Advertisement
Canadian Journal of Cardiology
Systematic Review/Meta-analysis| Volume 34, ISSUE 3, P262-273, March 2018

Download started.

Ok

Aortic Arch Reconstructive Surgery With Conventional Techniques vs Frozen Elephant Trunk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Published:December 26, 2017DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2017.12.020

      Abstract

      Background

      Frozen elephant trunk (FET) surgery offers a new alternative in the management of complex thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparator observational studies evaluating the efficacy of FET compared with conventional aortic arch surgery, primarily focusing on mortality and stroke as well as the secondary outcomes of spinal cord ischemia, major bleeding, and operative time.

      Methods

      We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library for trials and studies comparing the FET technique with conventional surgery in patients with aortic aneurysms or dissections, or both. The overall quality of evidence was low, as assessed by Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation, based primarily on the risk of bias secondary to study design, plausible confounding, and imprecision.

      Results

      Meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in mortality (12 studies, 1803 patients: odds ratio [OR], 0.55; 95% CI, 0.39-0.78) and a nonsignificant reduction in stroke (12 studies, 1803 patients: OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.52-1.15) favouring FET; however, FET was associated with a significant increase in spinal cord ischemia (9 studies, 1476 patients: OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.10-4.37). No significant differences between groups were observed regarding major bleeding, cardiopulmonary bypass time, or cross-clamp time.

      Conclusions

      Current evidence suggests that FET surgery is associated with lower mortality in patients with thoracic aneurysmal disease and dissections, without a significant increase in stroke, bleeding, or operative times. However, the risk of spinal cord ischemia is increased in patients who undergo FET. A well-powered randomized trial is needed to evaluate this evolving field.

      Résumé

      Introduction

      La technique de la trompe d’éléphant gelée (TEG) offre une nouvelle solution de rechange dans la prise en charge des anévrismes et des dissections complexes de l’aorte thoracique. Nous avons réalisé une revue systématique et une méta-analyse d’études observationnelles qui comparent l’efficacité de la technique de la TEG à l’intervention chirurgicale traditionnelle de l’arc aortique en se penchant principalement sur la mortalité et l’accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) ainsi que sur les résultats secondaires de l’ischémie de la moelle spinale, des hémorragies majeures et de la durée opératoire.

      Méthodes

      Nous avons effectué des recherches dans MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed et la Bibliothèque Cochrane pour relever des essais et des études qui comparent la technique de la TEG à l’intervention chirurgicale traditionnelle chez les patients ayant subi des anévrismes ou des dissections de l’aorte, ou les deux. En fonction du système GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation), qui reposait principalement sur le risque de biais secondaires au plan de l’étude, aux facteurs de confusion plausibles et à l’imprécision, les données probantes étaient dans l’ensemble de faible qualité.

      Résultats

      La méta-analyse a révélé une réduction significative de la mortalité (12 études, 1803 patients : ratio d’incidence approché [RIA], 0,55 ; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 %, 0,39-0,78) et une réduction non significative de l’AVC (12 études, 1803 patients : RIA, 0,78 ; IC à 95 %, 0,52-1,15) qui favorisaient la technique de la TEG. Toutefois, la technique de la TEG a été associée à une augmentation significative de l’ischémie de la moelle spinale (9 études, 1476 patients : RIA, 2,20 ; IC à 95 %, 1,10-4,37). Aucune différence significative entre les groupes n’a été observée concernant les hémorragies majeures, la durée du pontage cardiopulmonaire ou la durée du clampage.

      Conclusions

      Les données probantes actuelles montrent que la technique de la TEG est associée à une mortalité plus faible chez les patients ayant des anévrismes et des dissections de l’aorte thoracique sans augmentation significative de l’AVC, des hémorragies ou de la durée des interventions chirurgicales. Toutefois, le risque d’ischémie de la moelle spinale est accru chez les patients qui subissent la technique de la TEG. Un essai à répartition aléatoire de bonne puissance statistique est nécessaire pour que ce domaine en évolution fasse l’objet d’une évaluation.
      To read this article in full you will need to make a payment

      Purchase one-time access:

      Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online access
      One-time access price info
      • For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
      • For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'

      Subscribe:

      Subscribe to Canadian Journal of Cardiology
      Already a print subscriber? Claim online access
      Already an online subscriber? Sign in
      Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect

