Aortic root management in type A acute aortic dissection is controversial. This study compared outcomes of root replacement (RR) interventions versus more conservative root (CR) management.
Of 1,995 ...type A acute aortic dissection patients enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection, 699 (35%) underwent RR interventions and 1,296 (65%) underwent CR management. Independent predictors of hospital and 3-year survival were identified using multivariable logistic and Cox regression models.
Compared with CR patients, RR patients were younger (56.9 versus 62.3 years; p = 0.023) and more likely to present with larger root diameter (4.7 cm versus 4.0 cm; p < 0.001), Marfan syndrome (8.7% versus 2.5%; p < 0.001), aortic insufficiency (64.0% versus 50.3%; p < 0.001), and hypotension, shock, or tamponade (33.0% versus 26.5%; p = 0.003). Root replacement management did not increase hospital mortality (propensity score-adjusted odds ratio, 1.14; p = 0.674). On Kaplan-Meier analysis, 3-year survival (RR, 92.5% ± 1.7% versus CR, 91.6% ± 1.3%; log-rank p = 0.623) and freedom from aortic root reintervention (RR, 99.2% ± 0.1% versus CR, 99.3% ± 0.1%; log-rank p = 0.770) were similar. Only 2 patients (1 per group) underwent follow-up root reintervention. Propensity score-adjusted Cox regression excluded a relationship between root treatment and follow-up survival (hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.502 to 5.010; p = 0.432).
In type A acute aortic dissection patients more-extensive RR interventions are not associated with increased hospital mortality. This supports such an approach in young patients and patients with connective tissue diseases and bicuspid aortic valves. Excellent midterm survival and freedom from root reintervention in both groups suggest stable behavior of the nonreplaced aortic sinuses at 3 years. Thus, pending studies with longer follow-up, the use of aggressive RR techniques can be determined by patient-specific and dissection-related factors.
Objective The objective of this multicenter registry was to review current treatments and late results of repair of aneurysm of aberrant right subclavian artery (AARSA). Methods All consecutive AARSA ...repairs from 2006 to 2013 in seven centers were reviewed. End points were 30-day and late mortality, reintervention rate, and AARSA-related death. Results Twenty-one AARSA repairs were included (57% men; mean age, 67 years); 3 ruptures (14%) required emergent treatment; 12 (57%) were symptomatic for dysphagia (33%), dysphonia (24%), or pain (19%). Eight cases (38%) presented with thoracic aortic aneurysm, two with intramural hematoma, and one with acute type B aortic dissection. Mean AARSA diameter was 4.2 cm; a single bicarotid common trunk was present in 38% of cases. The majority of patients underwent hybrid intervention (n = 15; 71%) consisting of single (n = 2) or bilateral (n = 12) subclavian to carotid transposition or bypass or ascending aorta to subclavian bypass (n = 1) plus thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR); 19% of cases underwent open repair and 9% simple TEVAR with AARSA overstenting. Perioperative death occurred in two patients (9%): in one case after TEVAR in ruptured AARSA, requiring secondary sternotomy and aortic banding; and in an elective case due to multiorgan failure after a hybrid procedure. Median follow-up was 30 (interquartile range, 15-46) months. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of survival at 36 months was 90% (standard error, 0.64). Late AARSA-related death in one case was due to AARSA-esophageal fistula presenting with continuing backflow from distal AARSA and previous TEVAR. At computed tomography controls, one type I endoleak and one type II endoleak were detected; the latter required reintervention by aneurysm wrapping and ligature of collaterals. AARSA-related death was more frequent after TEVAR, a procedure reserved for ruptures, compared with elective open or hybrid repair. Conclusions Hybrid repair is the preferred therapeutic option for patients presenting with AARSA. Midterm results show high rates of clinical success with low risk of reintervention. Simple endografting presents high risk of related death; these findings underline the importance of achieving complete sealing to avoid treatment failures.
Abstract Purpose Usher syndrome is a ciliopathy involving photoreceptors and cochlear hair cells (sensory cilia): since sensory and motor ciliopathies can overlap, we analysed the respiratory cilia ...(motile) in 17 patients affected by Usher syndrome and 18 healthy control subject. Patients and methods We studied the mucociliary transport time with the saccharine test, ciliary motility and ultrastructure of respiratory cilia obtained by nasal brushing; we also recorded the classical respiratory function values by spirometry. Results All enrolled subjects showed normal respiratory function values. The mean mucociliary transport time with saccharine was 22.33 ± 17.96 min, which is in the range of normal values. The mean ciliary beat frequency of all subjects was 8.81 ± 2.18 Hz, which is a value approaching the lower physiological limit. None of the classical ciliary alterations characterizing the “ciliary primary dyskinesia” was detected, although two patients showed alterations in number and arrangement of peripheral microtubules and one patient had abnormal ciliary roots. Conclusions Respiratory cilia in Usher patients don’t seem to have evident ultrastructural alterations, as expected, but the fact that the ciliary motility appeared slightly reduced could emphasize that a rigid distinction between sensory and motor ciliopathies may not reflect what really occurs.
