Mid-term results of the Lupiae technique in patients with De Bakey Type I acute aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: The late persistence of a patent and dilated false lumen into the thoracic aorta is associated to higher re-operation rates and to a worse prognosis after the surgical repair of De Bakey Type I acute aortic dissection (TIAAD). We present the mid-term results of a hybrid, two-stage technique for TIAAD aimed to reduce the risk of late expansion of the residual false lumen. METHODS: From May 2005 to January 2011, 49 patients with TIAAD were treated with the Lupiae technique. During the emergency operation, a Vascutek Lupiae™, a multi-branched Dacron prosthesis, was implanted to replace the ascending aorta, the aortic arch and to reroute the origin of the epiaortic vessels. The debranching of the aortic arch creates a long and stable Dacron landing zone on the ascending aorta suitable for further endovascular interventions. Postoperatively, 34 patients with a patent or partially thrombosed false lumen > 22 mm or a diameter of the descending aorta > 46 mm underwent the implant endovascular stentgrafts into the descending aorta. RESULTS: Three patients died after the first procedure. One patient died after the endovascular stage. No patient experienced paraplegia or stroke. The 6-year follow-up survival was 90 ± 4%. The obliteration of the false lumen was obtained in 94% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with TIAAD, the debranching of the aortic arch with the Lupiae technique can be safely performed. This technique creates a long and stable landing zone that can be easily used for the deployment of endovascular stentgrafts in case of distal false lumen expansion.

Cannulation of the innominate artery during surgery of the thoracic aorta: our experience in 55 patients.

BACKGROUND: Alternative cannulation sites such as the right/left axillary artery, the ascending aorta and aortic arch have been recently preferred to the femoral artery to improve neurologic outcome in patients undergoing surgery of the thoracic aorta. In 2004, we started to select the innominate artery as an arterial cannulation site for CPB and antegrade cerebral perfusion institution. Here we present our preliminary experience with 55 patients. METHODS: Between November 2004 and 2006, 55 patients (mean age 60+/-14 years) underwent surgery on the thoracic aorta using the innominate artery as a site for arterial cannulation. Indication for surgery was a degenerative aneurysm in 49 (89.1%), an acute type A dissection in 2 patients (3.6%), a post-dissection aneurysm in 3 (5.4%), a supravalvular aortic stenosis in 1 patient (1.8%). Operative procedure included total arch replacement (n=9), hemiarch replacement (n=6), ascending aorta replacement (n=21), Bentall procedure (n=18) and aortoplasty with patch (n=1). Mean CPB and cross clamp times were 131+/-60 and 95+/-29 min, respectively. Mean cerebral perfusion time was 54+/-26 min. RESULTS: The hospital mortality rate was 3.6%. There were no permanent neurologic dysfunction and one (1.8%) temporary neurological dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Our results with the cannulation of the innominate artery were encouraging. This provides the same advantages of the axillary artery cannulation with greater simplicity and avoiding extra surgical incisions which may be site for local complications. It may represent a valid option for CPB and antegrade cerebral perfusion institution in aortic procedures.