Key result
The 4-branch frozen elephant trunk technique resulted in 0% operative and in-hospital mortality in a series of 27 patients undergoing complex aortic arch replacement.
Why the study?
Does the 4-branch frozen elephant trunk technique improve morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing aortic arch reconstruction?
Does the 4-branch frozen elephant trunk technique improve morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing aortic arch reconstruction?
The 4-branch frozen elephant trunk technique may offer a safe approach for complex aortic arch reconstruction with low mortality.
May support 4-branch FET safety in small series; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Current scientific evidence suggests the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique plays an important role in modern aortic arch repair operations, both for aneurysmal disease and acute aortic dissection. Its use in extended aneurysm is generally therapeutic, aiming for complete exclusion of the diseased descending thoracic aorta. In acute aortic dissection type A, the application of FET is more prophylactic in nature, with the aim of preventing late dilatation of the proximal descending thoracic aorta. This review will present the journey of the elephant trunk from its conception to the current available technology. By tracing the historical evolution of the FET technique and prosthesis development, we explore the challenges and limitations of evidence-based surgical research. We present data from our growing experience in aortic arch reconstruction, the results from our latest 27 patients undergoing the 4-branch FET indicating substantially reduced morbidity and mortality (0%) in this complex patient cohort.
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Axel Haverich (2013) conducted a review in Aortic arch disease (aneurysm and dissection) (n=27). 4-branch frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique was evaluated on In-hospital mortality. The 4-branch frozen elephant trunk technique resulted in 0% operative and in-hospital mortality in a series of 27 patients undergoing complex aortic arch replacement.
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