Follow-up outcomes after the frozen elephant trunk technique in chronic type B dissection

OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to present our experience with a hybrid approach to the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique for the treatment of patients with chronic type B aortic dissection. METHODS: Between January 2013 and July 2019, 86 patients underwent the FET procedure at our centre. In 20 patients, the indication was chronic type B aortic dissection with a concomitant proximal aortic lesion. We evaluated the sites of proximal and distal entries, luminal communication and originating visceral branches in the computed tomography scan data. Primary end points were hospital deaths, complications and follow-up survival. Secondary end points included reintervention, thrombosis of the false lumen and aortic remodelling. RESULTS: There were no deaths, neurological complications or paraplegia during hospitalization; however, a few patients (10%) had temporary acute renal failure or required secondary aortic reintervention during the follow-up period. We performed thoracic endovascular aortic repair with stable aortic remodelling during follow-up. The follow-up survival rate was 92.3%, and 87.5% of cases did not require aortic reintervention. CONCLUSIONS: The FET technique is an effective method for treating chronic Stanford type B aortic dissection in patients at high risk of retrograde type A aortic dissection, concomitant disease of the proximal aorta and unsuitable anatomy for thoracic endovascular aortic repair, which allows for single-stage radical correction. Compared with thoracic endovascular aortic repair, the FET technique excludes the risk of type Ia endoleak, retrograde type A aortic dissection and possible stent graft migration. This technique provides comparable midterm follow-up outcomes and freedom from reintervention.