Frozen elephant trunk with total arch replacement for type A aortic dissections: Does acuity affect operative mortality?

ObjectiveWe seek to compare the early outcomes of frozen elephant trunk with total aortic arch replacement using a 4-branched graft (the Sun procedure) in patients with acute and chronic type A aortic dissection (TAAD), identify the risk factors for operative mortality, and determine whether the acuity of TAAD significantly affects operative mortality.MethodsWe performed univariate and multivariate analyses of the clinical data from 803 patients with TAAD who underwent the Sun procedure.ResultsThe operative mortality was 6.5% (52 of 803). The overall incidence of stroke and spinal cord injury was 2.0% (16 of 803) and 2.4% (19 of 803), respectively. Patients with acute TAAD had a greater incidence of operative death (8.1% vs 4.3%; P = .031), stroke (2.2% vs 0.6%; P = .046), and respiratory morbidities (20.8% vs 8.6%; P < .001). However, acuity was not identified as a risk factor for operative mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.67; P = .152). The risk factors were previous cerebrovascular disease (OR, 7.01; P = .001); malperfusion of the brain (OR, 7.10; P = .002), kidneys (OR, 12.67; P = .005), spinal cord (OR, 22.79; P = .008), and viscera (OR 22.98; P = .002); concomitant extra-anatomic bypass (OR, 9.50; P < .001); and cardiopulmonary bypass time >180 minutes (OR, 1.01; P < .001).ConclusionsIn this group of patients with type A dissection, acuity was not a risk factor for operative mortality after the Sun procedure. Patients with previous cerebrovascular disease; malperfusion of the brain, kidneys, spinal cord, and/or viscera; concomitant extra-anatomic bypass; and a longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (>180 minutes) were at greater risk of operative mortality.