BACKGROUND: This study aimed to elucidate the methodology and assess the efficacy of the aortic arch inclusion technique using an artificial blood vessel in managing acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 18 patients (11 males and 7 females, average age: 56.2 ± 8.6 years) diagnosed with ATAAD who underwent total aortic arch replacement (TAAR) using an artificial vascular \"inclusion\" between June 2020 and October 2022. During the operation, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) of the right axillary artery were employed for brain protection. The \'inclusion\' total aortic arch replacement and stented elephant trunk (SET) surgery were performed.
RESULTS: Four patients underwent the Bentall procedure during the study, with one additional patient requiring coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) due to significant involvement of the right coronary orifice. Three patients died during postoperative hospitalization. Other notable complications included two cases of postoperative renal failure necessitating continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), one case of postoperative double lower limb paraplegia, and one case of cerebral infarction resulting in unilateral impairment of the left upper limb. Eleven patients underwent computed tomography angiography (CTA) examinations of the aorta three months to one-year post-operation. The CTA results revealed thrombosis in the false lumen surrounding the aortic arch stent in seven patients and complete thrombosis of the false lumen around the descending aortic stent in eight patients. One patient had partial thrombosis of the false lumen around the descending aortic stent, and another patient\'s false lumen in the thoracic and abdominal aorta completely resolved after one year of follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating vascular graft in aortic arch replacement simplifies the procedure and yields promising short-term outcomes. It achieves the aim of total arch replacement using a four-branch prosthetic graft. However, extensive sampling and thorough, prolonged follow-up observations are essential to fully evaluate the long-term results.

OBJECTIVE: After cardiac surgery involving the aortic arch, the incidence of neurological complications remains high, therefore it is very important to take measures to protect brain. This study is to investigate the safety and effectiveness of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion for aortic root combined with right half aortic arch replacement.
METHODS: Clinical data of 31 patients, who underwent aortic root and right half aortic arch replacement with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion in Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, were retrospectively analyzed. This cohort included 23 aortic aneurysms and 8 aortic dissections. Aortic root replacement was conducted in 26 patients by Bentall procedures, and 5 patients by David procedures. Time of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion in surgery was (21.9±5.2) min. The in-hospital mortality, postoperative neurological dysfunction and other major adverse complications were observed and recorded.
RESULTS: No in-hospital death and permanent neurological dysfunction occurred. Two patients had transient neurological dysfunction and 2 patients with aortic dissection requiring long-time ventilation due to hypoxemia, 1 patient underwent resternotomy. During 6-36 months of follow-up, all patients recovered satisfactorily.
CONCLUSIONS: Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion can be safely and effectively applied in aortic root and right half aortic arch replacement, and which can simplify the surgical procedures and be worth of clinical promotion.
目的: 涉及主动脉弓的心脏手术后神经系统并发症发生率较高，故术中脑保护措施非常重要。本研究旨在探讨在同期行主动脉根部和右半弓置换手术中应用深低温停循环及逆行脑灌注的安全性及有效性。方法: 回顾性分析在中南大学湘雅医院行主动脉根部和右半弓置换手术且在术中采用深低温停循环及逆行脑灌注技术的患者31例，其中主动脉瘤病变23例，主动脉夹层8例。主动脉根部置换采用Bentall手术者26例，采用David手术者5例。术中停循环及逆行脑灌注时间为(21.9±5.2) min。观察并计录住院病死率、神经系统并发症以及其他不良事件。结果: 未出现术后死亡及持久神经系统症状的患者，2例出现短暂谵妄，2例出现低氧血症，1例进行了二次开胸。随访时间为6~36个月，患者恢复满意。结论: 在主动脉根部和右半弓置换手术中，应用深低温停循环和逆行脑灌注技术可以简化操作且安全有效，值得在临床上推广。.

