Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Surgery Performed by Aortic Specialists Improves 2-Year Outcomes

Objective In patients presenting with acute Type A aortic dissections (ATADs), the authors sought to evaluate whether emergent aortic operations performed by cardiac surgeons with different level of aortic surgery experience can impact perioperative outcomes and survival. Methods A single-center review of 102 patients who underwent aortic surgeries for ATAD was conducted. The cohort was divided into those operated on by aortic specialists (AS:3 surgeons) and non-AS (5 surgeons). Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to evaluate associations between the surgeon experience, perioperative outcomes, and survival, respectively. Results Of 102 patients, 60 were operated on by AS and 42 were operated on by non-AS. Overall 30-day mortality was 11 (10.8%) with 4 (6.6%) perioperative deaths in the AS group and 7 (16.6%) among the non-AS group ( p = 0.2). AS performed a significantly higher number of root replacement procedures (41.6% vs. 23.8%, respectively, p = 0.049) and employed more frequent adjunct cerebral perfusion during circulatory arrest ( p = 0.003). Survival analysis indicated AS status was an independent predictor of improved 2-year survival (hazard ratio: 0.37, 95% confidence interval: 0.15–0.92, p = 0.03). Conclusion Operation by AS for ATAD was associated with reduced adjusted risk of 2-year mortality. This adds support for establishing thoracic aortic emergency call teams staffed by AS.