Transfusion in Root Replacement for Aortic Dissection: The STS Adult Cardiac Surgery Database Analysis

BACKGROUND Transfusion in acute aortic syndromes has been studied in a limited fashion. We sought to describe contemporary transfusion practice for root replacement in acute (Stanford) type A aortic dissection. METHODS The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was interrogated to identify patients who underwent primary aortic root replacement for acute (Stanford) type A aortic dissection (July 2014 to June 2017). Pa-tients (n = 1558) were stratified by type of root replacement. Multivariate regression was used to determine those variables associated with transfusion and postoperative morbidity. RESULTS Transfusion was required in 90.5% of cases (n = 1410). Operative mortality for all patients was 17.3% (261 deaths). Intraoperative red blood cell transfusion portended reduced short-term survival (odds ratio [OR] 2.00, P = .025). Massive postoperative transfusion was associated with prolonged ventilation (OR 13.47, P < .001), sepsis (OR 4.13, P < .001), and new dialysis-dependent renal failure (OR 2.43, P < .001). Women were more likely to require transfusion (OR 3.03, P < .001), as were patients who had coronary artery bypass (OR 1.57, P = .009), and those in shock (OR 2.27, P < .001). Valve-sparing aortic root replacement was associated with reduced transfusion requirements vs composite roots. Institutional case volume was not appreciably correlated with transfusion. CONCLUSIONS Most patients undergoing root replacement for aortic dissection require blood products. Composite root replacement is associated with a greater likelihood of transfusion than a valve-sparing operation. Transfusion independently foreshadows greater operative mortality.

Automated summary

According to the study on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' Adult Cardiac Surgery Database, most patients undergoing primary aortic root replacement for acute type A aortic dissection require blood transfusion. Composite root replacement is associated with a higher likelihood of transfusion and transfusion independently predicts a higher operative mortality.