The extent of aortic resection for aortic dissection is still debated. Although the resection and replacement of the aortic tract involved by the intimal tear remains the gold standard treatment, the fate and the evolution of the distal false lumen are hardly predictable. In recent years, several techniques and devices have been introduced to reduce the patency of the false lumen with consequent improvement of the positive remodeling of the true lumen, allowing the surgeon to perform a surgical strategy that is the most patient-tailored possible. This chapter aims to discuss hybrid strategies and new devices with related surgical techniques, with a brief literature review, to suggest a management protocol fitting each clinical and anatomical scenario.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a prosthetic and native aorta proximal landing zone (PLZ) for hybrid thoracic aorta repair with a stent graft deployed in the Zone 0 ascending aorta. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 100 patients who underwent Zone 0 hybrid thoracic aorta repair between 2005 and 2022, at a single institution. Fifty-eight (58%) had a Dacron PLZ (ascending aorta replacement with debranching), and forty-two (42%) had a native ascending aorta PLZ (off-pump aortic arch debranching). All the surviving patients had at least one radiological follow-up. Results: Patients with a native aorta PLZ were older (p = 0.01) and had higher rates of pulmonary disease (p = 0.01) and chronic kidney disease (p = 0.01) and a higher Logistic EUROscore (p = 0.02). In-hospital mortality was similar between the two groups (2.3% vs. 1.7%; p = 0.68). Retrograde aortic dissection was observed in four (9.2%) of the native PLZ group. The mean follow-up was 37 ± 22 months in the Dacron PLZ group and 42 ± 20 months in the native PLZ group (p = 0.05). At 1,3, and 5 years, freedom from Type Ia endoleak was significantly higher in patients with a Dacron PLZ: 100% vs. 96 ± 0.3%, 100% vs. 85 ± 1%, and 100% vs. 66 ± 1.3% (p = 0.03). Despite this, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival was similar between groups: 100% vs. 96 ± 0.4%, 90 ± 1% vs. 89 ± 0.6%, and 66 ± 1% vs. 64 ± 2%. (p = 0.96). Conclusions: Endograft deployment in a prosthetic ascending aorta is a safe and durable option for aortic repair. A Dacron PLZ is associated with a lower rate of Type Ia endoleak and can prevent retrograde aortic dissection when compared with native aorta.