Aortic remodeling as a prognostic factor for late aortic events after thoracic endovascular aortic repair in type B aortic dissection with patent false lumen.

PURPOSE: To assess the significance of aortic remodeling in the prevention of the late aortic events after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for aortic dissection.

METHODS

The study involved 52 patients (41 men; mean age was 59.7±13.3 years) with type B aortic dissections and patent false lumens treated with TEVAR between 2004 and 2011. Of the 52 patients, 18 were treated in the acute phase for rupture (n=1), malperfusion (n=10), aortic diameter over 40 mm at onset (n=3), and rapid enlargement of the false lumen (n=4). In the chronic setting, the indications for TEVAR were rupture (n=1), malperfusion (n=2), aortic diameter >50 mm (n=18), and rapid enlargement of the false lumen (n=13). Aortic remodeling was evaluated at 6 months postoperatively, and risk factors for late aortic events were evaluated in multivariate analysis using aortic remodeling and other pre-, peri-, and postoperative factors.

RESULTS

Over a mean 36.0±18.9 months, 19 aortic events were documented: enlargement of the false lumen (n=4), type I endoleak (n=2), and erosion at the stent-graft edges (n=13). Multivariate analysis revealed that failure to achieve aortic remodeling at 6 months postoperatively was the only significant risk factor for late aortic events (hazard ratio 0.20, p=0.037). Patients with aortic remodeling had a higher rate of freedom from aortic events compared with those without aortic remodeling (100% vs. 81.5% at 1 year and 79.3% vs. 48.4% at 3 years, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Aortic remodeling after TEVAR is a significant prognostic factor for better long-term results for type B aortic dissection.