Anticoagulation and antiplatelet medications do not affect aortic remodeling after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for type B aortic dissection

Objective: There is a lack of evidence regarding the effect of anticoagulation and antiplatelet medications on aortic remodeling for aortic dissection after endovascular repair. We investigated whether anticoagulation and antiplatelet medications affect aortic remodeling after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for type B aortic dissection (TBAD). Methods: Records of the Vascular Quality Initiative TEVAR registry (2012-2020) were reviewed. Procedures performed for TBAD were included. Aortic reintervention, false lumen thrombosis of the treated aorta, and all-cause mortality at followup were compared between patients treated with and without anticoagulation medications. A secondary analysis was performed to assess the effect of antiplatelet therapy in patients not on anticoagulation. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the effect of anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapies on outcomes. Results: A total of 1210 patients (mean age, 60.7 6 12.2 years; 825 males [68%]) were identified with a mean follow-up of 21.2 6 15.7 months (range, 1-94 months). One hundred sixty-six patients (14%) were on anticoagulation medications at discharge and at follow-up. Patients on anticoagulation were more likely to be older (mean age, 65.5 vs 60 years; P <.001) and Caucasian (69% vs 55%; P =.003), with higher proportions of coronary artery disease (10% vs 3%; P <.001), congestive heart failure (10% vs 2%; P <.001), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (15% vs 9%; P =.017). There were no differences in the mean preoperative thoracic aortic diameter or the number of endografts used. At 18 months, the rates of aortic reinterventions (8% vs 9%; log-rank P =.873), complete false lumen thrombosis (52% vs 45%; P =.175), and mortality (2.5% vs 2.7%; P =.209) were similar in patients with and without anticoagulation, respectively. Controlling for covariates with the Cox regression method, anticoagulation use was not independently associated with a decreased rates of complete false lumen thrombosis (hazard ratio [HR], 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.5-1.1; P =.132), increased need for aortic reinterventions (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.62-1.68; P =.934), and mortality (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.64-2.47; P =.514). On a secondary analysis, antiplatelet medications did not affect the rates of aortic reintervention, complete false lumen thrombosis, and mortality. Conclusions: Anticoagulation and antiplatelet medications do not appear to negatively influence the midterm endpoints of aortic reintervention or death in patients undergoing TEVAR for TBAD. Moreover, it did not impair complete false lumen thrombosis. Anticoagulation and antiplatelet medications do not adversely affect aortic remodeling and survival in this population at midterm.

Automated summary

The study suggests that anticoagulation and antiplatelet medications do not negatively influence midterm outcomes such as aortic reintervention or death in patients undergoing TEVAR for type B aortic dissection. It also does not impair complete false lumen thrombosis.