2010 Volume 3 Issue 3 Pages 215-221
Objective: Chronic type B dissection though optimal is still considered to be a controversial procedure, even in the advent of stent grafts. Recently, we used a novel surgical technique involving left axillary perfusion to analyze the results of our surgical strategy and compare them with those reported in the literature.
Materials and Methods: Between August 2004 and July 2009, 39 patients underwent graft replacement for chronic type B aortic dissection. The left axillary artery was used for perfusion inflow. Perfusion was maintained at approximately 23°C during open proximal anastomosis. The graft was anastomosed to the distal true lumen whenever possible.
Results: Open proximal anastomosis was performed in 22 patients (56%). In 24 cases (62%), grafts were anastomosed to the true lumen of the peripheral aorta. The early overall mortality rate was 3% (1 patient). Permanent cerebral infarction occurred in 2 patients (5%); and paraparesis, in 1 patient (3%). The Kaplan–Meier survival estimates were 91% at 2 years and 88% at 5 years.
Conclusion: Our surgical strategy is associated with excellent short-term and midterm outcomes. Although further investigation is needed, this strategy may be useful for patients with chronic type B dissection.
