Impact of perfusion strategy on outcome after repair for acute type a aortic dissection.

Background: The impact of antegrade versus retrograde perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass on short- and long-term outcome after repair for acute type A aortic dissection is controversial.

Methods: We reviewed 401 consecutive patients (age, 59.2 ± 14 years) with acute type A aortic dissection who underwent aggressive resection of the intimal tear and aortic replacement (March 1995 through July 2011). Arterial perfusion was antegrade in 78% (n = 311), either by means of the right axillary artery (n = 297) or through direct aortic cannulation (n = 15). Retrograde perfusion through the femoral artery was used in 22% (n = 90).

Results: Of the 401 patients with acute type A aortic dissection, 16% (n = 64) presented in critical condition and 10% (n = 39) entered the operating room under cardiopulmonary resuscitation. In 14% (n = 54) the dissection did not extend beyond the ascending aorta (DeBakey II); 82% of dissections did involve at least the aortic arch (n = 326, DeBakey I+III). Mean age was not significantly different between patients undergoing antegrade (59.4 ± 14 years) versus retrograde (59.2 ± 13 years; p = 0.489) perfusion. Operative mortality was 20% and did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.766); postoperative stroke occurred also with a similar prevalence (antegrade, 15% versus retrograde, 18%; p = 0.623). Patients undergoing antegrade perfusion had a better long-term survival. Survival at 10 years after discharge was 71% versus 51% (p = 0.025) in favor of antegrade perfusion. Retrograde perfusion was identified to be an independent risk factor for late mortality in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio = 2; p = 0.009).

Conclusions: Survival during the initial perioperative period was equivalent comparing antegrade and retrograde perfusion. Antegrade perfusion to the true lumen, however, appears to be associated with superior long-term survival after hospital discharge.