      References

        • Shelstad R.C.
        • Reeves J.G.
        • Yamanaka K.
        • Reece T.B.
        Total aortic arch replacement: advantages of varied techniques.
        Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2016; 20: 307-313
        • Borst H.G.
        • Walterbusch G.
        • Schaps D.
        Extensive aortic replacement using “elephant trunk” prosthesis.
        Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1983; 31: 37-40
        • Heinemann M.K.
        • Buehner B.
        • Jurmann M.J.
        • Borst H.G.
        Use of the “elephant trunk technique” in aortic surgery.
        Ann Thorac Surg. 1995; 60 (discussion 7): 2-6
        • Estrera A.L.
        • Miller 3rd, C.C.
        • Porat E.E.
        • Huynh T.T.
        • Winnerkvist A.
        • Safi H.J.
        Staged repair of extensive aortic aneurysms.
        Ann Thorac Surg. 2002; 74 (discussion S1825-S1832): S1803-S1805
        • Yan T.D.
        • Field M.
        • Tian D.H.
        • Bashir M.
        • Oo A.
        Aortic root and total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk procedure, using a Thoraflex hybrid graft.
        Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2013; 2: 667-668
        • Shrestha M.
        • Beckmann E.
        • Krueger H.
        • et al.
        The elephant trunk is freezing: The hannover experience.
        J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2015; 149: 1286-1293
        • El-Hamamsy I.
        • Ouzounian M.
        • Demers P.
        • et al.
        State-of-the-art surgical management of acute type A aortic dissection.
        Can J Cardiol. 2016; 32: 100-109
        • Shrestha M.
        Open repair of complex aortic arch pathologies with the frozen elephant trunk: is it the future?.
        Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2017; 51: 338-339
        • Shrestha M.
        • Bachet J.
        • Bavaria J.
        • et al.
        Current status and recommendations for use of the frozen elephant trunk technique: A position paper by the vascular domain of EACTS.
        Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2015; 47: 759-769
        • Di Eusanio M.
        • Pantaleo A.
        • Murana G.
        • et al.
        Frozen elephant trunk surgery—the Bologna's experience.
        Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2013; 2: 597-605
        • Tian D.H.
        • Wan B.
        • Di Eusanio M.
        • Black D.
        • Yan T.D.
        A systematic review and meta-analysis on the safety and efficacy of the frozen elephant trunk technique in aortic arch surgery.
        Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2013; 2: 581-591
        • Usui A.
        • Fujimoto K.
        • Ishiguchi T.
        • et al.
        Cerebrospinal dysfunction after endovascular stent-grafting via a median sternotomy: the frozen elephant trunk procedure.
        Ann Thorac Surg. 2002; 74 (discussion S1825-S1832): S1821-S1824
        • Leontyev S.
        • Tsagakis K.
        • Pacini D.
        • et al.
        Impact of clinical factors and surgical techniques on early outcome of patients treated with frozen elephant trunk technique by using EVITA open stent-graft: results of a multicentre study.
        Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2016; 49: 660-666
        • Brozek J.L.
        • Akl E.A.
        • Compalati E.
        • et al.
        Grading quality of evidence and strength of recommendations in clinical practice guidelines part 3 of 3. The GRADE approach to developing recommendations.
        Allergy. 2011; 66: 588-595
        • Stroup D.F.
        • Berlin J.A.
        • Morton S.C.
        • et al.
        Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology: a proposal for reporting. Meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology (MOOSE) group.
        JAMA. 2000; 283: 2008-2012
        • Leontyev S.
        • Borger M.A.
        • Etz C.D.
        • et al.
        Experience with the conventional and frozen elephant trunk techniques: a single-centre study.
        Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2013; 44 (discussion 1083): 1076-1082
        • Appoo J.J.
        • Bozinovski J.
        • Chu M.W.
        • et al.
        Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons/Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery joint position statement on open and endovascular surgery for thoracic aortic disease.
        Can J Cardiol. 2016; 32: 703-713
        • Guyatt G.H.
        • Oxman A.D.
        • Vist G.
        • et al.
        Grade guidelines: 4. Rating the quality of evidence—study limitations (risk of bias).
        J Clin Epidemiol. 2011; 64: 407-415
        • Viswanathan M.
        • Berkman N.D.
        • Dryden D.M.
        • Hartling L.
