Early and midterm results of frozen elephant trunk operation with Evita open stent-graft in patients with Marfan syndrome: results of a multicentre study

Background: Endovascular treatment of patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) is not recommended. Hybrid procedures such as frozen elephant trunk (FET), which combines stent-graft deployment with an integrated non-stented fabric graft for proximal grafting and suturing, have not been previously evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of FET operation in patients with MFS. Methods: Patients enrolled in the International E-vita Open Registry (IEOR) who underwent FET procedure between January 2001 and February 2020 meeting Ghent criteria for MFS were included in the study. Early and midterm results were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative, postoperative and follow-up computed tomography angiography scans were analysed. Results: We analyzed 37 patients [mean age 38 ± 11 years, 65% men]. Acute or chronic aortic dissection was present in 35 (95%) patients (14 and 21 patients respectively). Two (5%) patients had an aneurysm without dissection. Malperfusion syndrome was present in 4 patients. Twenty-nine (78%) patients had history of aortic surgical interventions. The 30-day and in-hospital mortality amounted to 8 and 14% respectively. False lumen exclusion was present in 73% in stented segment in last postoperative CT. The overall 5-year survival was 71% and freedom from reintervention downstream was 58% at 5 years. Of the nine patients who required reintervention for distal aortic disease, one patient died. Conclusions: FET operation for patients with MFS can be performed with acceptable mortality and morbidity. In long-term follow-up no reinterventions on the aortic arch were required. FET allows for easier second stage operations providing platform for surgical and endovascular reinterventions

Efficacy and Safety of Heparinization before Deployment of Endograft for Blunt Traumatic Aortic Injury in Severely Injured Patients

Background: The administration of unfractionated heparin (UFH) during endovascular repair of blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) is controversial. The aim of the study is to report the early outcomes of patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for BTAI, and to assess the individualized intraoperative use and dose of UFH. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis including consecutive patients treated with TEVAR for BTAI of the descending aorta between January 1st, 2005 and December 31st, 2018. Intraoperative use and doses of UFH were analyzed. Primary outcome included a reintervention because of new onset bleeding and/or thromboembolic complication and 30-day mortality. Technical success, injury severity score (ISS), timing of treatment, and neurologic deterioration were secondary outcome. Results: Thirty-six patients with a mean age of 47 ± 18 years, 30 males (83%), were included. Intraoperative administration of UFH was recorded in 30/36 patients (83%) with a mean dose of 4750 ± 2180 IU. Two patients had no UFH because of extensive intracranial hemorrhage or suspected relevant liver laceration, respectively; 1 died in theatre, 1 was already anticoagulated having a mechanical aortic valve, and in 2 no information about heparin use was found. During 30 days of follow-up, 3 patients died (8%; 3/36): 1 patient with completely transected aorta died on-table and 2 on the fifth postoperative day, 1 from trauma-associated brain injury and 1 with multi organ failure. No bleeding or thromboembolic complication requiring reintervention occurred in any patient during 30 days follow-up. In 3 patients partial unintentional coverage of the left common carotid artery occurred, resulting in technical success of 89% (32/36). Mean ISS was 43 ± 15. Thirty-five patients (97%) were severely injured having an ISS ≥ 25. Twenty-nine patients (81%) were treated within 24 hr and 6 patients (17%) within 1 week. No stroke or spinal cord ischemia was observed. Conclusions: Systemic heparinization in different doses during TEVAR for BTAI can be safe with no intraoperative bleeding or thromboembolic complications in early postoperative period. © 202

Results of frozen elephant trunk from the international E-vita Open registry

Background: Over the years, frozen elephant trunk (FET) has become the treatment of choice for multisegmental thoracic aortic disease. This multicenter study presents the evolution of FET results using the E-vita Open hybrid graft with respect to institutional experience and time. Methods: The data of International E-vita Open registry were studied according to the institutional experience of the participating centers (high-versus low-volume centers) and according to the evolution of FET treatment during time (1st period, 2005–2011 versus 2nd period, 2012–2018). Overall, 1,165 patients were enrolled in the study with a wide variety of multisegmental thoracic aortic pathologies and aortic emergencies. Participating centers determined their own surgical protocol. Results: The overall 30-day mortality was 12%. Short and long-term survival were higher in high-versus low-volume centers (P=0.048 and P=0.013, respectively). In the 2nd time period, cerebral complications were reduced significantly (P=0.015). Incidence of permanent spinal cord-related symptoms was reduced to 3% in the 2nd time period, but did not reach statistical significance. Hypothermic circulatory arrest time (P<0.001) and incidence of postoperative temporary renal replacement therapy (P=0.008) were significantly reduced in the 2nd time period. Ten-year survival and freedom from aortic-related death rates were 46.6% and 85.7%, respectively, for the entire group. The freedom from distal aortic re-interventions for a new or progressive residual aortic disease was 76.0%. Conclusions: Evolution of FET arch repair techniques with the E-vita Open graft and increasing institutional experience were associated with improved results. Progression of residual aortic disease makes close follow-up with aortic imaging mandatory in such patients