Diameter and dissection of the abdominal aorta and the risk of distal aortic reoperation after surgery for type A aortic dissection

Background: Surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD) is associated with an increased risk of late aortic reoperations due to degeneration of the dissected aorta. Methods: The subjects of this analysis were 990 TAAD patients who survived surgery for acute TAAD and had complete data on the diameter and dissection status of all aortic segments. Results: After a mean follow-up of 4.2 ± 3.6 years, 60 patients underwent 85 distal aortic reoperations. Ten-year cumulative incidence of distal aortic reoperation was 9.6%. Multivariable competing risk analysis showed that the maximum preoperative diameter of the abdominal aorta (SHR 1.041, 95%CI 1.008–1.075), abdominal aorta dissection (SHR 2.133, 95%CI 1.156–3.937) and genetic syndromes (SHR 2.840, 95%CI 1.001–8.060) were independent predictors of distal aortic reoperation. Patients with a maximum diameter of the abdominal aorta >30 mm and/or abdominal aortic dissection had a cumulative incidence of 10-year distal aortic reoperation of 12.0% compared to 5.7% in those without these risk factors (adjusted SHR 2.076, 95%CI 1.062–4.060). Conclusion: TAAD patients with genetic syndromes, and increased size and dissection of the abdominal aorta have an increased the risk of distal aortic reoperations. A policy of extensive surgical or hybrid primary aortic repair, completion endovascular procedures for aortic remodeling and tight surveillance may be justified in these patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04831073.