        Assessing risk of bias and confounding in observational studies of interventions or exposures: further development of the RTI Item Bank.
        Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US), Rockville, MD2013 (Report No.: 13-EHC106-EF. AHRQ Methods for Effective Health Care)
        • Balshem H.
        • Helfand M.
        • Schunemann H.J.
        • et al.
        Grade guidelines: 3. Rating the quality of evidence.
        J Clin Epidemiol. 2011; 64: 401-406
        • Riley R.D.
        • Higgins J.P.
        • Deeks J.J.
        Interpretation of random effects meta-analyses.
        BMJ. 2011; 342: d549
        • Bollen C.W.
        • Uiterwaal C.S.
        • van Vught A.J.
        Pooling of trials is not appropriate in the case of heterogeneity.
        Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2006; 91: F233-F234
        • Peters J.L.
        • Sutton A.J.
        • Jones D.R.
        • Abrams K.R.
        • Rushton L.
        Comparison of two methods to detect publication bias in meta-analysis.
        JAMA. 2006; 295: 676-680
        • Daniel 3rd, W.T.
        • Kilgo P.
        • Puskas J.D.
        • et al.
        Trends in aortic clamp use during coronary artery bypass surgery: effect of aortic clamping strategies on neurologic outcomes.
        J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014; 147: 652-657
        • Jakob H.
        • Tsagakis K.
        • Tossios P.
        • et al.
        Combining classic surgery with descending stent grafting for acute debakey type I dissection.
        Ann Thorac Surg. 2008; 86: 95-101
        • Pochettino A.
        • Brinkman W.T.
        • Moeller P.
        • et al.
        Antegrade thoracic stent grafting during repair of acute Debakey I dissection prevents development of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.
        Ann Thorac Surg. 2009; 88 (discussion 489-490): 482-489
        • Uchida N.
        • Shibamura H.
        • Katayama A.
        • et al.
        Operative strategy for acute type A aortic dissection: ascending aortic or hemiarch vs total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk.
        Ann Thorac Surg. 2009; 87: 773-777
        • Sun L.
        • Qi R.
        • Zhu J.
        • Liu Y.
        • Zheng J.
        Total arch replacement combined with stented elephant trunk implantation: a new “standard” therapy for type a dissection involving repair of the aortic arch?.
        Circulation. 2011; 123: 971-978
        • Hofferberth S.C.
        • Newcomb A.E.
        • Yii M.Y.
        • et al.
        Hybrid proximal surgery plus adjunctive retrograde endovascular repair in acute debakey type I dissection: superior outcomes to conventional surgical repair.
        J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013; 145 (discussion 354-355): 349-354
        • Di Eusanio M.
        • Borger M.
        • Petridis F.D.
        • et al.
        Conventional vs frozen elephant trunk surgery for extensive disease of the thoracic aorta.
        J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2014; 15: 803-809
        • Zhang H.
        • Lang X.
        • Lu F.
        • et al.
        Acute type A dissection without intimal tear in arch: proximal or extensive repair?.
        J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014; 147: 1251-1255
        • Vallabhajosyula P.
        • Szeto W.Y.
        • Pulsipher A.
        • et al.
        Antegrade thoracic stent grafting during repair of acute Debakey type I dissection promotes distal aortic remodeling and reduces late open distal reoperation rate.
        J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014; 147: 942-948
        • Preventza O.
        • Cervera R.
        • Cooley D.A.
        • et al.
        Acute type I aortic dissection: traditional vs hybrid repair with antegrade stent delivery to the descending thoracic aorta.
        J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014; 148: 119-125
        • Matt P.
        • Banerjee P.
        • Grapow M.
        • et al.
        Modified frozen elephant trunk for acute type A aortic dissection: a comparative study with standard repair technique.
        Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2017; 51: 754-760
        • Di Marco L.
        • Pantaleo A.
        • Leone A.
        • et al.
        The frozen elephant trunk technique: European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery position and Bologna experience.
        Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017; 50: 1-7
        • Smith H.N.
        • Boodhwani M.
        • Ouzounian M.
        • et al.
        Classification and outcomes of extended arch repair for acute type a aortic dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
        Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2017; 24: 450-459
