Cardiac Remodelling Following Endovascular Repair of the Aorta

Cardiac Remodelling Following Endovascular Repair of the Aorta

To assess the effects of endovascular aortic repair on cardiac morphology and function

After being informed about the study and potential risks, all patients giving written informed consent will undergo a pre-surgery evaluation: clinical evaluation, blood sampling, CT-scan, echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance.

The same evaluation will be performed at 6- and 12-months post-surgery.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Patients over 18-year-old, with degenerative arch, descending thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysms, penetrating aortic ulcers or intramural hematomas managed with total EVAR in elective setting.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Heart failure with an ejection fraction <35 vs 50% or New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III and IV.
• LV wall motion abnormality.
• Moderate to severe valve disease.
• History of (or expected within the study period) cardiac/aortic surgery.
• Coronary artery disease.
• Atrial fibrillation.
• Congenital heart disease.
• Connective tissue disorders.
• Chronic kidney disease (eGFR <30 mL/min/173 m2).
• Moderate to severe pulmonary disease as indicate either by post bronchodilator FEV1 (%predicted) <50% or Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnoea Scale (mMRC) 3-4.
• CMR contraindications (non-compatible pacemakers and metal implants, and claustrophobia).