[Giant Anastomotic Aneurysm Associated with Albumin/Glutaraldehyde Sealant as a Late Complication after Acute Aortic Dissection Surgery:Report of a Case].

A 74-year-old woman was taken to our hospital with a chief complaint of chest and back pain. She was diagnosed with Stanford type A acute aortic dissection and underwent ascending aortic replacement. Fifteen months after surgery, a giant anastomotic aneurysm was found at the proximal and distal anastomoses on chest computed tomography (CT), and reoperation was indicated. Following sternal re-entry, anastomotic dehiscence was found where BioGlue, albumin/glutaraldehyde sealant, had been applied during the previous surgery, and caused aneurysm. Severe postoperative adhesion precluded extensive surgery, and redo replacement of the ascending aorta was carried out. Histopathological examination revealed extensive necrosis of smooth muscle cells in the aortic wall at the anastomotic site and a marked inflammatory cell infiltration around the aortic wall and the artificial graft, and association of BioGlue use was suggested. The use of appropriate tissue adhesives to reinforce the dissected aortic wall is important, as well as careful long-term follow-up.

[Early Structural Valve Deterioration of Third-generation Biological Prosthesis].

The third-generation Trifecta valve, Trifecta GT, has been used in Japan since 2012. The Trifecta GT is characterized by the external leaflet mounting, which increases the effective valve opening area and provide excellent hemodynamics. Lehmann et al. reported a good 8-year avoidance rate of 93.3% for structural valve deterioration( SVD) in 1,241 patients. There are three main causes of SVD after valve replacement using bioprostheses:pannus formation in the left ventricular outflow tract, calcification of the valve leaflets, and noncalcified leaflet tears. Goldman et al. reported 11 SVDs in 710 patients who underwent surgical implantation of Trifecta valve, 10 of which were due to calcification of the valve leaflets and only one of which was due to noncalcified leaflet tears. Herein, we report four cases of early SVD due to noncalcified leaflet tears after valve implantation using the Trifecta GT.

[A Giant Papillary Fibroelastoma in the Right Ventricle].

Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) accounts for approximately 8% of benign primary cardiac tumors. PFE frequently develops in the left heart system, such as the aortic valve and the mitral valve. We report a case of a giant PFE in the right ventricle. The patient was an 83-year-old woman with a history of chronic atrial fibrillation, diabetes, and hypertension. She had experienced palpitation and shortness of breath for several years. A giant mobile tumor was observed in the right ventricle by transthoracic echocardiography, and its extirpation was performed. Intraoperatively, a giant tumor of 3 cm in diameter was observed on the right ventricular side of the posterior tricuspid leaflet. As the tumor strongly adhered to the tendinous cords, it was unavoidable to resect the tendinous cords. Thus, a tricuspid valve repair was performed in addition to the tumor extirpation. The patient was diagnosed with papillary fibroelastoma by pathological examination.

Successful management of severe unilateral re-expansion pulmonary edema after mitral valve repair with mini-thoracotomy using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

A 60-year-old man received mitral valve repair via right mini-thoracotomy, which was followed by unilateral re-expansion pulmonary edema on the right side and severe hemoptysis just after the surgery. Despite differential lung ventilation with unilateral high positive end expiratory pressure was initiated for the affected right lung, respiratory function did not improved and hemodynamics was collapsed in the next day. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated by cannulation of the right jugular and the left femoral vein. After pulmonary function recovered gradually, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was terminated on the fifth postoperative day. He was discharged in ambulatory condition on postoperative day 52.

[MINIMALLY INVASIVE CARDIAC SURGERY IN JAPAN: INTRODUCTION].

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS), first introduced in the 1990s, was originally performed via partial sternotomy, the subxyphoid approach, and right anterolateral thoracotomy. Over the past 20 years, MICS procedures have progressed from mere alternatives to standard full sternotomy to endoscope-assisted and then to totally endoscopic open-heart procedures. MICS has gained popularity among surgeons and patients; without sacrificing the safety level and durability of cardiac procedures equivalent to median sternotomy, refinement of MICS technologies has resulted in a decrease in length of hospital stay, less postoperative pain, faster patient recovery, and faster return to activities of normal daily living. Such refinements were achieved not only by the tireless efforts of surgical pioneers but also by the introduction of surgical instruments and endoscopic technologies as well as various, techniques for peripheral cardiopulmonary bypass. On the other hand, an increase in the number of interventions in structural heart diseases such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation, MitraClip percutaneous mitral valve repair therapy, and closure of atrial septal defect is a motivation for further improvement of MICS technologies to enhance safety, durability, and reproducibility.

[MITRAL VALVE REPAIR WITH MINIMALLY INVASIVE CARDIAC SURGERY APPROACH AS ROUTINE PRACTICE].

