One discussion this week included the morbidity and mortality of TEVAR in the setting of ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Reference: Geisbusch, P, et al. Endovascular repair of ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms is associated with high perioperative mortality and morbidity. Journal of Vascular Surgery. 2010 Feb;51(2):299-304. doi:10.1016/j.jvs.2009.08.049.

Summary: In a retrospective study, Geisbusch et al (2010) analyzed the outcomes of emergency endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic pathologies (TEVAR). Out of 236 patients, 23 received thoracic aortic repair due to a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm (rTAA). The overall hospital mortality was 48% (see table below, p.302). Overall technical success was 87%. Three patients showed relevant primary endoleaks, and thus were not considered technical successes.

The causes of death in the 11 patients were: cardiac complications (7), multiorgan failure (3), and pulmonary embolism (1) (p.301).

The authors admit: “Mortality rates after TEVAR for acute descending aortic rupture vary between 0% and 17% in the few available series, which seems relatively low compared with our in-hospital mortality rate of 48%” (p.303).

The patient population in this study had a median age of 75 years, and was highly comorbid (83% with coronary heart disease, 43% with renal insufficiency, and 30% with COPD), resulting in high cardio-pulmonary and renal complications with consecutive perioperative death. Three-year survival is estimated at 30%.

In conclusion, “the endovascular treatment of ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms is associated with a high perioperative mortality and morbidity as well as poor midterm survival. Renal insufficiency proved as an independent risk factor for perioperative death” (p.303).