Which is the Optimal Frozen Elephant Trunk? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Outcomes in 2161 Patients Undergoing Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Surgery Using E-vita OPEN PLUS Hybrid Stent Graft versus Thoraflex™ Hybrid Prosthesis

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the rate of morbidity and mortality associated with the use of E-vita hybrid stent graft and ThoraflexTM in patients undergoing complex aortic surgery. METHODS: A comprehensive search was undertaken among the four major databases to identify published data about E-vita or Thoraflex™ in patients undergoing repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms. RESULTS: In total, 28 papers were included in the study, encompassing a total of 2,161 patients (1,919 E-vita and 242 Thoraflex™). Patients undergoing surgery with E-vita or Thoraflex™ were of similar age and sex. The number of patients undergoing non-elective repair with Thoraflex™ was higher than with E-vita (35.2% vs. 28.7%, respectively). Cardiopulmonary bypass time was associated with increasing mortality in E-vita patients, however a meta-analysis of proportions showed higher 30-day mortality, permanent neurological deficit, and one-year mortality for Thoraflex™ patients. Direct statistical comparisons between E-vita and Thoraflex™ was not possible due to heterogeneity of studies. CONCLUSION: Although there are limited studies available, the available data suggests that mortality and morbidity are lower for the E-vita device in thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery than for Thoraflex™. Long-term data of comparative studies do not yet exist to assess viability of these procedures.