Distal aortic progression following acute type A aortic dissection repair among patients with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022 Dec 21:S0022-5223(22)01347-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2022.12.009. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Objective: The study objective was to analyze long-term growth and outcomes of the distal aorta after open acute type A aortic dissection repair in patients with bicuspid aortic valves or tricuspid aortic valves without connective tissue disease.

Methods: From 1996 to 2021, 60 patients with bicuspid aortic valves and 655 patients with tricuspid aortic valves without connective tissue disease underwent open repair for acute type A aortic dissection. Data were collected from the local Society of Thoracic Surgeons database, medical record review, surveys, and the National Death Index and Michigan Death Index (December 12, 2021).

Results: Compared with the tricuspid aortic valve group, the bicuspid aortic valve group was significantly younger, had more severe aortic insufficiency (33% vs 22%, P = .05), and had less hypertension (67% vs 78%, P = .05). Intraoperatively, patients with bicuspid aortic valves received more aortic root replacements (70% vs 26%, P < .001), less zone 2 aortic arch replacement (8.3% vs 20%, P = .03), and longer median cardiopulmonary bypass (233 vs 214 minutes, P = .05) and aortic crossclamp (184 vs 141 minutes, P < .001) times. The average annual aortic arch growth rate (0.23 mm/year vs 0.39 mm/year, P = .52) and descending aorta growth rate (0.61 mm/year vs 0.79 mm/year, P = .39) were similar between the bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve groups. The bicuspid aortic valve group had lower annual abdominal aorta growth (0.51 mm/year vs 0.68 mm/year, P = .03). The cumulative incidence of reoperation for the distal aorta (9.7% vs 16.0%, P = .77) was similar between the bicuspid aortic valve and tricuspid aortic valve groups. The 10-year survival was higher in the bicuspid aortic valve group (75.4% vs 66.0%, P = .03).

Conclusions: Patients with bicuspid aortic valves could be treated similarly as patients with tricuspid aortic valves without connective tissue disease in the setting of open acute type A aortic dissection repair.

Keywords: acute type A aortic dissection; bicuspid aortic valve; tricuspid aortic valve.