Endovascular aortic repair for Stanford type B aortic dissection: learning curve analysis / 介入放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze the learning curve of an experienced interventional radiologist engaged in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for Stanford type B aortic dissection.Methods The clinical data of 70 patients with Stanford type B aortic dissection,who received TEVAR that was carried out by the same group of interventional physicians over the past 10 years,were retrospectively analyzed.According to the sequence of operation date,the patients were equally divided into group A,B,C,D and E with 14 patients in each group.The operation time,procedure-related complications,postoperative hospitalization days were compared among the 5 groups,and the curative effects at different stages were evaluated.Results No statistically significant differences in the age,sex,classification,concurrent hypertension,concurrent diabetes,active smoking,maximum diameter of false lumen,viscera artery supplied by the false lumen,etc.existed between each other among the 5 groups (P＞0.05).The operation time of group A and group B was (3.29±0.61) hours and (2.87±0.37) respectively (P＜0.05),while the operation time of group C,group D and group E was (1.80±0.62) hours (1.74±0.34) hours and (1.52±0.39) hours respectively (P＞0.05).The operation time of group A and group B was significantly longer than that of group C,D,and E (P＜0.001).The difference in the occurrence of complications was not statistically significant between each other among the 5 groups (P＞0.05).The hospitalization time was gradually shortened from group A to group E,although the difference was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).The surgeries of 28 patients in group A and group B were completed within 2 years and 6.2 years respectively,with an operation frequency being 3.3 patients per year and 7 patients per year respectively;while the surgeries of 42 patients in group C,group D and group E were completed within 2.2 years,1.2 years and 0.5 years respectively,with an operation frequency being 6.4 patients per year,11.7 patients per year and 17.5 patients per year respectively.Conclusion The learning curve of performing TEVAR for type B aortic dissection is approximately 28 cases;after completing 28 TEVAR procedures for type B aortic dissection at the yearly frequency of 4.6 cases by one interventional radiologist,the operation time becomes significantly shortened,and the surgical skills of theinterventional physician team can been significantly improved.