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 2.132, 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.