• Akash Fichadiya, Alexander J Gregory, Vamshi K Kotha, Eric J Herget, Holly N Smith, Elizabeth Tai, Ming Guo, Fady Mina, and Jehangir J Appoo.
• Calgary Thoracic Aorta Program, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Calgary, AB, Canada.
• Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2019 Oct 1; 56 (4): 714-721.

ObjectivesExtended-arch techniques offer the potential to comprehensively treat acute type-A aortic dissection (ATAAD), but add surgical complexity compared to the standard hemiarch technique. This study describes both perioperative and mid-term outcomes following the introduction of an extended-arch technique for ATAAD.MethodsOurs is a retrospective single-centre observational study of 95 consecutive patients with ATAAD from 2011 to 2016. The decision to perform extended-arch or hemiarch repair was individualized based on clinical and radiological features. Extended-arch repair was defined as replacement of the ascending aorta and arch with reimplantation of head vessels with or without distal endovascular extension. Clinical follow-up was 100% complete. Cross-sectional double-oblique measurements were performed for aortic remodelling analysis.ResultsExtended-arch (n = 28) and hemiarch (n = 67) repair resulted in a in-hospital mortality of 10% (n = 3) and 10%, (n = 7), and permanent neurological deficit rate of 7% and 12%, respectively. At a mean imaging follow-up duration of 2.7 ± 1.5 years, false lumen thrombosis was achieved in 57% and 9% of patients undergoing extended-arch and hemiarch repair, respectively. Rate of growth in the proximal descending aorta was 0.7 ± 2.3 mm/year in the extended-arch group vs 2.7 ± 3.9 mm/year in the hemiarch group. At a mean clinical follow-up time of 3.0 ± 1.6 years, open surgical aortic reoperation was 0% in the extended-arch group and 22% in the hemiarch group.ConclusionsExtended-arch repair of ATAAD can be introduced in the acute setting without increase in perioperative mortality or morbidity. At mid-term follow-up, extended-arch for ATAAD improves aortic remodelling and reduces the need for open surgical reoperation.© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.

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