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Objectives: The management of acute type A aortic dissection complicated by coma remains controversial. We previously reported an excellent rate of recovery of consciousness provided aortic repair was performed within 5 hours of the onset of symptoms. This study evaluates the early and long-term outcomes using this approach., Methods: Between August 2003 and July 2013, of the 241 patients with acute type A aortic dissection brought to the Japanese Red Cross Kobe Hospital and Hyogo Emergency Medical Center, 30 (12.4%) presented with coma; Glasgow Coma Scale was less than 11 on arrival. Surgery was performed in 186 patients, including 27 (14.5%) who were comatose. Twenty-four comatose patients underwent successful aortic repair immediately (immediate group). Their mean age was 71.0 ± 11.1 years, Glasgow Coma Scale was 6.5 ± 2.4, and prevalence of carotid dissection was 79%. For brain protection, deep hypothermia with antegrade cerebral perfusion was used, and postoperative induced hypothermia was performed. Neurologic evaluations were performed using the Glasgow Coma Scale, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and modified Rankin Scale., Results: In the immediate group, the time from the onset of symptoms to arrival in the operating theater was 222 ± 86 minutes. Hospital mortality was 12.5%. Full recovery of consciousness was achieved in 79% of patients in up to 30 days. Postoperative Glasgow Coma Scale and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale improved significantly when compared with the preoperative score (P < .05), and postoperative activities of daily living independence (modified Rankin Scale <3) was achieved in 50% of patients. The mean follow-up period was 56.5 months, and the cumulative survival was 48.2% after 10 years. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that immediate repair (hazard ratio, 4.3; P = .007) was the only significant predictor of postoperative survival over a 5-year period., Conclusions: The early and long-term outcomes as a result of immediate aortic repair for acute type A aortic dissection complicated by coma were satisfactory., (Copyright © 2014 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cardiac tamponade is associated with fatal outcomes for patients with acute type A aortic dissection, and the presence of cardiac tamponade should prompt urgent aortic repair. However, treatment of the patient with critical cardiac tamponade who cannot survive until surgery remains unclear. We analyzed our experience of controlled pericardial drainage (CPD) managing critical cardiac tamponade., Methods and Results: Between September 2003 and May 2011, 175 patients with acute type A aortic dissection were treated surgically, including 43 (24.6%) who presented with cardiac tamponade on arrival. Eighteen patients, who did not respond to intravenous volume resuscitation, underwent CPD in the emergency department. An 8F pigtail drainage catheter was inserted percutaneously, and drainage volume was controlled by means of several cycles of intermittent drainage to maintain blood pressure at ≈90 mm Hg. After CPD, all of the patients were transferred to the operating room, and immediate aortic repair was performed. Systolic blood pressure before CPD was 64.3 ± 8.2 mm Hg and elevated significantly in all of the cases after CPD. Systolic blood pressure after CPD was 94.8 ± 10.5 mm Hg, and increase in systolic pressure was 30.5 ± 11.7 mm Hg. Total volume of aspirated pericardial effusion was 40.1 ± 30.6 mL, and 10 patients required only ≤30-mL aspiration volume. All of the patients underwent aortic repair successfully. In-hospital mortality was 16.7%; however, there was no complications or mortality related to CPD., Conclusions: Preoperative pericardial drainage with control of volume is a safe and effective procedure for acute type A aortic dissection complicated by critical cardiac tamponade. In our patient population, timely controlled pericardial drainage is warranted.

Background: Management of acute type A aortic dissection (AADA) complicated by coma remains controversial. We analyzed our experience in managing AADA complicated by coma to determine the relationship of duration of preoperative coma to postoperative neurological recovery., Methods and Results: Between September 2003 and October 2010, 181 patients with AADA were treated, including 27 presenting with coma (Glasgow Coma Scale <11) on arrival. Twenty-one patients were repaired immediately (immediate group); time from onset of symptoms to operating room was <5 hours. For brain protection, deep hypothermia with antegrade cerebral perfusion was used, and postoperative therapeutic hypothermia with magnesium treatment was performed. Six patients initially were managed medically, and 3 of them were followed by eventual repair because time from onset was >5 hours (delayed group). The preoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 31.4 ± 6.6 in the immediate group and 28.3 ± 9.5 in the delayed group. Hospital mortality was 14% in the immediate group and 67% in the delayed group. Full recovery of consciousness was achieved in 86% of patients in the immediate group and in 17% in the delayed group. In immediate group, the postoperative National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score significantly improved to 6.4 ± 8.4, cumulative survival rate was 71.8% in 3 years, and independence in daily activities was achieved in 52% (11/21)., Conclusions: Aortic repair, if performed immediately from the onset of symptoms, showed satisfactory recovery of consciousness and neurological function in patients with AADA complicated by coma. In this patient population, immediate aortic repair is warranted.

A case of acute aortic dissection (Stanford Type A) with severe aortic regurgitation successfully treated by postoperative ECMO was reported. The patient was 41-year-old man in shock condition and was transferred to Kobe University Hospital. Chest CT scan and echocardiogram revealed acute aortic dissection with severe aortic regurgitation. An emergent operation by Collins' method and resuspension of aortic valve were carefully performed. Consequent ECMO was necessitated because of postoperative left ventricular and respiratory failure. Thereby, ECMO using heparin-coated CBAS-MAXIMA membrane oxygenator, centrifugal pump, and tubes was established by arterial cannulation via the anastomotic site of the ascending aorta to prevent the obstruction of the aortic true lumen by the false lumen which may be enlarged by retrograde perfusion via the femoral artery. Left ventricular function and pulmonary function were improved after 6 hours and 20 minutes, thus ECMO was successfully weaned without any complications.

Two cases of acute aortic dissection which developed compression of the true lumen due to retrograde perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass were reported. In the first case, coronary reperfusion could not be achieved when the aortic cross-clamping was removed after Collins' method of aortic dissection. There was no blood flow from the true lumen through the aortic root while the false lumen was distended by the retrograde perfusion. After completion of antegrade perfusion through the arterial cannula inserted into the anastomosed site of the ascending aorta, coronary reperfusion was established and the heart beating could be thereby obtained. In the second case, the false lumen was gradually expanded, and the true lumen was completely obstructed by it. Reexpansion of the true lumen was achieved by initiation of antegrade perfusion through the cannula inserted into the graft replaced in the ascending aorta. Fortunately cerebral and cardiac complications were not found in both cases postoperatively. Compression of the true lumen is rare, but fatal complication that may occur during retrograde perfusion in surgical repair for aortic dissection of Stanford type A. Therefore, it is very important to replace the perfusion cannula in the true lumen of the reconstructed aorta for preventing insufficiency of coronary and cerebral circulation.

Sixty-seven patients subjected to this study composed of 32 patients treated surgically, 15 patients treated medically and 20 patients examined by autopsy for the past 8 years. Out of 32 surgical cases, 16 were operated on in an acute stage, within 2 weeks after onset and 9 out of these 16 acute cases belonged to DeBakey type I or II and 11 out of 15 autopsy cases belonged to type I or II either. Contrarily most of the medical cases were type III. Both causes of death in the acute autopsy group and operative indications in the acute surgical group were cardiac tamponade, heart failure due to aortic insufficiency, myocardial infarction and aortic rupture. Operative mortality rate was 12.5% in the acute cases and 19% in the chronic cases, late mortality rate was 19% in the acute cases and 0% in the chronic cases. Two cases of operative death had massive bleeding due to aortic rupture and massive myocardial infarction. These were the most dangerous complications of acute aortic dissections. We conclude that all patients with type I or II dissections should be operated on before fatal complications occur.