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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2003;126:1296-1301
© 2003 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Surgery for acquired cardiovascular disease

Risk factors of mortality and permanent neurologic injury in patients undergoing ascending aortic and arch repair

^a Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria

Received for publication March 12, 2003; revisions received April 1, 2003; revisions received May 6, 2003; accepted for publication June 4, 2003.

^* Address for reprints: Dr Czerny, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
bypass{at}eunet.at

OBJECTIVES: To analyze outcome in elderly patients after surgical repair of the ascending aorta and the aortic arch as compared with their younger counterparts and to determine risk factors of mortality and permanent neurologic injury.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1995 and February 2003, a total of 369 patients underwent ascending aortic and arch repair. Indications for surgical intervention were acute type A dissections in 174 (47%) patients (<75 years, n = 147; 75 years, n = 27) and chronic atherosclerotic aneurysms in 195 (53%) patients (<75 years, n = 168; 75 years, n = 27). Emergency surgery was performed in 167 (45%) patients; 202 patients (54.7%) underwent surgery requiring deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Pre- and intraoperative factors were evaluated by means of stepwise logistic regression analysis to determine risk factors of mortality and permanent neurologic injury.

RESULTS: Overall in-hospital mortality was 11.6%. In-hospital mortality with regard to indication for surgical intervention was comparable in both age groups (type A dissection: <75 years, 15.6%; 75 years, 18.5%; P = .731; chronic atherosclerotic aneurysm: <75 years, 7.7%; 75 years, 7.4%; P = .933). Permanent neurologic injury was observed in 5.0%. Permanent neurologic injury with regard to surgical intervention was comparable in both age groups (type A dissection: <75 years, 8.8%; 75 years, 3.7%; P = .359; chronic atherosclerotic aneurysm: <75 years, 3.0%; 75 years, 3.7%; P = .843). Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed preoperative hemodynamic instability (odds ratio 4.3; P = .000), duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (odds ratio 2.1; P = .001), and permanent neurologic injury (odds ratio 1.7; P = .033) but not age as independent predictors affecting mortality. Utilization of but not duration of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was the only independent predictor of permanent neurologic injury (odds ratio 2.8; P = .019).

CONCLUSIONS: Age shows a trend toward a higher risk of mortality but does not predict a higher incidence of permanent neurologic injury after ascending aortic and arch repair. As utilization of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest remains the only independent predictor of permanent neurologic injury, alternative approaches to maintain cerebral perfusion during ascending aortic and arch repair are warranted.