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Ann Thorac Surg 2004;78:853-857
© 2004 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
a The Second Department of Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Accepted for publication March 15, 2004.
* Address reprint requests to Dr Hata, The Second Department of Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine, 30-1 Ooyaguchi Kamimachi Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8610, Japan
mihata{at}med.nihon-u.ne.jp
| Abstract |
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METHODS: Emergency operation was carried out in 84 patients during the last 8 years. Fifty-five patients (65.5%) had mild-to-moderate aortic regurgitation. Gelatin resorcin formalin glue was applied to both the proximal and distal aortic stumps. We evaluated the presence of aortic regurgitation and the patency of the distal false lumen at the time of this study. The survival and reoperation-free rates were also assessed. In case of late reoperation, aortic wall samples of the glued area were examined histologically.
RESULTS: Ascending to hemiarch replacement were performed in 71 patients (84.5%). Total aortic arch and root replacement were required in 13 and 7 patients, respectively. Overall hospital mortality was 6.0% (5 patients). Late death was observed in 12 patients (14%). Reoperation for redissection in the aortic root, development of aortic regurgitation, and enlargement of the distal false lumen occurred in 1, 3, and 1 patient, respectively. Histologic examination showed no evidence of infiltration of inflammatory cells in the glued area. Computed tomography scan revealed a patent distal false lumen in 8 (14%) of 58 patients. Echocardiography detected moderate aortic regurgitation in 2 patients. The actuarial survival rate at 1, 5, and 8 years was 85.5%, 80%, and 60.0%, respectively. The reoperation-free rate at 8 years was 89%.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of emergency aortic replacement with gelatin resorcin formalin glue have shown reasonable early and late mortality and reoperation rates. There was no histologic evidence of adverse tissue reactivity by gelatin resorcin formalin glue.
| Introduction |
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In our institution, a pathology-oriented replacement of the aorta with the aid of GRF glue has been consistently used for type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) over the past 8 years. The aim of this study was to review our experience in emergency surgical intervention with GRF glue for AAD, and to assess the mid-term results with a special interest in pathologic study.
| Patients and methods |
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In the operative theater, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was implemented through femoral arterial cannulation in all patients. A two-stage venous cannula was inserted into the right atrium, except for patients in preoperative shock (less than 60 mm Hg of systolic blood pressure). If a patient had evidence of shock due to cardiac tamponade, femorofemoral circulatory assistance was initiated before the chest was opened. We used consistent techniques in all patients. Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHA) and antegrade selective cerebral perfusion were used for cerebral protection. Each patient was cooled to 20°C (rectal temperature). The ascending aorta or aortic arch was then opened longitudinally under DHA. The aortic segment containing the intimal tear was resected, and selective cerebral perfusion was established by introducing balloon cannulas into the three arch vessels.
The GRF glue was applied between two dissected walls on both the distal and proximal stumps of the aorta. We initially applied the gelatin just on the dissected wall, instead of inserting it fully into the dissected cavity. Only one or two drops of the formalin-glutaraldehyde mixture were added into the glue. We tried to mix approximately one part formalin to 10 parts gelatin. To reinforce the gluing process, forceps were used to fix the aortic wall circumferentially for about 5 minutes. Furthermore, the aortic walls were reinforced by securing Teflon (DuPont, Parkersburg, WV) felt strips inside and outside the aorta. Antegrade systemic circulation was established through a side branch of the Dacron (C.R. Bard, Covington, GA) prosthesis after completion of the open distal anastomosis. Finally, fibrin glue was applied on the suture sites. Pathology-oriented replacement of the aortic segment containing the intimal tear was used as much as possible.
The mean duration of follow-up was 33.2 months (range 1 to 90 months). Follow-up information was obtained for all patients. We evaluated the presence of postoperative AR and the patency of the distal false lumen with echocardiography and contrast CT scan at the time of study. The actuarial survival and reoperation-free rates were also calculated with the KaplanMeier method.
| Results |
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Overall hospital mortality was 6.0% (5 patients). Late death was observed in 12 patients (14%: senility, 1; malignancy, 3; pneumonia, 1; stroke, 3; rupture of abdominal aneurysm, 1; mediastinitis, 1; operative death at reoperation, 2 (1 in another hospital). Five patients underwent late reoperation due to distal false lumen dilation, development of AR and angina, or redissection at the aortic root (aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass in 1, total arch replacement in 3, and aortic root replacement in 1). At reoperation, neointima had developed in the aortic wall and, microscopically, no infiltration of inflammatory cells was evident in the glued area (Fig 1). Contrast CT scan revealed a totally patent distal false lumen in 4 patients (7%) and a localized patent false lumen on the abdominal aorta in 4 (7%) of 58 surviving patients who had DeBakey type I at initial operation.
