Arterial reconstruction for non-specific arteritis (Takayasu's disease): Medium to long term results

There is little information on reconstructive arterial surgery for Takayasu Arteritis, and the approach is generally negative in this regard. Common causes of death are stroke, aneurysm rupture and the complications of renovascular hypertension and renal failure. The present study aims to examine the results of arterial reconstruction in the medium and long term in patients with histologically proven Takayasu's disease. In the last 11 years 134 patients have been referred to the vascular service of whom 81 (60%) were suitable for operation. Forty-nine were women; age range 3–45 years (average 29.5 years). In 28 the disease was confined to the aortic arch (Type 1); 41 had descending aortic involvement (Type II); six had a combination of arch and aortic disease (Type 111) and two associated cardiac lesions (Type IV). Four had isolated peripheral lesions (Type V). Seventy percent of these lesions were aneurysmal. Of the 28 type I patients, two had aortic arch reconstruction, seven segmental replacement. Of the 49 with type II, III and IV disease 26 had thoraco-abdominal aortic replacement using a bypass technique. The remainder had infrarenal aortic replacement and bypass procedures. Type V (four patients) had interposition grafts. Overall operative mortality in the Type I patients was 3.6% (stroke) and in the type II–IV 4%. All of the latter followed operation for aneurysm rupture and there were no elective deaths. Three months to 11 years after operation four patients (5%) developed fatal progression of the disease and seven (8.9) non fatal disease progression of whom three required surgical intervention. Nineteen of 22 with renovascular hypertension were improved or cured. In conclusion 60% of the patients referred were amenable to surgery and had an acceptable perioperative morbidity. It would appear that surgery can significantly influence the natural history of the disease.