BACKGROUND: Aortic arch replacement(TAR) combined with frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique is a high-risk operation after previous cardiovascular surgery. The aim of the study was to review our strategy and outcomes in this cohort.
METHODS: Data were reviewed for patients who underwent TAR combined with FET after previous cardiovascular surgery from January 2010 to December 2020. The patients were divided into elective group and non-selective group.
RESULTS: 63 eligible patients were divided into elective(n = 44) and non-elective(n = 19) groups. The interval between two operations was shorter in non-elective group than elective groups (P = 0.001). The indication for reoperation was different in two groups (P = 0.000), however, the type of reoperations has no differences. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was shorter in elective group than non-elective group (P = 0.000). The over-all 30-day mortality rate was 17.5%, and it was higher in non-elective group (P = 0.013). The 24h drainage increased in non-elective group (P = 0.001) as well as re-explore rate for bleeding (P = 0.022). Postoperative hospital stay prolonged in non-elective group (P = 0.002). However, rates of survival without further aortic events were 72.3 ± 7.1% in elective group, 72.9 ± 13.5% in non-elective group at 5 years, respectively (P = 0. 955).
CONCLUSIONS: Reduced 30-day mortality and shortened post-operative hospital stay was observed in elective group, however, long-term survival rate without reintervention were not affected.

Type A aortic dissection (AD) is a critical and severe disease with high mortality. The Sun\'s operation is a standard surgical method for this kind of disease at present. For the procedure, an elephant trunk stent is inserted into the true lumen of the descending aorta and the aortic arch is replaced. A patient was admitted to the First Hospital of Lanzhou University due to sudden chest and back pain for 6 days. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed type A AD. Ascending aorta replacement, Sun\'s operation, and ascending aorta to right femoral artery bypass grafting were performed. After surgery, the patient\'s condition was worsened. The digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed the elephant trunk stent was inserted into the false lumen of AD, leading to the occlusion of the large blood vessel at the distal part of the abdominal aorta and below. Although we performed intima puncture and endovascular aortic repair, the patient was still dead.
A型主动脉夹层(aortic dissection，AD)是一种危急重症，病死率高。“孙氏”手术是治疗当前复杂A型AD的标准术式，该术式在使用人工血管替换主动脉弓的同时，于降主动脉植入象鼻支架人工血管。兰州大学第一医院收治了1例A型AD患者，该患者突发胸背部疼痛6 d，CT血管造影(computed tomography angiography，CTA)示A型AD。入院后急诊行升主动脉置换+“孙氏”手术+升主动脉-右股动脉转流术。术后患者病情加重，数字减影血管造影(digital subtraction angiography，DSA)证实为象鼻支架植入主动脉夹层假腔，导致腹主动脉远端及以下大血管闭塞，行主动脉破膜加主动脉覆膜支架植入抢救患者，但最终患者仍死亡。.

BACKGROUND: Circulatory arrest has been identified as an independent risk factor related to postoperative mortality in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection. This study described a modified technique for distal aortic arch occlusion that markedly shortened the circulatory arrest time. The early results are encouraging.
METHODS: From May 2016 to September 2018, 51 patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection underwent the modified procedure for aortic arch replacement. All operations were performed via transitory circulatory arrest by clamping the distal aorta between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. The in-hospital and follow-up data of the treated patients were investigated.
RESULTS: Successful repair of the involved vasculature was achieved in all patients. One (1) patient died due to postoperative aspiration and infection, and three patients required continuous renal replacement therapy due to poor preoperative renal function. The remaining patients were successfully discharged. The median average circulatory arrest time was 5.0 (3.0-6.0) minutes. No cases of tracheotomy, delayed closure, secondary thoracotomy, or other complications occurred. During the follow-up period of 2.4-18.6 months, the implanted grafts and stented elephant trunks were all fully open and not kinked.
CONCLUSIONS: A modified distal aortic arch occlusion can considerably shorten the duration of circulatory arrest. Current experience suggests that this approach can serve as a feasible alternative for patients during aortic arch replacement because of its simplicity and satisfactory clinical effects.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01627.].

