Aortic intramural hematoma and pulmonary embolism are two rapidly progressive and life-threatening diseases. A 65-year-old male patient with descending aortic intramural hematoma and pulmonary embolism underwent pulmonary embolectomy and descending aortic stent-graft placement, with good postoperative results.
ObjectiveTo compare the outcomes following emergency surgery or conservative treatment for patients with acute type A aortic intramural hematoma (IMH).MethodsClinical data of consecutive patients diagnosed with acute type A aortic IMH in our hospital from September 2014 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients who met our surgical indications received surgery (an operation group) and other patients received strict conservative treatment (a conservative treatment group).ResultsFinally 127 patients were enrolled, including 112 males and 15 females with an average age of 53.6±13.0 years. Of 127 patients, 85 (66.9%) patients accepted emergency surgery and 42 (33.1%) patients accepted strict conservative treatment. There was no difference between the two groups in early mortality or complications (P＞0.05). The 5-year survival rate was 90.4% in the operation group and 74.3% in the conservative treatment group (P=0.010). A maximum aortic diameter in the ascending aorta and aortic arch≥45 mm and maximum thickness of IMH in the same section≥8 mm were risk factors for IMH-related death in patients undergoing conservative treatment (P＜0.001).ConclusionThe mortality associated with emergency surgery for patients with acute type A aortic IMH is satisfactory. In clinical centers with well-established surgical techniques and postoperative management, emergency surgical treatment may provide a better outcome than conservative treatment for patients with acute type A aortic IMH.
ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy of using a single branch stent-graft to treat primary intramural hematoma located at the distal arch or descending aorta in Stanford A type aortic intramural hematoma. MethodsFrom July 2020 to November 2022, 10 patients with primary intramural hematoma of Stanford A type aortic intramural hematoma were treated with endovascular repair using a single branch stent-graft in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital. There were 9 males and 1 female, aged from 32 to 66 years, with a mean age of (47.0±10.4) years. All patients had intramural hematoma involving the ascending aorta and aortic arch, diagnosed as type A intramural hematoma, with the tear located in the descending aorta. Among them, 6 patients were complicated by ulceration of the descending aorta with intramural hematoma, and 4 patients had changes of the descending aortic dissection. All patients underwent endovascular stent repair, with 8 patients undergoing emergency surgery (≤14 days) and 2 patients undergoing subacute surgery (15 days to 3 months). Results There were no neurological complications, paraplegia, stent fracture or displacement, or limb or visceral ischemia during the perioperative period in all patients. One patient had continuous chest pain after surgery, and the stent had a new tear at the proximal end, requiring ascending aorta and partial arch replacement. As of the latest follow-up, all patients had obvious absorption or complete absorption of the intramural hematoma in the ascending aorta and aortic arch compared with before the operation. ConclusionSingle branch stent-graft treatment of retrograde ascending aortic intramural hematoma is safe and effective, with good short-term results.
ObjectiveTo explore the early clinical outcomes of patients with acute type A aortic dissection and intramural hematoma.MethodsThe clinical data of 61 patients with acute type A aortic dissection or intramural hematoma in our hospital from January 23, 2020 to March 10, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, including 43 males and 18 females, aged 22-81 (52.1±13.0) years. The patient's time of visit, clinical characteristics and early survival were analyzed. Kaplan-Mier survival curve and log-rank test were used for the survival analysis.ResultsThere were 48 (78.7%) patients diagnosed with acute type A aortic dissection and 13 (21.3%) patients with intramural hematoma; 34 patients received operation and 11 were emergent. The 30-day mortality was 2.9% among the patients receiving operation. There were 48 patients alive and 13 patients dead during the study period. The cumulative survival rates for all the patients on postoperative 1 day, 3 days and 7 days were 93.4%, 86.4% and 77.5%, respectively. The cumulative survival rates for the patients with dissection on postoperative 1 day, 3 days and 7 days were 95.7%, 88.7% and 79.4%, respectively. The cumulative survival rates for the patients with hematoma on postoperative 1 day, 3 days and 7 days were 92.3%, 84.6% and 84.6%, respectively. The difference of survival rates between the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The cumulative survival rate of all the patients on postoperative 14 days was 74.5%. No statistically significant difference in survival rate on postoperative 14 days was found between patients with intramural hematoma and patients with aortic dissection (P>0.05). The proportions of the patients with unstable hemodynamics were found statistically significant between the survival patients and the dead patients (P<0.05).ConclusionPatients with acute aortic dissection and intramural hematoma who survive to the hospital still have the risk of death under active drug therapy, and rupture of the dissection is the leading cause of death in these patients, especially for those with hemodynamic unstability.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy of second-stage endovascular therapy for patients with aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) who developed progression of the distal hematoma into dissection-like changes after an initial procedure. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital from July 2020 to December 2022. These patients had previously undergone a first-stage procedure to treat the proximal lesion of an IMH. However, follow-up examinations revealed a persistent distal hematoma, the presence of a distal entry tear, and progression of the hematoma into localized or extensive dissection-like changes, which could be accompanied by localized contrast enhancement. These patients then underwent a second-stage stent-graft intervention. The initial procedures included open surgery with total aortic arch replacement or endovascular stent-graft placement to seal the proximal entry tear. In the second-stage procedure, the aorta was divided into three zones based on its anatomy, and zonal stent-graft placement was performed to seal the entry tear and promote thrombosis of the false lumen. Results A total of 18 patients (15 males, 3 females) were included, with a mean age of (53.5±10.6) years (range, 39 to 76 years). The median operation time was 38.0 (29.5, 58.5) min, and the median intraoperative blood loss was 20.0 (20.0, 30.0) mL. The technical success rate was 100.0%. Intraoperative and postoperative imaging confirmed successful exclusion of the distal entry tear of the IMH, with no endoleak, stenosis or occlusion of visceral branches. There were no major perioperative complications, such as death, paraplegia, or visceral ischemia. During follow-up, complete thrombosis or resolution of the false lumen was observed in all patients. Conclusion For patients with residual entry tears and new-onset dissection-like changes in the distal aorta after the first-stage procedure for IMH, second-stage stent-graft placement can effectively seal the entry tear, promote false lumen thrombosis and hematoma resolution, and improve distal aortic remodeling, demonstrating favorable short- to mid-term outcomes.