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Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic... Aug 2022Consensus regarding optimal cerebral protection strategy in aortic arch surgery is lacking. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Consensus regarding optimal cerebral protection strategy in aortic arch surgery is lacking. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess outcome differences between unilateral antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP), bilateral ACP, retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). A systematic literature search was performed in Embase, Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane and Google Scholar for all papers published till February 2021 reporting on early clinical outcome after aortic arch surgery utilizing either unilateral, bilateral ACP, RCP or DHCA. The primary outcome was operative mortality. Other key secondary endpoints were occurrence of postoperative disabling stroke, paraplegia, renal and respiratory failure. Pooled outcome risks were estimated using random-effects models. A total of 222 studies were included with a total of 43 720 patients. Pooled postoperative mortality in unilateral ACP group was 6.6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.3-8.1%], 9.1% (95% CI 7.9-10.4%), 7.8% (95% CI 5.6-10.7%), 9.2% (95% CI 6.7-12.7%) in bilateral ACP, RCP and DHCA groups, respectively. The incidence of postoperative disabling stroke was 4.8% (95% CI 3.8-6.1%) in the unilateral ACP group, 7.3% (95% CI 6.2-8.5%) in bilateral ACP, 6.4% (95% CI 4.4-9.1%) in RCP and 6.3% (95% CI 4.4-9.1%) in DHCA subgroups. The present meta-analysis summarizes the clinical outcomes of different cerebral protection techniques that have been used in clinical practice over the last decades. These outcomes may be used in advanced microsimulation model. These findings need to be placed in the context of the underlying aortic disease, the extent of the aortic disease and other comorbidities. Prospero registration number: CRD42021246372 METC: MEC-2019-0825.
Topics: Aorta, Thoracic; Aortic Diseases; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Circulatory Arrest, Deep Hypothermia Induced; Humans; Perfusion; Retrospective Studies; Stroke; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35512204
DOI: 10.1093/icvts/ivac128 -
European Journal of Vascular and... Jun 2022To investigate the clinical impact of coeliac artery (CA) coverage during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical impact of coeliac artery (CA) coverage during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).
METHODS
This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases were searched from 1989 to 2020 for studies reporting visceral ischaemia, spinal cord ischaemia (SCI), 30 day/in hospital mortality, endoleaks, re-intervention, and caudal stent graft migration following CA coverage in patients undergoing TEVAR. Meta-analysis was conducted using random effects modelling. The quality of the evidence was graded using the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
RESULTS
Fifteen observational studies with 236 patients (108 male, age range 61.3 - 79 years) were included. The pooled visceral ischaemia rate was 13% with significant heterogeneity between studies (95% confidence intervals [CI] 4 - 24; I = 72%, p < .001). The SCI rate was 5% (95% CI 2 - 9; I = 0%); the 30 day/in hospital mortality was 4% (95% CI 1 - 7; I = 0%); the overall endoleak rate was 21% (95% CI 13 - 29; I = 35%) with a 5% (95% CI 0 - 13; I = 38%) rate of type Ib and 2% (95% CI 0 - 8; I = 43%) rate of type II endoleak from retrograde CA flow. The re-intervention rate was 13% (95% CI 6 - 22; I = 54%); the caudal stent graft migration rate was 3% (95% CI 0 - 9, I = 0%). The certainty of the body of evidence was judged to be very low for all outcomes.
CONCLUSION
CA coverage during TEVAR is associated with high rates of visceral ischaemia, spinal cord ischaemia, 30 day/in hospital mortality, endoleaks, and re-intervention. Although the literature is of poor quality and questions remain over effects estimates, there is evidence that CA coverage should be avoided if at all possible, during TEVAR.
REGISTRATION
PROSPERO registration number 244084.
Topics: Aged; Aorta, Thoracic; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; Celiac Artery; Endoleak; Endovascular Procedures; Humans; Ischemia; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Spinal Cord Ischemia; Stents; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35460890
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2022.02.026 -
European Journal of Vascular and... May 2022To synthesise and present all available evidence regarding the surgical treatment of patients with aberrant subclavian artery (aSA) pathologies during the last 30 years.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
To synthesise and present all available evidence regarding the surgical treatment of patients with aberrant subclavian artery (aSA) pathologies during the last 30 years. The study also aimed to create a checklist of suggested reporting items to help increase reporting homogeneity.
