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Open in new tab Download slide OBJECTIVES The purpose of the study is to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique based on 2 different hybrid grafts implanted from January 2007 to July 2022. METHODS The study includes patients who underwent an elective or emergency FET procedure. Short-term, long-term mortality and freedom from thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) were the primary end points. Analyses were carried out separately for the periods 2007–2012 and 2013–2022 RESULTS Of the 367 enrolled, 49.3% received E-Vita Open implantation and 50.7% received Thoraflex Hybrid implants. Overall mean age was 61 years [standard deviation (SD) = 11] and 80.7% were male. The average annual volume of FET procedures was 22.7 cases/year. Compared to E-Vita Open, patients implanted with Thoraflex Hybrid grafts were more likely to receive distal anastomosis in zone 2 (68.3% vs 11.6%, P  < 0.001) with a shorter stent portion, mean = 103mm (SD = 11.3) vs mean = 149 mm (SD = 12.7; P  < 0.001) and they underwent a reduced visceral ischaemia time, mean = 42.5 (SD = 14.2) vs mean= 61.0 (SD = 20.2) min, P  < 0.001. In the period 2013–2022, overall survival at 1, 2 and 5 years was 74.8%, 72.5% and 63.2% for Thoraflex and 73.2%, 70.7% and 64.1% for E-Vita, without significant differences between groups (log-rank test = 0.01, P  = 0.907). Overall freedom from TEVAR at 1, 2 and 5 years was 66.7%, 57.6% and 39.3% for Thoraflex and 79%, 69.7% and 66% for E-Vita, with significant differences between groups (log-rank test = 5.28, P  = 0.029). In a competing risk analysis adjusted for chronic/residual aortic syndromes and stent diameter, the Thoraflex group was more likely to receive TEVAR during follow-up (subdistribution hazard ratio SHR = 2.12, 95% confidence interval 1.06–4.22). CONCLUSIONS The FET technique addresses acute and chronic arch disease with acceptable morbidity and mortality. Downstream endovascular reinterventions are very common during follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES Providing effective treatment for complicated type B aortic dissection (AD) with concomitant pathologies of the aortic arch or ascending aorta is challenging, especially if the aortic anatomy is contraindicated for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). We present the early results of a multicentre study using the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique for type B AD. METHODS From January 2005 to March 2013, data from 465 patients who had undergone treatment with the FET technique were collected in the database of the International E-vita Open Registry. From this cohort, 57 patients who had a primary indication for surgery for type B AD were included in the present study. Their mean age was 58 ± 12 years, and 72% had a chronic dissection. All operations were performed in circulatory arrest and bilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion. Computed aortic imaging was performed for false lumen (FL) evaluation during the follow-up. RESULTS The in-hospital mortality rate was 14% (8/57). Stroke and spinal cord injury occurred in 6 (10%) and 2 patients (4%), respectively. The rate of immediate FL thrombosis at the level of the stent graft was 75% (40/53) and increased to 97% (41/42) during the follow-up period (23 ± 19 months). Distally, at the level of the abdominal aorta, the FL remained patent in 50% (21/42) of patients. The 1- and 3-year survival was 81 and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSION The FET technique is a feasible therapeutic option for complicated type B AD with involvement of the aortic arch if TEVAR is contraindicated. In contrast to conventional aortic surgery via a lateral thoracotomy, the FET procedure can provide simultaneous treatment of the ascending aorta and aortic arch. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]