Thoracoabdominal aortic replacement in patients aged 50 and younger

Open repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) has been regarded as one of the most invasive procedures in cardiovascular surgery. Conversely, endovascular technology currently enables the repair of the thoracoabdominal aorta, and this approach is less invasive. However, the long-term durability of this method of endovascular repair remains unknown. This investigation retrospectively analyzed the long-term durability of thoracoabdominal aorta repair in patients aged 50 and younger. Since 1995, 100 patients aged 50 and younger underwent thoracoabdominal aortic replacement at our institution. There were 63 males, and the average age was 38 ± 7. Ninety-six had aortic dissection as an aortic pathology. Marfan syndrome was found in 61 patients, Loeys–Dietz in 10, Acta 2 mutations in 4, aortitis in 2, and Ehlers–Danlos syndrome in 1. There were 2 patients with a type I TAAA, 56 with a type II, 33 with a type III, and 9 with a type IV. There were 3 hospital deaths (3%), of which 2 were emergent cases. Spinal cord injury occurred in 1 patient (1%). Two patients (2%) had wound complications. Three patients suffered cerebral hemorrhage and 1 had an intramedullary infection, of which all were associated with cerebrospinal fluid drainage. The 3-year survival rate after the operation was 94%, that of 5 years was 94%, and that of 10 years was 91%. Results of thoracoabdominal aortic replacement in patients aged 50 and younger were favorable. While spinal cord complications were rare, cerebrospinal drainage revealed several complications in this series. Evolving endovascular repair needs to be compared with these results, especially in patients aged 50 and younger.