Impact of Aetiology on Short- and Long-Term Outcomes in Open Descending and Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm Repair

OBJECTIVES: We analysed the impact of chronic type B aortic dissection (cTBAD) and degenerative aneurysm (DA) on the short- and long-term outcomes of patients undergoing open descending thoracic aortic aneurysm and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained aortic database. From 1999 to 2023, 245 patients underwent open descending thoracic aortic aneurysm or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair. We compared preoperative comorbidities, postoperative complications and operative and long-term mortality for patients with cTBAD (120 patients, 49%) and DA (125 patients, 51%). RESULTS: Patients with cTBAD were significantly younger, more likely to be male and less likely to have comorbidities including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and coronary artery disease. There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of operative mortality between cTBAD (7.5%) and DA patients (11.2%) (P = 0.44). Survival at 1, 5, 10 and 15 years for cTBAD versus DA patients was 90% versus 76%, 79% versus 59%, 59% versus 42% and 50% versus 29%, respectively (P < 0.01); however, this lost statistical significance in the Cox regression (P = 0.86). Following multivariable analysis, older age, female gender, coronary artery disease, urgent or emergent procedure and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm were independent predictors of long-term outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of postoperative complications, operative deaths and long-term survival between cTBAD and DA patients. IRB NUMBER: (#20D.802), Obtained: 1/31/23.