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| Comment |
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Using GRF glue on rats, Weisgerber and associates [10] found an absence of local or general toxicity, in addition to long-term tolerance and reabsorption. Furthermore, Bachet and colleagues [2] reported that GRF glue was safe and harmless to tissues. Conversely, Kiyotani and associates [3] reported in their histopathological examination using rats that GRF-treated wounds showed greater infiltration of inflammatory cells than fibrin glue-treated wounds. A case report indicated that a permanent pacemaker was implanted to treat complete A-V block that resulted from the aldehyde components of GRF glue used during repair of AAD [4]. Recently, several reports from Japan [5] and Europe [6] have questioned the toxicity and the adverse role of GRF glue in the occurrence of late redissection of the aortic root. Indeed, the formalin-glutaraldehyde mixture is highly toxic. Therefore, we usually apply the gelatin just on the dissected wall, instead of inserting it fully into the dissected cavity. Then only one or two drops of the formalin-glutaraldehyde mixture should be mixed into the glue.
In the present study, aortic root redissection occurred in 1 patient. At reoperation, a new dissection was found to have occurred on the proximal anastomosis, but the aortic wall itself was smooth and not deteriorated. However, 3 patients had enlargement of the residual false lumen on the aortic arch. One of those patients had Marfan's syndrome whereas in the other 2 patients the intimal tear had not been found at the time of initial ascending replacement but was found in the distal aortic arch during reoperation. Finally, although 5 patients underwent late reoperation, no infiltration of inflammatory cells was found upon histologic examination of the removed aortic specimens. Therefore, chemical injury by GRF glue seems to be avoidable. Nevertheless, we minimize use of GRF glue and try to mix approximately one part formalin to 10 parts gelatin. We previously reported a microscopic study from an autopsy case revealing the excellent growth of collagen and elastic fibrous tissue where the GRF glue had been used during operation for ventricular septal perforation (Fig 4) [11]. Those findings suggested that GRF glue may conform well to human tissues.
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Postoperative patency and dilatation of the false lumen is also an important issue as emphasized recently in several reports [1517]. David and colleagues [18] reported that the prevalence of postoperative patent false lumen was reduced from 91% to 59% by the use of the open distal anastomosis technique. In addition, we believe that during the emergency initial operation for AAD, open repair and fixation of the distal aortic stump with GRF glue decreases the false-lumen patency rate and possibly improves rates of late survival and freedom from reoperation. In the present study, the false lumen was patent in 14% of the patients, an acceptable outcome as compared with previous reports. Among the 3 patients who needed reoperation for enlargement of a distal patent false lumen, one had Marfan's patient and in the other 2 patients the intimal tear could not be found during initial operation but was found in the distal arch at the time of reoperation. Thus attention must be kept on eliminating the intimal tear as much as possible at the time of initial operation.
In this series, the overall hospital mortality was 6.0% (5/84). This finding is much better than the average 15% to 25% hospital mortality rates found in previous reports [79, 18]. Recently, Westaby and colleagues [19] also reported excellent surgical results, showing an overall hospital mortality of just 6%. Because the first priority of our emergency surgical intervention for AAD is primary tear excision and avoidance of serious complications, most patients (84.5%) in this series had only ascending aorta or hemiarch replacement. However, when the intimal tear is located in the aortic arch, total arch replacement should be carried out for tear excision. Westaby and colleagues [19] advocated the same policy of primary tear excision, namely a "conservative pathology-oriented approach." Bachet and colleagues [20, 21] also showed that closure of the entry site at initial emergency operation resulted in a reduced reoperation rate. Conversely, several investigators advocate systematic extended or total aortic arch resection for the initial surgical management of AAD, irrespective of the location of the intimal tear [22, 23]. Although those authors reported satisfactory results, we have to always keep in mind that AAD is an inherently lethal condition. Such an extended approach will possibly increase an already high operative risk [7]. In fact, Kazui and colleagues [22] reported that the early mortality rate of emergency total arch replacement was 16%, and the freedom from reoperation was 77% at 5 years. In our experience, freedom from reoperation was 89% at 8 years. We believe, therefore, that the risk of extended operation may outweigh the relatively low incidence of reoperation and the associated operative risk.
Our recent 8-year experience of emergency surgical aortic repair with the aid of GRF glue for AAD has demonstrated satisfactory early and late mortality and freedom from reoperation rates as well as pathophysiological findings. In addition, either clinically or at histologic examination, we found no evidence of any harmful consequence from using the GRF glue in terms of redissection, recurring AR, or inflammatory and necrotic lesions.
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