Aortic root surgery improves long-term survival after acute type A aortic dissection

ObjectiveOur objective was to analyze the long term survival of patient operated on for acute type A aortic dissection.MethodsBetween 1990 and 2010, 226 patients underwent emergency surgical operation for acute type A aortic dissection. We have followed the long-term outcomes.Results144 patients were operated on with a supracommissural replacement of the ascending aorta (SCR) and 82 with an aortic root surgery (ARS, including 77 Bentall procedures and 5 Tirone David operations). Aortic cross-clamp was longer in ARS group (150.8 vs. 103.6 min, p < 0.0001). Overall in-hospital mortality was lower in ARS group (20% vs. 34%, p 0.03). Median follow-up was 11.6 years. 10-year survival was higher in ARS group (85.7% vs. 65.9%, p 0.03) and 10-year freedom from aortic root reoperation was significantly lower in ARS group (93.4% vs. 82.9%, p 0.02). In a multivariate analysis aortic root surgery was an independent protective factor for proximal reoperations OR 0.393, CI 95% [0.206–0.748], p = 0.005.ConclusionsOur study suggests that complete aortic root replacement in type A aortic dissection does not burden short-term outcomes, improves long-term survivals and decreases the rate of late reoperation. Whether this approach has to be preferred in younger patient has to be demonstrated in further studies.