Elective open repair with the debranch, perfuse, reconstruct technique to treat suprarenal or type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: Open surgical repair of suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (SRAAA) and type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) remains a surgical challenge because of the inducted intraoperative visceral and renal ischemia. We report a novel three-step technique named debranch, perfuse, reconstruct (DPR), using debranching and passive arterial shunt to decrease these ischemic complications. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the 30-day and 1-year mortality rates associated with these DPR technique. The secondary aim was to evaluate the impact on renal function and the primary patency of the repaired arteries.

Methods: This retrospective study included all consecutive patients who underwent elective surgery for SRAAA or type IV TAAA using the DPR technique between January 2011 and June 2022. In debranching, using partial side clamping, a multibranch graft was implanted side-to-end into the descending thoracic aorta. The left renal artery was anastomosed end-to-end to the graft. As needed, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), the celiac trunk, and the right renal artery could also be anastomosed to the graft. In the perfusion step, cannulas were connected to the last branch of the multibranch graft to perfuse other arteries during aortic cross-clamping. For repair, a tube or bifurcated graft was used for the aortic repair. The branch used as a passive temporary arterial shunt was ligated at the end of the intervention. Clinical, radiological, and biological preoperative and postoperative factors were reviewed using a standardized database. Procedural complications and reinterventions were analyzed, as well as artery patency.

Results: There were 40 patients who underwent DPR technique. The mean patient age was 67 ± 13 years and two were women. Twenty-three patients presented with a SRAAA and 17 with a type IV TAAA. The 30-day and 1-year mortality rates were 2.5% (one patient). Two respiratory complications (5%) and three mesenteric ischemic complications (7%) have been recorded. No patient developed signs of cardiac or spinal cord dysfunction. We did not observe a significant change in postoperative renal function. The celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, left renal artery, and right renal artery bypass patency rates at 1 year were 95%, 100%, 90%, and 100%, respectively.

Conclusions: The SRAAA and type IV TAAA repair with DPR technique provides short visceral and renal ischemia times with a low mortality rate. This technique could be an option to consider for visceral and renal protection during open surgical repair.