Effects of Dacron graft amount used in type A aortic dissections on inflammatory markers and clinical approaches

Abstract

Introduction:

Aortic dissection is characterized by an intimal tear resulting in blood flowing into the aortic media, creating a false lumen along the aorta. In acute type A aortic dissection surgery, grafts are used for ascending aortic replacement.

Methods:

This retrospective study examined 113 patients who underwent surgery for type A aortic dissection at the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic of Konya City Hospital between December 2020 and October 2025. After exclusion criteria, 62 patients were included in the study. The cut-off point for graft area was based on the median value of the dataset, which is 6120 mm². Patients were divided into two groups: those with a graft area >6120 mm² and those with a graft area ⩽6120 mm².

Results:

The findings suggest that larger graft areas may be associated with a more pronounced postoperative inflammatory response, reflected in increased leukocyte subtypes and inflammatory markers; while the decreases in hemoglobin and hematocrit observed in smaller graft areas may suggest different perioperative physiological or hemodilution mechanisms.

Conclusion:

These findings are consistent with the literature supporting the central role of systemic inflammation in the postoperative pathophysiology of cardiac surgery and point to the potential clinical significance of integrating graft-size-dependent inflammatory responses into perioperative risk stratification and patient management. However, well-designed prospective studies are needed to clarify the causal relationship and determine the impact of interventions targeting postoperative inflammation on clinical outcomes.