Re-operations on the proximal thoracic aorta: results and predictors of short- and long-term mortality in a series of 174 patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report results and to identify predictors of hospital and long-term mortality in patients undergoing re-operations on the proximal thoracic aorta.

Methods: Between 1986 and 2009,174 re-operations on the proximal thoracic aorta after previous aortic surgery were performed in our Institution. The patients' mean age was 58 years, 132 (75.9%) were men. The mean time from last operation was 9.9 years. An urgent operation was performed in 35 (20.1%) patients. Indications for surgery included degenerative and chronic post-dissection aneurysm (n=133), acute dissection (n=8), false aneurysm (n=22), and active prosthetic infection (n=11). Root procedures were performed in 65 (37.3%) patients, ascending aorta replacement in 27 (15.5%), different extents of aortic arch replacement in 39 (22.4%), and root, ascending aorta and arch replacement in 43 (24.7%).

Results: Hospital mortality was 12.6%. On multivariate analysis, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (odds ratio (OR)=1.1018 per min), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV (OR=3.86), and active endocarditis (OR=5.15) emerged as independent predictors of hospital mortality. Mean follow-up time was 56 months. The estimated 1-, 5-, and 10 years' survival were 81.6%, 74.2%, and 44.5%, respectively. On Cox regression analysis, age (hazard ratio (HR)=1.037 per year) and CPB time (HR=1.010 per min) emerged as independent risk factors of late mortality.

Conclusions: Short- and long-term survival was satisfactory being excellent in patients with degenerative aneurysms and dismal in those with active endocarditis. Extensive aortic resections did not increase hospital mortality and were associated with a reduced need for aortic re-interventions. CPB time remains the most important risk factor for reduced survival in aortic surgery.