Leukoaraiosis and hippocampal atrophy predict neurologic outcome in patients who undergo total aortic arch replacement.

BACKGROUND

This retrospective study determined whether leukoaraiosis and hippocampal atrophy seen in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) predict neurologic outcome after total aortic arch replacement.

METHODS

From August 2001 to November 2007, 131 consecutive patients (22% women) who underwent elective total arch replacement with selective cerebral perfusion were enrolled. Mean patient age was 71 +/- 17 years (range, 27 to 88 years). On preoperative MRI, mean leukoaraiosis score and hippocampal atrophy score, rated according to the Scheltens scale, were 11.0 +/- 9.2 and 1.5 +/- 1.9, respectively. Forty-three patients (32.8%) had carotid or basilica arterial stenosis, 18 (12.6%) had a stroke, and 6 (4.2%) had a transient ischemic attack.

RESULTS

One hospital death (0.8%) occurred. Adverse perioperative neurologic events included intraoperative stroke in 8 (6.1%), postoperative stroke in 2 (1.5%), and temporary neurologic dysfunction (TND) in 11 (8.4%). On multivariate logistic regression, significant predictors of postoperative intraoperative stroke were leukoaraiosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.1, p = 0.02) and aortic arch atheroma (OR, 2.4; p = 0.001). TND was significantly associated with leukoaraiosis (OR, 1.1, p = 0.03) and hippocampal atrophy (OR, 1.6, p = 0.01). The best cutoff value for predicting intraoperative stroke was a leukoaraiosis score exceeding 16 (sensitivity, 70%; specificity, 70%); that for predicting TND was a leukoaraiosis score exceeding 18 (sensitivity, 82%; specificity, 77%) and a hippocampal atrophy score exceeding 2 (sensitivity, 82%; specificity, 76%).

CONCLUSIONS

Leukoaraiosis and hippocampal atrophy are significant independent factors for adverse neurologic outcome after total arch replacement.