Clinical outcomes of single versus staged hybrid repair for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm

Objective: We investigated the outcomes of hybrid repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and performed meta-analyses and meta-regressions to assess whether the number of stages during hybrid repair is associated with mortality. Methods: Review methods were according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes of procedural and clinical success were reported descriptively. Meta-analyses, meta-regressions, and logistic regressions were performed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) describing the association between the staging of the operation and in-hospital death. Results: We included 19 studies of 660 patients. Procedures were single-staged in 288 patients and staged in 372. Perioperative mortality ranged from 0% to 44.4%, and spinal cord ischemia ranged from 0% to 15.3%. After a mean follow-up of 26 months (range, 6-88.5 months), the overall mortality was 20.8%. The meta-regression of all studies' summary data (OR, 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-2.16; P = .45; I-2 = 0.42) and a meta-regression where mortality rates in four studies were stratified by operative staging (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.24-1.36; P = .19; I-2 = 0.38) supported a two-stage procedure but failed to reach statistical significance. Logistic regressions of individual patient data from a single center demonstrated evidence that a staged procedure was safer (adjusted OR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.00-0.96; P < .05). Conclusions: Hybrid repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms may reduce early morbidity and mortality even in a group considered high risk for open surgery but still carries risks of perioperative complications. This study suggested advantages to a staged procedure, but statistically significant evidence is lacking. Prospective data are still needed to optimize hybrid repair and best define its role.