Although minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) via right minithoracotomy is attracting attention as a minimally invasive approach in cardiac surgery, it has not become a standard, routine approach for mitral valve repair. Although it has spread rapidly in Germany (43%) and USA (20.4%), the proportion of MICS in isolated mitral valve repair still comprises only 15.6% of mitral valve repair surgeries in Japan. For safe, assured introduction of MICS as a routine approach under quality control for good surgical and mid- and long-term results, surgeons experienced in mitral valve repair who perform at least 10 mitral valve repairs per year are necessary. A team approach with surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, and nurses who are highly motivated is also important.

Relationship between the efficacy of oral antidiabetic drugs and clinical features in type 2 diabetic patients (JDDM38).

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: We carried out an observational cohort study to examine the relationship between the efficacy of oral antidiabetic drugs and clinical features in type 2 diabetics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the CoDiC(®) database of the Japan Diabetes Data Management Study Group across 67 institutions in Japan. In a total of 3,698 drug-naïve patients who were initiated with metformin, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) or sulfonylurea (SU) from 2007 to 2012, we evaluated body mass index (BMI) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The patients were stratified according to their clinical features, and matched using a propensity score to adjust for baseline factors. RESULTS: HbA1c was reduced with all drugs, with the largest effect elicited by DPP-4i and the smallest by SU (P = 0.00). HbA1c increased with SU after 6 months in the patients stratified by an age-of-onset of <50 years (P = 0.00). BMI increased with SU in the patients stratified by a BMI of <25 (P = 0.00), and decreased with metformin in the patients with a BMI >25 (P = 0.00). The reduction in HbA1c was larger in patients with HbA1c of ≥8%, compared with that in patients with HbA1c of <8% (P = 0.00). HbA1c during the study period was higher in patients who were added to or swapped with other drug(s), than in patients continued on the original drug (P = 0.00). CONCLUSIONS: The effect on bodyweight and glycemic control differed among metformin, DPP-4i and SU, and the difference was associated with clinical features.

Periodic Protrusion of Right Coronary Cusp into Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Due to Detachment from the Aortic Annulus Complicated with Infective Endocarditis.

We describe the imaging of unusual dislocation of right coronary cusp into left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) due to the infective endocarditis. Although the two-dimensional echocardiography identified a protruding mass in LVOT, the three-dimensional echocardiography precisely demonstrated the spatial anatomy of the aortic root, which was confirmed by the surgical operation, implicating the usefulness of three-dimensional echocardiography in this rare anomaly.

Oral Nitrate Administration Ameliorates Cardiogenic Shock due to Eclipsed Mitral Regurgitation.

Eclipsed mitral regurgitation (MR) has been reported as transient massive functional MR caused by a sudden coaptation defect in the absence of left ventricular remodeling or epicardial coronary artery stenosis. Coronary spasm or microvascular dysfunction has been suggested to be associated with the pathogenesis. Here, we present a 68-year-old woman with eclipsed MR with cardiogenic shock ameliorated by nitrate. She was admitted for transient shock with massive functional MR. Transient MR was associated with a complete absence of mitral leaflet coaptation owing to tethering of the lateral posterior mitral leaflet. The leaflet tethering was triggered by transient myocardial ischemia around the anterolateral papillary muscle, which could have been caused by coronary spasm and/or microvascular dysfunction. During admission, she experienced similar repeated episodes, which were ameliorated by oral nitrate administration. This is the first described case of eclipsed MR with shock ameliorated by nitrate. Although eclipsed MR, a cause of life-threatening shock, is uncommon, we need to keep in mind that nitrate administration could be a treatment option even in patients with cardiogenic shock.

Heterotopic transplantation of a decellularized and recellularized whole porcine heart.

OBJECTIVES: One of the final treatments for end-stage heart failure is heart transplantation. However, a shortage of donor hearts has created a long waiting list and limited benefits. Our ultimate goal is to create a whole beating heart fabricated on an organ scaffold for human heart transplantation. Here, we successfully performed the first transplantation using a decellularized whole porcine heart with mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS: A porcine heart was harvested following cardiac arrest induced by a high-potassium solution and stored at -80°C for 24 h. The porcine heart was completely decellularized with 1% sodium dodecyl sulphate and 1% Triton X-100 under the control of perfusion pressure (100 mmHg) and maintained at 37°C. A decellularized whole-heart scaffold was sterilized with gamma irradiation. Cultured mesenchymal stem cells were collected and either infused into the ascending aorta or injected directly into the left ventricular wall. Finally, recellularized whole-heart scaffolds were transplanted into pigs under systemic anticoagulation treatment with heparin. Coronary artery angiography of the transplanted heart graft was performed. RESULTS: In our decellularization method, all cellular components were removed, preserving the heart extracellular matrix. Heterotopic transplantations were successfully performed using a decellularized heart and a recellularized heart. The scaffolds were well perfused, without bleeding from the surface or anastomosis site. Coronary angiography revealed a patent coronary artery in both scaffolds. The transplanted decellularized heart was harvested on Day 3. Haematoxylin and eosin staining showed thrombosis in the coronary arteries and migrated inflammatory cells. Haematoxylin and eosin staining of the transplanted recellularized heart showed similar findings, with the exception of injected mesenchymal stem cells. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of heterotopic transplantation of a decellularized whole porcine heart with mesenchymal stem cells. The scaffolds endured surgical procedures. We detected short-term coronary artery perfusion in the transplanted scaffolds by angiography. Future studies should analyse the histological features of transplanted decellularized scaffolds and optimize the system for recellularization to apply this unique technology clinically.

