Neuroanatomy and severity of stroke in patients with type A aortic dissection

Background Strokes are a longstanding complication of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) repair. Understanding the neuroanatomy, mechanism, and severity of stroke will facilitate efforts to improve prediction, prevention, and treatment strategies. Methods Retrospective review of patients who sustained stroke from a consecutive series of patients undergoing ATAAD repair. Neuroimaging was interpreted by two stroke neurologists blinded to clinical results. Severity of stroke was assessed by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Residual disability at 30 days was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results Twenty percent (38/189) of patients undergoing repair for ATAAD had stroke (unilateral 58%, bi-hemispheric 42% [p = .33]). All strokes were ischemic. No significant lateralization (right vs. left) was noted with unilateral strokes (26% vs. 32%, p = .67). Etiology of stroke was embolic (58%), hypoperfusion (26%), mixed (11%), and unknown (5%). There were no intraoperative variables that correlated with the neuroanatomy or mechanism of stroke. Preoperative carotid dissection was seen in 40% (n = 15), while postoperatively 10% (n = 4) sustained intracranial large vessel occlusion (LVO). Strokes were moderate or severe (NIHSS >= 9) in 97% of cases, with 66% incidence of moderate residual disability (mRS >= 3) at 1 month postoperatively. Conclusions Strokes associated with ATAAD are severe at presentation resulting in significant disability. One in 10 strokes is due to LVO and potentially amenable to endovascular treatment. Heterogeneity in both location and etiology of stroke makes prevention challenging. Future trials may evaluate the role of early neuroimaging and simultaneous treatment of stroke given advancements in endovascular therapy.