In the present study, we investigated the associations between D-dimer levels at admission and early adverse events in patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing arch replacement and the frozen elephant trunk (FET).
We retrospectively analyzed data of patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing aortic arch surgery and FET from July 2017 to December 2018 at Beijing Anzhen Hospital. D-dimer levels were evaluated within 24 h of admission. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of early postoperative adverse events.
A total of 347 patients were included in the study. The average age of the patients was 48.07 ± 10.56 years, with male predominance (79.25%). The incidence of 90-day postoperative adverse events was 18.7%, consisting of 14.7% mortality and 4.0% permanent neurological dysfunction (PND). The median D-dimer level was 1.95 ug/ml (interquartile range, 0.77-3.16 ug/ml). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that D-dimer level was independently associated with 90-day postoperative adverse events after adjustment for confounding factors (hazard ratio = 1.19 per 10 ug/ml increase in D-dimer, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.41; P = 0.039). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the highest tertile (median 6.27 ug/ml) had more 90-day postoperative adverse events compared with the median and lowest tertiles (P = 0.0014). Sub-analysis found that the association remained unchanged.
Increased D-dimer levels at admission were associated with 90-day postoperative adverse events in patients with acute type A aortic dissection undergoing arch replacement and FET. These results may help clinicians optimize the risk evaluation and perioperative clinical management to reduce early adverse events.
Explore the relationship between D-dimer and early outcomes in patients with aortic dissection with arch replacement.
Increased D-dimer at admission was associated with adverse events in patients with aortic dissection with arch surgery.
The high-risk patients deserve close medical monitoring.

OBJECTIVE: We modified the conventional aortic arch replacement procedure to avoid circulation arrest and a prolonged extracorporeal circulation time, especially in cases of acute aortic dissection. We herein present our experience with a modified branch-first approach to acute aortic dissection, with anastomosis of the supra aortic vessels prior to commencing cardiopulmonary bypass.
METHODS: Since 2012, 41 patients (aortic dissection, 36; arch aneurysm, 5) have undergone the modified procedure. Procedurally, the implanted graft was used as a landing zone for second-stage endovascular stent-graft deployment intended to manage the residual descending dissection. Antegrade and retrograde systemic perfusion was instituted during cardioplegic arrest. The brain was actively perfused via the graft throughout the procedure.
RESULTS: Arch replacement surgery could generally be completed within approximately 4 h. During a 2-year period of aortic dissection or arch aneurysm treatment, only four anastomoses were required during the first stage of operation: two in the aorta, and one each in the innominate and left common carotid arteries. No patient died of surgical causes, and no stent grafts were deployed into the false lumen, a characteristic of procedures using traditionally antegrade deployment.
CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that our procedure for acute aortic dissection be performed in two stages (graft replacement first and stent graft deployment second), particularly for patients underwent preoperative hypotesion. If malperfusion syndrome still exists after graft replacement, stent graft should be deployed in one stage. The arch aneurysm can be treated in one stage because there is no concern about false lumen deployment.

BACKGROUND: In patients with type A dissection, residual dissection and new distal entry tears following the frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure adversely affect long-term prognosis. Management include open and endovascular repair, while clinical experience is limited. We evaluate the efficacy of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in management of residual intimal tear or distal new entry tear following FET in patients with type A aortic dissection (TAAD).
METHODS: Between May 2003 and April 2013, we performed FET and total arch replacement for 1,003 patients with TAAD. Among these, 23 patients (2.3%) required TEVAR for distal new entry (n=2) or residual intimal tear (n=21) at a mean of 2.0±1.6 years after FET. Mean age was 50.1±11.5 years. Marfan syndrome was seen in 2 patients (8.7%).
RESULTS: Procedural success was 100%. The distal landing zone was above the 11th thoracic vertebra (T11) in 86.9% (20/23). Neither death nor any paraplegia or stroke occurred early after TEVAR. Follow-up was complete in 100% averaging 2.8±1.7 years (0.3-6.4). One non-Marfan patient died of distal aortic rupture at 4 months after TEVAR. No late stroke or paraplegia occurred. Survival was 95.7% (95% CI, 72.9-99.4%) at 3 and 5 years, respectively. CTA detected false lumen obliteration by thrombus around the endograft in the descending aorta in 91.3% (21/23) of patients.
CONCLUSIONS: These early and midterm outcomes show the efficacy of TEVAR in obliterating the residual intimal tear or distal new entry after FET in patients with TAAD. TEVAR may be an alternative approach to distal new entry or residual intimal tear following FET for patients with TAAD.