METHODS
A systematic search of medical databases was performed to identify all studies published between 1990 and 2020 reporting on the outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for an aSA pathology. Patients were divided into two groups; Group A included patients undergoing open or hybrid surgery through sternotomy/thoracotomy and Group B included patients undergoing endovascular or hybrid treatment without chest access. The % crude rates (CR) of all variables of interest were calculated. A proportion meta-analysis was performed reporting pooled rates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS
Three hundred and fourteen studies were identified reporting on the surgical outcomes of 732 patients (60.1% males; 440/732). The quality of evidence was generally low, with 286 studies including fewer than four patients and 28 studies with five or more cases. Aberrant right subclavian artery (aRSA) in a left sided aortic arch was present in 71.4% of the patients and a Kommerell's diverticulum was present in 50.1% of the cases. A total of 68% of the patients were symptomatic on presentation, with the majority complaining of dysphagia (49.6%). Group A included 453 and Group B 279 patients. Studies reporting on five or more patients were included in the main meta-analysis. The pooled early mortality rate was 1.62% (95% CI 0.05% - 4.53%) in Group A and 1.96% (95% CI 0 - 6.34%) in Group B. Pooled rates of symptom relief were 99.52% (95% CI 92.05% - 100.00%) in Group A and 95.79% (95% CI 83.96% - 100.00%) in Group B.
CONCLUSION
The surgical techniques used to treat aSA and aortic pathologies involving an aSA had remarkably low mortality rates and high clinical success, regardless of the technique used.
Topics: Aorta, Thoracic; Cardiovascular Abnormalities; Diverticulum; Female; Humans; Male; Subclavian Artery
PubMed: 35459610
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2022.02.027 -
Journal of Vascular Surgery Oct 2022Best medical therapy (BMT) should be recommended for treating uncomplicated Stanford type B aortic dissection (uSTBAD), whereas thoracic aortic endovascular repair... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Best medical therapy (BMT) should be recommended for treating uncomplicated Stanford type B aortic dissection (uSTBAD), whereas thoracic aortic endovascular repair (TEVAR) has been controversial for uSTBAD.
METHODS
In this paper, a meta-analysis was conducted on all available randomized controlled trials and observational studies that evaluated the relative benefits and harms of TEVAR and BMT for the management of patients suffering from uSTBAD. Primary endpoints consisted of early adverse events, long-term adverse events, and aortic remodeling. In addition, risk differences (RDs) or odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. The random-effects model or the fixed-effects model was used in accordance with the 50% heterogeneity threshold.
RESULTS
Seven observational studies and two randomized controlled studies from 11 articles that contained 15,066 patients with uSTBAD (1518 TEVARs) met the inclusion criteria. For early outcomes, no significant differences were found between the TEVAR group and the BMT group in aortic rupture, retrograde dissection, paraplegia/paraparesis, reintervention, aorta-related death, and all-cause death. In the long run, the TEVAR group was found to have a significantly lower incidence of adverse events, which included aortic rupture (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.16-0.42; P < .05; heterogeneity: P = .90, I = 0%), reintervention (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26-0.75; P < .05; heterogeneity: P = .17, I = 41%), aorta-related death (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.18-0.42; P < .05; heterogeneity: P = .61, I = 0%), and all-cause death (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.42-0.66; P < .05; heterogeneity: P = .05, I = 53%) as compared with the BMT group. Moreover, in compared with BMT, TEVAR was found to significantly contribute to the complete thrombosis of thoracic false lumen (OR, 55.34; 95% CI, 34.32-89.21; P < .05; heterogeneity: P = .97, I = 0%), and aortic regression (true lumen expansion and false lumen shrinkage).
CONCLUSIONS
Although early endovascular repair of uSTBAD does not outperform BMT, its implementation is found to be necessary to facilitate the long-term prognosis. Accordingly, if early TEVAR is to be deferred, close follow-up is critical to allow for timely reintervention.
Topics: Aortic Dissection; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic; Aortic Rupture; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; Endovascular Procedures; Humans; Observational Studies as Topic; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35390485
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.03.876 -
European Journal of Vascular and... Apr 2022Increased aortic stiffness (AoS) has been recognised as a risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
Increased aortic stiffness (AoS) has been recognised as a risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the impact of aortic repair on AoS.
DATA SOURCES
PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched systematically for relevant studies evaluating the consequences of endovascular and open aortic repair on AoS.
REVIEW METHODS
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement was followed to perform the research process. Papers containing data on AoS before and after both thoracic (TEVAR) and abdominal (EVAR) endovascular repair, as well as open surgical repair (OSR), were included for detailed evaluation. A fixed effects model was used to perform analysis. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was calculated for each included study.
