Abstract
This review presents the results of surgical repair of descending thoracic (DT) and thoracoabdominal aortic (TAA) aneurysms, using spinal drainage (SD) distal aortic perfusion (DAP), and other adjuncts intended to reduce complications. Records of patients undergoing repair of DT and TAA between 1986 and 2002 were reviewed. Elective operations were performed using single lung ventilation, invasive monitoring, SD, modest anticoagulation, permissive hypothermia (≥33°F), liberal use of transaortic endarterectomy, and complete repair. Intercostal arteries were reimplanted when possible and DAP was used in DT and TAA types I, II, and III repair. Exceptions to this approach were noted. Some of these adjuncts were used in emergency cases. Actuarial survival was calculated. Fifty consecutive patients with DT (3) or TAA (47), type I (4), type II (16), type III (18), or type IV (9), aneurysms received elective (36) or emergency (14) repair between 1986 and 2002. Mortality was 2/36 (5.5%) in the elective group. In the emergency group, there were 2 intraoperative deaths and mortality was 4/14 (28.5%, p < 0.07). Overall survivor morbidity was 6/34 (17.6%) in elective and 7/10 (70%, p < 0.02) in emergency cases. Paraplegia occurred in one patient in the elective group (2.7%) with dissecting type II TAA aneurysm in whom the intercostal patch was sacrificed. Two of 12 initial survivors developed paraplegia in the emergency group (16.7%); one had SD but neither had DAP or intercostal reimplantation. Serious complications were associated with avoidable deviations from the approach. Five and 10-year survival for the entire series was 64.8% and 46.4%, respectively. These results parallel those in contemporary reports from centers where repair of descending and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is frequently performed. Good long-term results can be achieved using spinal drainage and distal aortic perfusion, combined with other adjuncts as a means of reducing complications. When possible, the same approach should be used in emergency cases.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
MA Golden MC Donaldson AD Whittemore JA Mannick (1991) ArticleTitleEvolving experience with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair at a single institution J. Vasc. Surg. 13 792–797 Occurrence Handle10.1067/mva.1991.28563 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By6B2crmt10%3D Occurrence Handle2038102
JS Coselli SA LeMaire C Koksoy ZC Schmittling PE Curling (2002) ArticleTitleCerebrospinal fluid drainage reduces paraplegia after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair: results of a randomized clinical trial J. Vasc. Surg. 35 631–639 Occurrence Handle10.1067/mva.2002.122024 Occurrence Handle11932655
HJ Safi KR Hess M Randel et al. (1996) ArticleTitleCerebrospinal fluid drainage and distal aortic perfusion: reducing neurologic complications in repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm types I and II J. Vasc. Surg. 23 223–229 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymC1Mrhs1w%3D Occurrence Handle8637099
OC Velazquez JE Bavaria A Pochettino JP Carpenter (1999) ArticleTitleEmergency repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with immediate presentation J. Vasc. Surg. 30 996–1010 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c%2FlsVKmtA%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10587383
HJ Safi CC Miller SuffixIII C Carr et al. (1998) ArticleTitleImportance of intercostal artery reattachment during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair J. Vasc. Surg. 27 58–66 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c7jsVemug%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9474083
VS Kashyap RP Cambria JK Davison GJ L’Italien (1997) ArticleTitleRenal failure after thoraco-abdominal aortic surgery J. Vasc. Surg. 26 949–957 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c%2FosFOqtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9423709
JK Davison RP Cambria DJ Vierra MA Columbia G Koustas (1994) ArticleTitleEpidural cooling for regional spinal cord hypothermia during thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair J. Vasc. Surg. 20 304–310 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuA3MrmvFI%3D Occurrence Handle8040956
SM Frank SD Parker P Rock et al. (1994) ArticleTitleModerate hypothermia, with partial bypass and segmental sequential repair for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm J. Vasc. Surg. 19 687–697 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuB3MjitVw%3D Occurrence Handle8164285
SA Lemaire DC Rice ZC Schmittling JS Coselli (2002) ArticleTitleEmergency surgery for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms with acute presentation J. Vasc. Surg. 35 1171–1178 Occurrence Handle10.1067/mva.2002.123320 Occurrence Handle12042727
JL McCullough LH Hollier M Nugent (1988) ArticleTitleParaplegia after thoracic aortic occlusion: influence of cerebrospinal fluid drainage J. Vasc. Surg. 7 153–160 Occurrence Handle10.1067/mva.1988.avs0070153 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BieD1M7hvVY%3D Occurrence Handle3336121
K Miyamoto A Ueno T Wada S Kimoto (1960) ArticleTitleA new and simple method of preventing spinal cord damage following temporary occlusion of the thoracic aorta by draining the cerebrospinal fluid J. Cardiovasc. Surg. 1 188–197 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CC%2BD1M7lsFc%3D
FW Blaisdell DA Cooley (1962) ArticleTitleThe mechanism of paraplegia after temporary thoracic aortic occlusion in its relationship to spinal fluid pressure Surgery 51 351–355 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:CC2D3M7gt1M%3D Occurrence Handle13869747
Y Oka T Miyamot (1984) ArticleTitlePrevention of spinal cord injury after crossclamping of the thoracic aorta Jpn. J. Surg. 14 159–162 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiuB28fltlc%3D Occurrence Handle6748388
LH Hollier (1987) ArticleTitleProtecting the brain and spinal cord J. Vasc. Surg. 5 524–528 Occurrence Handle10.1067/mva.1987.avs0050524 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BiaA283ntlI%3D Occurrence Handle3334684
LB Schwartz M Belkin MC Donaldson JA Mannick AD Whittemore (1996) ArticleTitleImprovements in results of repair of type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms J. Vasc. Surg. 24 74–81 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymA3crit1A%3D Occurrence Handle8691531
GS Cox PJ O’Hara NR Hertzer et al. (1992) ArticleTitleThoracoabdominal aneurysm repair: a representative experience J. Vasc. Surg. 15 780–788 Occurrence Handle10.1067/mva.1992.37087 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2B2M7os1M%3D Occurrence Handle1578533
J Engle HJ Safi CC Miller SuffixIII (1999) ArticleTitleThe impact of diaphragm management on prolonged ventilator support after thoracoabdominal aortic repair J. Vasc. Surg. 29 150–156 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M7gt1artg%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9882799
LG Svensson ES Crawford KR Hess JS Coselli HJ Safi (1992) ArticleTitleThoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm associated with celiac, superior mesenteric, and renal artery occlusive disease: methods and analysis of results in 271 patients J. Vasc. Surg. 16 378–390 Occurrence Handle10.1067/mva.1992.38646 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2A1MrntF0%3D Occurrence Handle1522640
HJ Safi CC Miller SuffixIII MH Subramaniam et al. (1993) ArticleTitleThoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair using cardiopulmonary bypass, profound hypothermia, and circulatory arrest via left side of the chest incision J. Vasc. Surg. 28 591–590
Acknowledgments
The author acknowledges the help of Abiram Sridhar in collection and organization of this review. The invaluable assistance of surgical and medical colleagues, residents, and fellows in management of these difficult cases is also greatly appreciated.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Quinones-Baldrich, W.J. Descending Thoracic and Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: 15-Year Results Using a Uniform Approach. Ann Vasc Surg 18, 335–342 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10016-004-0033-6
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10016-004-0033-6