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Uncomplicated AD can be safely treated with the Gore TAG device. Remodelling with thrombosis of the false lumen and reduction of its diameter is induced by the stent graft, but long term results are needed.

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are often reported for those in small series or for those cared for at a single institution over a long time period, during which a continuous evolution in techniques has occurred. Accordingly, we sought to evaluate the clinical features and surgical results of patients enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection by identifying primary factors that influenced surgical outcome and estimating average surgical mortality for ABAD in the current era. Methods and Results-A comprehensive analysis of 290 clinical variables and their relation to surgical outcomes for 82 patients who required surgery for ABAD (from a population of 1256 patients; meanϮSD age, 60.6Ϯ15.0 years; 82.9% male) and who were enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection was performed. The overall in-hospital mortality was 29.3%. Factors associated with increased surgical mortality based on univariate analysis were preoperative coma or altered consciousness, partial thrombosis of the false lumen, evidence of periaortic hematoma on diagnostic imaging, descending aortic diameter Ͼ6 cm, right ventricle dysfunction at surgery, and shorter time from the onset of symptoms to surgery. Factors associated with favorable outcomes included radiating pain, normotension at surgery (systolic blood pressure 100 to 149 mm Hg), and reduced hypothermic circulatory arrest time. The 2 independent predictors of surgical mortality were age Ͼ70 years (odds ratio, 4.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.30 to 14.34) and preoperative shock/hypotension (odds ratio, 6.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 32.49). Conclusions-The

Although the surgical mortality significantly increased with increased age, surgical management was still associated with significantly lower in-hospital mortality rates compared with medical management until the age of 80 years. Surgery may decrease the in-hospital mortality rate for octogenarians with type A aortic dissection and might be considered in all patients with type A aortic dissection regardless of age.

The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection experience confirms that patient selection plays an important role in determining surgical outcomes in patients with acute type A aortic dissection. Knowledge of significant risk factors for operative mortality can contribute to better management and a more defined risk assessment in patients affected by acute type A aortic dissection.

A spiral CT scan was performed at 6 months to detect presence of endoleaks. MMP-3 and MMP-9 levels were measured before EVG (nϭ30) and OSR (nϭ15) treatments and at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up by a sandwich ELISA technique. Healthy volunteers (nϭ10) were used as control subjects. Immunohistochemical staining for MMP-9 and MMP-3 was performed on tissue samples from surgical cases. Both MMP-9 and MMP-3 mean basal levels were significantly higher in patients affected by AAA than in control subjects (32.3Ϯ20.7 ng/mL for EVG and 28Ϯ9.9 ng/mL for OSR versus 8.9Ϯ2.5 ng/mL, 2PϽ0.05; 18.3Ϯ9.7 ng/mL and 26.7Ϯ10.8 ng/mL versus 8.2Ϯ5.3 ng/mL, 2PϽ0.001).In the OSR group, both MMP-9 and MMP-3 mean levels decreased after surgery (28Ϯ9.9 ng/mL at basal versus 14.7Ϯ6.6 ng/mL at 6 months, 2PϽ0.001; 26.7Ϯ10.8 versus 12Ϯ5.3 ng/mL; 2PϽ0.001). In the EVG group, a statistically significant difference at 6-month follow-up in MMP-9 and MMP-3 mean plasma values was detected in patients who had endoleakage in comparison with patients without endoleakage (44.3Ϯ20.7 versus 14.6Ϯ7.0 ng/mL, 2PϽ0.005; 25Ϯ11.5 versus 10.3Ϯ5.4 ng/mL, 2PϽ0.005). Conclusions-After EVG exclusion, MMP-9 and MMP-3 levels decreased to a level similar to that of patients undergoing OSR. In addition, a lack of decrease in MMP levels after EVG exclusion may help in identifying patients who will have endoleakage and consequent aneurysm expansion caused by continuous sac pressurization during follow-up.

In patients with acute type B aortic dissection, aortic segments with a partially thrombosed false lumen have a significantly higher annual aortic growth rate when compared with those presenting with patent or complete thrombosis of the false lumen. Therefore, patients with partial thrombosis require more intensive follow-up and may benefit from prophylactic intervention.