RESULTS
The first article cluster comprised 367 papers. After removal of duplicates and the adoption of inclusion/exclusion criteria, 14 articles remained, 13 of which were selected for meta-analysis. Ten studies analysed EVAR and three analysed TEVAR. Five of the selected papers were case control studies, with OSR adopted in four of these as the EVAR comparator. Several graft types were used in the endovascular group. AoS increased after TEVAR and EVAR, in terms of pulse wave velocity (PWV), even though several spatial levels and measurement modalities were adopted. No differences were described after OSR, although no pooled data could be analysed.
CONCLUSION
EVAR and TEVAR both demonstrated a significant increase in AoS measurement (PWV). Although the heterogeneity and the low number of available studies limit the strength of the results, this review highlights the potential deleterious endograft role in the cardiovascular system although further studies are needed to achieve robust evidence. Further studies are needed to improve the mutual interaction between aorta and endograft, minimising their impact on the native aortic wall properties.
Topics: Aorta; Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; Endovascular Procedures; Humans; Pulse Wave Analysis; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Stiffness
PubMed: 35283000
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2022.01.008 -
Journal of Vascular Surgery Jul 2022We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the stroke rates after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
A systematic review and meta-analysis of stroke rates in patients undergoing thoracic endovascular aortic repair for descending thoracic aortic aneurysm and type B dissection.
OBJECTIVE
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the stroke rates after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms and/or dissections.
METHODS
A systematic search of all the literature reported until September 2021 was performed according to the PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses) guidelines. The pooled perioperative stroke rates and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using fixed or random effect methods.
RESULTS
A total of 878 study titles were identified by the initial search strategy, of which 43 were considered eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. A total of 5764 patients (63.5% male) were identified among the eligible studies. The pooled any stroke rate was 4.4% (95% CI, 3.60%-5.28%). However, after procedures without left subclavian artery (LSA) ostial coverage (eg, TEVAR deployed within or distal to zone ≥3), the stroke rate was 3.15% (95% CI, 2.21%-4.22%). For the patients with LSA coverage, the pooled stroke rate was 2.8% (95% CI, 1.69%-4.14%) for patients receiving left subclavian artery revascularization. However, the patients without LSA revascularization had a pooled estimated stroke incidence of 11.8% (95% CI, 5.85%-19.12%).
CONCLUSIONS
Stroke has been a common finding after TEVAR, especially with LSA coverage without revascularization, validating current clinical practice guidelines recommending routine revascularization, when feasible. Additional studies with larger patient numbers that provide separate data regarding the aortic pathology treated, the anatomic location of the stroke and their association with functional recovery and survival are needed.
Topics: Aorta, Thoracic; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; Endovascular Procedures; Female; Humans; Male; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stroke; Subclavian Artery; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35248694
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvs.2022.02.031 -
Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery Jan 2022At present, the optimal management strategy for chronic type B aortic dissection (CTBAD) remains unknown, as equipoise remains regarding medical management versus...
BACKGROUND
At present, the optimal management strategy for chronic type B aortic dissection (CTBAD) remains unknown, as equipoise remains regarding medical management versus endovascular treatment versus open surgery. However, the results over recent years of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in CTBAD appear promising. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the available data reporting outcomes and survival rates for TEVAR in CTBAD.
METHODS
Electronic searches of six databases were performed from inception to April 2021. All studies reporting outcomes, specifically 30-day mortality rates, for endovascular repair of CTBAD were identified. Relevant data were extracted, and a random-effects meta-analysis of proportions or means was performed to aggregate the data. Survival data were pooled using data derived from original Kaplan-Meier curves, which allows reconstruction of individual patient data.
RESULTS
Forty-eight studies with 2,641 patients were identified. Early (<30 days) all-cause and aortic-related mortality rates were low at 1.6% and 0.5%, respectively. Incidence of retrograde type A dissection in the post-operative period was only 1.4%. There were also low rates of cerebrovascular accidents and spinal cord injury (1.1% and 0.9%, respectively). Late follow-up all-cause mortality was 8.0%, however, late aortic-related mortality was only 2.4%. Reintervention rates were 10.1% for endovascular and 6.7% for surgical reintervention. Pooled rates of overall survival at 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year were 91.5%, 84.7%, 77.7% and 56.3%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The significant heterogeneity in the available evidence and absence of consensus reporting standards are important considerations and concern when interpreting the data. Evaluation of the evidence suggests that TEVAR for CTBAD is a safe procedure with low rates of complications. However, the optimal treatment strategy for CTBAD remains debatable and requires further research. Evidence from high-quality registries and clinical trials are required to address these challenges.
PubMed: 35211380
DOI: 10.21037/acs-2021-taes-25 -
Health Technology Assessment... Jan 2022The management of chronic thoracic aortic aneurysms includes conservative management, watchful waiting, endovascular stent grafting and open surgical replacement. The...
