Discordance of aortic remodeling with clinical outcomes in patients treated with endovascular repair for uncomplicated type B aortic dissection

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2011 Aug;13(2):203-4. doi: 10.1510/icvts.2011.274241. Epub 2011 May 31.

Abstract

Uncomplicated type B aortic dissection is managed with anti-impulse therapy since surgery offers no additional long-term survival advantage. In recent years, thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) has been forwarded as a treatment strategy that may retard aortic growth, lower rupture risk, and improve clinical outcome compared to medical management in patients with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection. Although aortic remodeling often serves as a surrogate measure of treatment success in trials of aortic dissection, there is, in fact, little evidence to suggest that aortic remodeling confers a clinical advantage in this patient cohort. TEVAR likely will not be widely recommended for the patient with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection until a prospective comparative clinical trial demonstrates a clear clinical advantage of TEVAR over medical management. Measures of aortic remodeling are poor surrogate measures of treatment success in this patient population.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angioscopy / methods*
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / physiopathology
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / surgery*
  • Aortic Dissection / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Dissection / physiopathology
  • Aortic Dissection / surgery*
  • Aortography
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Resistance / physiology*
  • Young Adult