A comparison between direct true lumen versus conventional cannulation for management of acute type- aortic dissection patients.

Objective: To compare the postoperative outcomes while using direct true lumen approach versus conventional cannulation approach in management of acute type-A aortic dissection patients. Study Design: Randomized Clinical Trial. Setting: Department of Vascular Surgery, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi. Period:  1st June 2022 to 31st December 2022. Methods: A total of 22 patients age more than 18 years who presented in CMH Emergency Department with acute type A aortic dissection were included in this study. In group A (11 patients) were managed with direct true lumen cannulation while in group B (11 patients) were managed with conventional (axillary/femoral) cannulation. In both groups intra-operative parameters like procedure time, mean time of cardiopulmonary bypass, cross clamp and circulatory arrest time were measured. In both groups, outcome was measured in terms of occurrence of multi-organ failure, acute kidney injury, arrhythmias on ECG and in-hospital mortality. Data was analyzed using SPSS 26. Results: Mean age of our patients were 43.36±2.16yrs in group A while 43.36±2.94yrs in group B. Male gender predominates in both groups (gp A- 81.8% & gp B-90.9%). We found no difference of statistical significance between two groups in terms of various intra-operative parameters like mean duration of procedure in group A was 428.15min and in group B was 427.36 min. Similarly mean circulatory arrest time was 31 min in group A and 29.09 min in group B. Patients in “direct true lumen cannulation” group had significantly shorter duration of intubation. In terms of post-operative outcomes, multi-organ failure occurred in 1 (9.09%) patient in group A while it occurred in 3(27.27%) patients in group B. In hospital mortality occurred in 2(18%) patients in group A as compared to 4(36%) in group B. So better results were observed in “direct true lumen cannulation” group as compared to “conventional (axillary/femoral) cannulation” group. Conclusion: In our study, acute type-A aortic dissection patients who had undergone direct true lumen cannulation during operative management showed better post-operative outcomes.