BACKGROUND
The management of chronic thoracic aortic aneurysms includes conservative management, watchful waiting, endovascular stent grafting and open surgical replacement. The Effective Treatments for Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms (ETTAA) study investigates timing and intervention choice.
OBJECTIVE
To describe pre- and post-intervention management of and outcomes for chronic thoracic aortic aneurysms.
DESIGN
A systematic review of intervention effects; a Delphi study of 360 case scenarios based on aneurysm size, location, age, operative risk and connective tissue disorders; and a prospective cohort study of growth, clinical outcomes, costs and quality of life.
SETTING
Thirty NHS vascular/cardiothoracic units.
PARTICIPANTS
Patients aged > 17 years who had existing or new aneurysms of ≥ 4 cm in diameter in the arch, descending or thoracoabdominal aorta.
INTERVENTIONS
Endovascular stent grafting and open surgical replacement.
MAIN OUTCOMES
Pre-intervention aneurysm growth, pre-/post-intervention survival, clinical events, readmissions and quality of life; and descriptive statistics for costs and quality-adjusted life-years over 12 months and value of information using a propensity score-matched subsample.
RESULTS
The review identified five comparative cohort studies (endovascular stent grafting patients, = 3955; open surgical replacement patients, = 21,197). Pooled short-term all-cause mortality favoured endovascular stent grafting (odds ratio 0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.51 to 0.98; no heterogeneity). Data on survival beyond 30 days were mixed. Fewer short-term complications were reported with endovascular stent grafting. The Delphi study included 20 experts (13 centres). For patients with aneurysms of ≤ 6.0 cm in diameter, watchful waiting was preferred. For patients with aneurysms of > 6.0 cm, open surgical replacement was preferred in the arch, except for elderly or high-risk patients, and in the descending aorta if patients had connective tissue disorders. Otherwise endovascular stent grafting was preferred. Between 2014 and 2018, 886 patients were recruited (watchful waiting, = 489; conservative management, = 112; endovascular stent grafting, = 150; open surgical replacement, = 135). Pre-intervention death rate was 8.6% per patient-year; 49.6% of deaths were aneurysm related. Death rates were higher for women (hazard ratio 1.79, 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 2.57; = 0.001) and older patients (age 61-70 years: hazard ratio 2.50, 95% confidence interval 0.76 to 5.43; age 71-80 years: hazard ratio 3.49, 95% confidence interval 1.26 to 9.66; age > 80 years: hazard ratio 7.01, 95% confidence interval 2.50 to 19.62; all compared with age < 60 years, < 0.001) and per 1-cm increase in diameter (hazard ratio 1.90, 95% confidence interval 1.65 to 2.18; = 0.001). The results were similar for aneurysm-related deaths. Decline per year in quality of life was greater for older patients (additional change -0.013 per decade increase in age, 95% confidence interval -0.019 to -0.007; < 0.001) and smokers (additional change for ex-smokers compared with non-smokers 0.003, 95% confidence interval -0.026 to 0.032; additional change for current smokers compared with non-smokers -0.034, 95% confidence interval -0.057 to -0.01; = 0.004). At the time of intervention, endovascular stent grafting patients were older (age difference 7.1 years; 95% confidence interval 4.7 to 9.5 years; < 0.001) and more likely to be smokers (75.8% vs. 66.4%; = 0.080), have valve disease (89.9% vs. 71.6%; < 0.0001), have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (21.3% vs. 13.3%; = 0.087), be at New York Heart Association stage III/IV (22.3% vs. 16.0%; = 0.217), have lower levels of haemoglobin (difference -6.8 g/l, 95% confidence interval -11.2 to -2.4 g/l; = 0.003) and take statins (69.3% vs. 42.2%; < 0.0001). Ten (6.7%) endovascular stent grafting and 15 (11.1%) open surgical replacement patients died within 30 days of the procedure ( = 0.2107). One-year overall survival was 82.5% (95% confidence interval 75.2% to 87.8%) after endovascular stent grafting and 79.3% (95% confidence interval 71.1% to 85.4%) after open surgical replacement. Variables affecting survival were aneurysm site, age, New York Heart Association stage and time waiting for procedure. For endovascular stent grafting, utility decreased slightly, by -0.017 (95% confidence interval -0.062 to 0.027), in the first 6 weeks. For open surgical replacement, there was a substantial decrease of -0.160 (95% confidence interval -0.199 to -0.121; < 0.001) up to 6 weeks after the procedure. Over 12 months endovascular stent grafting was less costly, with higher quality-adjusted life-years. Formal economic analysis was unfeasible.
LIMITATIONS
The study was limited by small numbers of patients receiving interventions and because only 53% of patients were suitable for both interventions.
