. In the endovascular repair group, three patients died due to rupture of residual false lumen in the early and late postoperative follow-up. The 5-year rate of freedom from all-cause death, aorta-related death, and aorta-related event were 84% ± 6%, 94% ± 3% and 84% ± 6%. The endovascular repair was independently associated with all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR], 5.7; confidence interval [CI], 1.02-31.6; P=0.04) and aorta-related event (HR, 30.9; CI 4.9-195.0; P<0.001). In the open group, postoperative residual aortic diameter was an independent predictor of aorta-related events, and the threshold was 41 mm. CONCLUSIONS Open repair remains a better option than simple endovascular repair alone in DeBakey IIIb dissection, but the distal un-resected aortic portion over 41mm was associated with late aortic events.