        • Lin H.H.
        • Liao S.F.
        • Wu C.F.
        • Li P.C.
        • Li M.L.
        Outcome of frozen elephant trunk technique for acute type A aortic dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
        Medicine. 2015; 94: e694
        • De Paulis R.
        • Czerny M.
        • Weltert L.
        • et al.
        Current trends in cannulation and neuroprotection during surgery of the aortic arch in europe.
        Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2015; 47: 917-923
        • Andersen N.D.
        • Benrashid E.
        • Ross A.K.
        • et al.
        The utility of the aortic dissection team: outcomes and insights after a decade of experience.
        Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2016; 5: 194-201
        • Andersen N.D.
        • Ganapathi A.M.
        • Hanna J.M.
        • et al.
        Outcomes of acute type A dissection repair before and after implementation of a multidisciplinary thoracic aortic surgery program.
        J Am Coll Cardiol. 2014; 63: 1796-1803
        • Czerny M.
        • Rylski B.
        • Kari F.A.
        • et al.
        Technical details making aortic arch replacement a safe procedure using the Thoraflex hybrid prosthesis.
        Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2017; 51: i15-i19
        • Preventza O.
        • Al-Najjar R.
        • Lemaire S.A.
        • Weldon S.
        • Coselli J.S.
        Total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk technique.
        Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2013; 2: 649-652
        • Di Bartolomeo R.
        • Pellicciari G.
        • Cefarelli M.
        • Di Eusanio M.
        Frozen elephant trunk surgery using the E-vita open plus prosthesis.
        Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2013; 2: 656-659
        • Springate S.D.
        The effect of sample size and bias on the reliability of estimates of error: a comparative study of Dahlberg's formula.
        Eur J Orthod. 2012; 34: 158-163
        • Ranucci M.
        • Baryshnikova E.
        • Castelvecchio S.
        • Pelissero G.
        Major bleeding, transfusions, and anemia: the deadly triad of cardiac surgery.
        Ann Thorac Surg. 2013; 96: 478-485
        • Jimenez Rivera J.J.
        • Iribarren J.L.
        • Raya J.M.
        • et al.
        Factors associated with excessive bleeding in cardiopulmonary bypass patients: a nested case-control study.
        J Cardiothorac Surg. 2007; 2: 17
        • Vivacqua A.
        • Koch C.G.
        • Yousuf A.M.
        • et al.
        Morbidity of bleeding after cardiac surgery: is it blood transfusion, reoperation for bleeding, or both?.
        Ann Thorac Surg. 2011; 91: 1780-1790
        • Dixon B.
        • Reid D.
        • Collins M.
        • et al.
        The operating surgeon is an independent predictor of chest tube drainage following cardiac surgery.
        J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2014; 28: 242-246
        • Damberg A.
        • Schalte G.
        • Autschbach R.
        • Hoffman A.
        Safety and pitfalls in frozen elephant trunk implantation.
        Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2013; 2: 669-676
        • Flores J.
        • Kunihara T.
        • Shiiya N.
        • et al.
        Extensive deployment of the stented elephant trunk is associated with an increased risk of spinal cord injury.
        J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2006; 131: 336-342
        • Hagl C.
        • Pichlmaier M.
        • Khaladj N.
        Elephant trunks in aortic surgery: Fresh and frozen.
        J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2013; 145: S98-S102
        • Al-Sarraf N.
        • Thalib L.
        • Hughes A.
        • et al.
        Cross-clamp time is an independent predictor of mortality and morbidity in low- and high-risk cardiac patients.
        Int J Surg. 2011; 9: 104-109
      1. Manage surgical minutes to reap hefty or savings.
        Health Care Cost Reengineering Rep. 1998; 3: 161-165
        • Ioannidis J.P.
        • Patsopoulos N.A.
        • Evangelou E.
        Uncertainty in heterogeneity estimates in meta-analyses.
        BMJ. 2007; 335: 914-916
        • Mehran R.
        • Rao S.V.
        • Bhatt D.L.
        • et al.
        Standardized bleeding definitions for cardiovascular clinical trials: a consensus report from the bleeding academic research consortium.
        Circulation. 2011; 123: 2736-2747
        • Parikh N.
        • Trimarchi S.
        • Gleason T.G.
        • et al.
        Changes in operative strategy for patients enrolled in the international registry of acute aortic dissection interventional cohort program.
        J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017; 153: S74-S79