CONCLUSIONS
Small (4-6 cm) aneurysms require close observation. Larger (> 6 cm) aneurysms require intervention without delay. Endovascular stent grafting and open surgical replacement were successful for carefully selected patients, but cost comparisons were unfeasible. The choice of intervention is well established, but the timing of intervention remains challenging.
FUTURE WORK
Further research should include an analysis of the risk factors for growth/rupture and long-term outcomes.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN04044627 and NCT02010892.
FUNDING
This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Vol. 26, No. 6. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.
Topics: Adolescent; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic; Child; Cohort Studies; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Endovascular Procedures; Female; Humans; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Stents
PubMed: 35094747
DOI: 10.3310/ABUT7744 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2021(1) Background: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the standard imaging test for the evaluation of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), but it is associated... (Review)
Review
The Effect of Limiting the Scan Range of Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (to Reduce Radiation Exposure) on the Detection of Pulmonary Embolism: A Systematic Review.
(1) Background: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) is the standard imaging test for the evaluation of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), but it is associated with patients' exposure to radiation. Studies have suggested that radiation exposure can be reduced without compromising PE detection by limiting the scan range (the -axis, going from up to down); (2) Methods: A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE on 17 July 2021. Studies were included if they enrolled patients who had undergone a CTPA and described the yield of PE diagnoses, number of missed filling defects and/or other diagnoses using a reduced -axis in comparison to a full-length scan. To assess risk of bias, we modified an existing risk of bias tools for observational studies, the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results were synthesized in a narrative review. Primary outcomes were the number of missed PE diagnoses (based on at least one filling defect) and filling defects; the secondary outcome was the number of other missed findings; (3) Results: Eleven cohort studies and one case-control study were included reporting on a total of 3955 scans including 1025 scans with a diagnosis of PE. Six different reduced scan ranges were assessed; the most studied was from the top of the aortic arch to below the heart, in which no PEs were missed (seven studies). One sub-segmental PE was missed when the scan coverage was 10 cm starting from the bottom of the aortic arch and 14.7 cm starting from the top of the arch. Five studies that reported on other findings all found that other diagnoses were missed with a reduced -axis. Most of the included studies had a high risk of bias; (4) Conclusions: CTPA scan coverage reduction from the top of aortic arch to below the heart reduced radiation exposure without affecting PE diagnoses, but studies were generally at high risk of bias.
PubMed: 34943416
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11122179 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Dec 2021Type B aortic dissection can lead to serious and life-threatening complications such as aortic rupture, stroke, renal failure, and paraplegia, all of which require... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Type B aortic dissection can lead to serious and life-threatening complications such as aortic rupture, stroke, renal failure, and paraplegia, all of which require intervention. Traditionally, these complications have been treated with open surgery. Recently however, endovascular repair has been proposed as an alternative.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effectiveness and safety of thoracic aortic endovascular repair versus open surgical repair for treatment of complicated chronic Type B aortic dissection (CBAD).
SEARCH METHODS
The Cochrane Vascular Information Specialist searched the Cochrane Vascular Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and AMED databases, as well as the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov trials registers, to 2 August 2021. We searched references of relevant articles retrieved through the electronic search for additional citations.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We considered all randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) assessing the effects of thoracic aortic endovascular repair (TEVAR) versus open surgical repair (OSR) for treatment of complicated chronic Type B aortic dissection (CBAD). Outcomes of interest were mortality (all-cause, dissection-related), neurological sequelae (stroke, spinal cord ischaemia/paresis-paralysis, vertebral insufficiency), morphological outcomes (false lumen thrombosis, progression of dissection, aortic diameters), acute renal failure, ischaemic symptoms (visceral ischaemia, limb ischaemia), re-intervention, and health-related quality of life.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently screened all titles and abstracts identified by the searches to identify those that met the inclusion criteria. From title and abstract screening, we did not identify any trials (RCTs or CCTs) that required full-text assessment. We planned to undertake data collection and analysis in accordance with recommendations described in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We planned to assess the certainty of evidence using GRADE.
MAIN RESULTS
We did not identify any trials (RCTs or CCTs) that met the inclusion criteria for this review.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Due to lack of RCTs or CCTs investigating the effectiveness and safety of TEVAR compared to OSR for patients with complicated CBAD, we are unable to provide any evidence to inform decision-making on the optimal intervention for these patients. High-quality RCTs or CCTs addressing this objective are necessary. However, conducting such studies will be challenging for this life-threatening disease.
Topics: Aortic Dissection; Aorta, Thoracic; Humans; Ischemia
PubMed: 34905228
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012992.pub2