Ascending and transverse aortic arch repair: the impact of glomerular filtration rate on mortality.

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have described the importance of renal glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as a determinant of perioperative mortality in patients with aneurysms that involve the thoracoabdominal and abdominal aorta. We studied the impact of GFR on mortality following repair of ascending and arch aneurysms.

METHODS

Between February 1991 and August 2006, we performed 994 repairs of the ascending and transverse aortic arch. Nine hundred twenty patients had evaluable data for this study. Sixty-two percent were men (566/920); mean age was 65 years (range 17-89). We estimated the GFR using the Cockcroft-Gault equation. Mean preoperative serum creatinine was 1.2 +/- 0.9 mg/dl, mean GFR was 77 +/- 37 mL/min. Renal function data were arrayed in quartiles for univariate analysis and kept continuous for multivariable analyses. Multivariable analyses assessed demographics, extent of disease, acuity of presentation, and renal function measured by both creatinine and GFR.

RESULTS

Overall 30-day mortality was 10.8% (99/920). In univariate analyses, GFR (P < 0.0001), serum creatinine (P < 0.0003), coronary artery disease (P > 0.03), acute dissection (P < 0.03), emergency presentation (P < 0.002), age (P < 0.009), pump time (P < 0.0001), cross-clamp time, (P < 0.03) and circulatory arrest time (P < 0.003) were associated with increased mortality. By multivariable analyses, only GFR (P < 0.0001), pump time (P < 0.0001), emergency status (P < 0.002) were significant independent risk factors for mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative renal function as defined by GFR was the most significant predictor of mortality during repairs of the ascending and transverse aortic arch. The use of GFR provides better preoperative risk stratification during these repairs than creatinine alone.