Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection: Is It for All?

• Main Authors: Pierpaolo Chivasso, Generoso Mastrogiovanni, Mario Miele, Vito Domenico Bruno, Antonio Rosciano, Antonio Pio Montella, Donato Triggiani, Mario Colombino, Francesco Cafarelli, Rocco Leone, Paolo Masiello, Severino Iesu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
• Series: Medicina
• Subjects: type A aortic dissection; aortic arch surgery; FET; frozen elephant trunk; hybrid arch surgery
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/57/9/894
• ISSN: 1010-660X; 1648-9144

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is an indisputable emergency with very poor outcomes without surgical treatment. Although the aortic arch is often involved in the aortic dissection, its optimal management during surgical therapy remains uncertain. A conservative tear-oriented approach has traditionally been adopted, limiting the procedure to the ascending aorta (or hemiarch) replacement. However, dilation of the residual dissected aorta and subsequent rupture may occur, requiring further intervention in the future. In the last two decades, the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique has become a valid and attractive option to treat aortic disease when the arch and the thoracic aorta are involved, both in elective and in emergency settings. Here, we report a review of the contemporary literature regarding the short- and long-term outcomes of the FET technique in ATAAD repair.