Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Versus Open Repair: Analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank.

BACKGROUND

Blunt thoracic aortic injuries (BTAIs) carry a substantial mortality rate. Our study aimed to compare the outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) with open repair from trauma centers across the United States using the National Trauma Data Bank-Research Data Set (RDS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The National Trauma Data Bank-RDS was reviewed for thoracic aortic injures and repair methods. Patients were divided into two groups: TEVAR versus open repair. Demographics and outcomes were compared between groups. Mortality rate was adjusted using the observed/expected mortality (O/E), with TRISS methodology by using the Revised Trauma Score with the Injury Severity Score. Chi-square test and t-test were used with significance defined as P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Within the 2016 RDS, there were 275 cases that underwent operative repair for BTAI. Of the 275 operative cases, 62.5% (172/275) had TEVAR and 37.5% (103/275) underwent open repair. Mean age in TEVAR group was 41 and open repair group was 36 (P > 0.05). Mean Injury Severity Score for TEVAR was 36 versus 35 for open repair (P > 0.05). Mean Revised Trauma Score was 6.7 in TEVAR versus 5.5 in open group (P > 0.05). TEVAR patients had significantly lower crude mortality rate versus open repair (11% versus 25.2%, P < 0.005). When adjusted using O/E, the TEVAR group also had significantly less deaths versus open repair (0.40 versus 0.68, P < 0.000008).

CONCLUSIONS

For BTAIs, thoracic endovascular aortic repairs were superior to open repair on injury-adjusted, all-cause mortality.