Surgical outcomes in acute type A aortic dissection based on surgeon experience

Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate our surgical strategy for acute aortic dissection Stanford A and determine whether it is safe regardless of the experience of the primary surgeon. Methods Between April 2015 and September 2020, a total of 160 patients who underwent open surgery for type A aortic dissection at Shonan Kamakura General Hospital were reviewed. Data were collected from reviews of computerized medical records. From this study cohort, we retrospectively reviewed the cases of trainee (group T) and experienced primary surgeons (group E). We evaluated rates of 30 day and in-hospital mortality, stroke, aortic reintervention, and mid-term survival for both groups. Results The rates of 30 day and in-hospital mortalities in group T were 5.1 and 7.7%, respectively, whereas those in group E were 4.7 and 4.7%, respectively. One and 3 year survival rates in group T were 88.4 and 87.1% and in group E were 95.3 and 95.3%, respectively (log-rank test, p = 0.11). The 1 year and 3 year rates of freedom from reintervention were 90.9 and 72.8% in group T and 96.8 and 92.7% in group E, respectively (log-rank test, p = 0.29). The permanent neurological dysfunction rate was 8.1% overall, 8.5% in group T, and 7.0% in group E, with no significant difference. Conclusions Our surgical strategy for acute type A aortic dissection is safe and appropriate regardless of the experience of the primary surgeon.