Outcomes of aortic arch repair using the frozen elephant trunk technique: analysis of a Scandinavian center's results over 14 years.

BACKGROUND: The frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique enables repair of aortic arch pathology, with possibility for endovascular treatment of distal thoracic aortic disease. We aimed to study outcomes of FET repair of complex aortic arch disease at a Scandinavian tertiary referral center.

METHODS: All patients who underwent FET repair of the aortic arch 2006-2020 were included. Survival, complication and reintervention rate, and aortic remodeling were analyzed.

RESULTS: Fifty patients were included: 23 complex thoracic aortic aneurysms involving the aortic arch (TAA), 19 with chronic aortic dissections (CAD) (16 Stanford type A, 3 type B) and 8 acute aortic dissections (AAD) (7 Stanford type A, 1 type B). Thirty-day mortality was: TAA=22% (N.=5), CAD=5% (N.=1), AAD=37% (N.=3). Rate of disabling stroke: TAA=22% (N.=5), CAD=5% (N.=1), AAD=25% (N.=2). Rate of permanent spinal cord injury: TAA=9% (N.=2), CAD=5% (N.=1), AAD=0%. 5-year survival: TAA=53%, CAD=83%, AAD=63%. 5-year reintervention-free survival was TAA=83% and CAD=36%. There were no reinterventions in the AAD group. 13/19 (68%) of CAD patients underwent distal stent graft extension during follow-up. On last CT follow-up (median 32 months), 78% of CAD had false lumen thrombosis along the stent graft and 11% in the abdominal aorta. In thoracic aorta there was a mean 64% expansion (P<0.001) of true and 39% reduction (P=0.007) of false lumen diameter. In abdominal aorta, both true and false lumen expanded.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite the advantages of the FET technique, repair of extensive aortic arch disease remains associated with high rates of mortality and major neurologic complications. FET repair of CAD induces favorable remodeling in the thoracic aorta.