UNASSIGNED: To evaluate the effect of autologous blood use on blood product consumption and outcomes after acute type A aortic dissection repair.
UNASSIGNED: From 2010 to October 2020, 497 patients underwent open acute type A aortic dissection repair, including those with autologous blood harvesting before cardiopulmonary bypass and transfusion after cardiopulmonary bypass (autologous blood transfusion [ABT], n = 397) and without autologous blood harvesting and transfusion (No-ABT, n = 100). The median ABT volume was 900 mL. Using propensity score matching, 89 matched pairs were identified based on age, sex, body mass index, preoperative hemoglobin, acute preoperative stroke, previous cardiac surgery, and cardiogenic shock.
UNASSIGNED: After propensity score matching, both groups were similar in demographic characteristics and aortic procedures. The ABT group required significantly less intraoperative transfusion of blood products (6 vs 11 units; P < .0001), including packed red blood cells (2 vs 4), fresh frozen plasma (2 vs 4), platelets (2 vs 2), and cryoprecipitate (0 vs 1); and combined intraoperative and postoperative transfusion (9 vs 13; P < .001). ABT was protective against intra- and postoperative blood product transfusion (odds ratio, 0.28; P = .01). The ABT group had significantly less sepsis, acute renal failure requiring dialysis, reintubation, and shorter intubation times and postoperative lengths of stay. Operative mortality was 6.7% in the ABT group versus 13% in the No-ABT group (P = .14). The midterm survival was similar between the 2 groups (5 year: 76% vs 74%). ABT had a hazard ratio of 0.81 for midterm mortality (P = .41).
UNASSIGNED: Autologous blood transfusion was associated with better short-term outcomes and could be used routinely for acute type A aortic dissection repair. External multicenter prospective validation would be warranted.

UNASSIGNED: To assess the outcomes of emergency revascularization with endovascular fenestration/stenting followed by delayed open aortic repair in patients with acute type A aortic dissection with lower extremity (LE) malperfusion syndrome (MPS); that is, necrosis and dysfunction of the lower extremity.
UNASSIGNED: From 1996 to 2019, among 760 consecutive acute type A aortic dissection patients 512 patients had no malperfusion syndrome (Non-MPS), whereas 26 patients had LE-MPS with/without renal MPS and underwent endovascular fenestration/stenting, open aortic repair, or both. Patients with coronary, cerebral, mesenteric, and celiac MPS, or managed with thoracic endovascular aortic repair, were excluded (n = 222). All patients with LE-MPS underwent upfront endovascular fenestration/stenting except 1 patient (with signs of rupture) who initially underwent emergency open aortic repair.
UNASSIGNED: Among the LE-MPS patients, 17 (65%) had LE pain, 15 (58%) had abnormal motor function with 8 (31%) having paralysis, 10 (38%) had LE pallor, 17 (65%) had LE paresthesia, and 20 (77%) had LE pulselessness. Of the 25 patients undergoing upfront endovascular fenestration/stenting, 16 went on to open aortic repair, 3 survived to discharge without aortic repair, and 6 died before aortic repair (3-aortic rupture and 3-organ failure). In-hospital mortality among all patients was significantly higher in the LE-MPS group (31% vs 6.3%; P = .0003). Among those undergoing open aortic repair, postoperative outcomes were similar between groups, including operative mortality (18% vs 6.5%; P = .10). LE-MPS was a significant risk factor for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 6.0 [1.9, 19]; P = .002).
UNASSIGNED: In acute type A aortic dissection, LE-MPS was associated with high in-hospital mortality. Emergency revascularization with endovascular fenestration/stenting followed by delayed open aortic repair may be a reasonable approach.