Impact of shaggy aorta on outcomes of open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of diffuse aortic atherosclerosis-related thrombosis, or "shaggy aorta" on the outcomes of open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair (TAAA).

Methods: From October 1999 to March 2018, 251 patients underwent open TAAA repair using segmental-staged aortic clamping. Twenty-eight patients (11.2%) received emergent or urgent operations. Patients were classified into 3 groups: dissection aneurysm (139 patients, 55.4%), degenerative aneurysm without shaggy aorta (76 patients, 30.3%), and degenerative aneurysm with shaggy aorta (36 patients, 14.3%). Shaggy aorta was assessed using enhanced computed tomography and defined as patients with atheroma thickness ≥5 mm with irregular atheroma surface. Mean follow-up was 4.3 ± 4.1 years.

Results: Operative mortality was 8% (20 patients) and spinal cord injury occurred in 25 patients (10.0%), 16 of whom (6.4%) had permanent neurologic dysfunction. Operative mortality was significantly worse in patients with shaggy aorta (dissection: 2.2%, non-shaggy: 6.6%, and shaggy: 33.3%, P < .001) and shaggy aorta was a significant risk factor for spinal cord injury (dissection: 7.2%, non-shaggy: 6.6%, and shaggy: 27.8%, P < .003). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that shaggy aorta was a significant risk factor for composite outcome consisted of operative mortality, spinal cord injury, and acute renal failure (odds ratio, 4.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-12.3, P < .001).

Conclusions: Preoperative enhanced computed tomography assessment of shaggy aorta could predict high-risk patients for open TAAA repair.

Keywords: computed tomography; preoperative assessment; shaggy aorta; thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.