Evaluation of volumetric measurements in patients with acute type B aortic dissection – thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) vs conservative
Received 18 May 2008; accepted 20 August 2008. published online 05 November 2008.
Objective
The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate aortic volume changes in patients with acute type B aortic dissection (TBD), treated either by thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) or conservatively.
Materials and Methods
From July 1996 through March 2008, 76 patients presenting with acute TBD were referred to our department. To ensure a follow-up of at least 24 months, only 64 of them were included in the present study, with the cut-off for inclusion being March 2006. Twenty-nine of these patients underwent TEVAR and 35 patients underwent conservative treatment. Indications for TEVAR were life-threatening symptoms. Follow-up was performed postinterventionally in patients after TEVAR and at 3, 6, and 12 months, and yearly thereafter in both groups. It included clinical examinations, computed tomography (CT) scans, analysis of volume changes in true thoracic lumen (TTL), false thoracic lumen (FTL), thoracic lumen (TL), abdominal lumen (AL), and aortic diameter measurements. In addition, the extent of thrombosis and its influence on volume changes were assessed.
Results
Mean follow-up was 41 months after TEVAR and 46 months in the conservatively-treated patients. At 60 months, cumulative rates of freedom from dissection-related death and rupture-free survival were 82.6% and 93.1% in the TEVAR group, respectively. They were 74.9% and 88.5% in the conservatively-treated group, respectively. In the conservatively-treated patients, 3 patients died of late aortic rupture, 4 were converted to open surgery, and 2 to TEVAR. Evaluation of volume changes showed better results in the TEVAR group within 24 months. However, within 60 months the difference between the two groups was no longer relevant. Relating to thrombosis of the FTL, analyses showed slightly better overall results and promotion of thrombus formation after TEVAR. However, at 60 months the results showed a tendency towards approximation between the two groups.
Conclusion
Our data suggest that TEVAR seems to delay the natural course of the disease but not to stop it.
aDepartment of Radiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
bDepartment of Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Health Economics, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
cDepartment of Vascular Surgery, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
dDepartment of Cardiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
Correspondence: Benedikt V. Czermak, MD, University Hospital Innsbruck, Department of Radiology, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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