Aortic stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality. In this study, the effect of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) on aortic stiffness is investigated by measuring ...aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in an ex vivo porcine model.
Fifteen fresh porcine thoracic aortas were connected to a benchtop pulsatile system. Intraluminal pressures were recorded in the ascending aorta and at the celiac trunk using a needle connected to a pressure sensor. The distance between the needles was divided by the time difference between the base of the pressure peaks to calculate aortic PWV at baseline and after stent-graft deployment and distal stent-graft extension.
Mean aortic PWV was 5.0 m/s at baseline. PWV increased by 4% after proximal stent-graft deployment (P = 0.09) and by 18% after stent-graft extension (P < 0.001). Pulse pressure in the nonstented ascending aorta increased by 11.0 ± 1.2 mm Hg after proximal stent-graft deployment (P < 0.001) and by 17.3 ± 1.5 mm Hg after stent-graft extension (P < 0.001). The increases in PWV and pulse pressure showed a positive linear correlation with the percentage of stent-graft coverage (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001).
In this experimental setup, aortic stiffness increased after stent-graft deployment, dependent on the percentage of the aorta that was covered by stent graft. These results show that TEVAR leads to significant changes in aortic hemodynamics, which merits evaluation in the clinical setting.
Single Cell Evaluation of the Production of T Cell Cytokines by Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis Patients Vasconcelos, Dewton Moraes, MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil; de Almeida, Alexandre, MD, MSc, Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil; Grumach, Anete S., MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil ...
Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.),
01/2007, Letnik:
123
Journal Article
E-learning is an important tool to bring health care professionals updated information, especially in a large, developing country like Brazil, where teaching resources are limited. It allows the ...exchange of experiences between professionals, promotes simultaneous knowledge acquisition by a large number of participants, and reaches some remote areas.
Background Several countries have conducted studies to assess the status of their infection control programs (ICP) with the objective of improving quality of infection control practices. Methods To ...assess the perceptions and attitudes of the health care workers (HCW) concerning ICP in Brazilian hospitals, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered online questionnaire during a Web-based course (WBC) on infection control (IC) and antimicrobial resistance (AR). Results Of 6256 Brazilian HCW registered for the WBC, 1998 were members of infection control committees (ICC) and answered the survey. Eight hundred six (40.4%) respondents said that an ICP was established for more than 10 years in their institutions. Most professionals reported that their hospitals perform microbiologic surveillance targeted at epidemiologically important multidrug-resistant organisms, but the majority underestimated the prevalence of AR. Conclusion Our survey highlights important information about the perceptions and attitudes of ICC members that may be used to tailor key interventions for implementing effective ICP. It suggests, additionally, that, to achieve countrywide standardized IC mechanisms in a developing country, authorities should consider the social, cultural, and economical disparities between regions and identify specific regional needs to make available the resources required to minimize such disparities.
Surgical mortality for acute type A aortic dissection is frequently related to preoperative clinical conditions. We report a predictive score to identify risk of death that may be helpful to assist ...surgeons who are considering whether to proceed with surgical correction in the case of patients in extreme clinical risk.
Surgical outcome of 682 patients enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection from 1996 to 2003 was analyzed. Two different models were used. The initial model included only preoperative variables such as demographics, history, symptoms, signs, and diagnostic methods (model 1). The second model also tested intraoperative hemodynamic and surgical variables (model 2). A bedside risk prediction tool to predict operative mortality in individual patients was developed.
The overall in-hospital surgical mortality was 23.9%. Independent preoperative predictors of mortality in model 1 were age greater than 70 years, prior cardiac surgery, hypotension (systolic blood pressure less than 100 mm Hg) or shock at presentation, migrating pain, cardiac tamponade, any pulse deficit, and electrocardiogram with findings of myocardial ischemia or infarction. In model 2, other predictors of surgical death were intraoperative hypotension, a right ventricle dysfunction at surgery, and a necessity to perform coronary revascularization. An independent predictor for favorable surgical outcome was right hemiarch replacement.
Surgery in unstable patients with acute type A aortic dissection can be highly unsuccessful. The International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection risk models predict in-hospital mortality using a multivariable risk prediction tool, useful for surgeons and patients as they consider their surgical risk and the pros and cons of embarking on high-risk surgery.