Mitral Valve Repair via a Minithoracotomy in a Patient With Pectus Excavatum.

Cardiac surgery in patients with pectus excavatum is challenging because of the difficulty associated with achieving optimal surgical exposure and postoperative sternal fixation by using standard instruments. To solve these problems, mitral valve repair was performed via a right minithoracotomy in a 48-year-old man with severe mitral valve regurgitation and pectus excavatum. With the use of conventional median sternotomy, an optimal surgical field was difficult to achieve because of his thoracic deformity. Therefore, surgical fixation via right minithoracotomy using particular equipment was performed. Using right minithoracotomy, we could obtain an optimal surgical field better than that with median sternotomy, and the patient's mitral valve regurgitation was fixed properly. This approach provides mitral valve exposure advantages as well as cosmetic satisfaction.

Preservation of Mobility of the Posterior Mitral Leaflet After Mitral Valve Repair With Neochordae Using Loop Technique.

BACKGROUND: Recently, the loop technique has been standardized for mitral valve repair, with excellent long-term outcomes reported. This study thus analyzed whether the loop technique could preserve mitral leaflet mobility on trans-thoracic echocardiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 367 concomitant patients who underwent mitral valve repair at Keio University Hospital between January 2007 and December 2014, 304 patients had a prolapse of the posterior leaflet. Of these, 84 cases assessed on echocardiography were retrospectively analyzed for this study. These patients were divided into 4 groups based on the procedure used: (1) group L1 (n=28), loop technique alone; (2) group L2 (n=14), loop technique with resection and suture; (3) group L3 (n=33), loop technique with plication of indentation; and (4) group R (n=9), resection and suture alone. The mean postoperative mobile posterior mitral leaflet (PML) angles in groups L1 and L2 (39.3±16.0°, 37.3±16.0°) were significantly larger than those in groups L3 and R (18.8±15.7°, 15.3±15.7°), respectively (P<0.01). Ring size, age, and mobile PML angle had a statistically significant correlation with the postoperative mean mitral valve pressure gradient (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The loop technique preserved PML mobility and enabled implantation of a larger ring, resulting in a reduced mean mitral valve pressure gradient. (Circ J 2016; 80: 663-667).

Endoscopic-assisted minimally invasive resection of a papillary muscle blood cyst in an adult patient.

We describe endoscopic-assisted minimally invasive resection of a blood cyst originating from the papillary muscle that caused severe mitral regurgitation and necessitated mitral valve replacement in an active adult woman, as well as a review of the relevant literature. An endoscopic view increases the visibility of the surgical target and facilitates a precise observation of the tumour and dissection at the appropriate layer. The On-X mechanical valve was chosen for mitral valve repair to minimize thromboembolic risk. This patient additionally benefited from endoscopic-assisted right minithoracotomy in terms of both cosmetic and functional aspects.

Alternative peripheral perfusion strategies for safe cardiopulmonary bypass in atrial septal defect closure via a right minithoracotomy approach.

OBJECTIVES: In cases of cardiac surgery via a minimally invasive right minithoracotomy approach, cardiopulmonary bypass is established with peripheral arterial cannulation, frequently with a single femoral artery. Occasionally, alternative perfusion access is required to prevent perfusion site-related complications. In this study, the feasibility of alternative perfusion strategies was verified by comparing the postoperative outcomes and complications. METHODS: The records of 91 consecutive patients (68 women, 23 men; mean age 40.7 ± 16.5 years) who underwent atrial septal defect (ASD) closure via a right minithoracotomy approach between January 2009 and September 2014 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups: those with single femoral arterial access (SF group, n = 84), and those with alternative perfusion access (ALT group, n = 7, bilateral femoral arterial cannulation in 6, side-arm graft anastomosed to the femoral artery in 1). RESULTS: Femoral artery diameter was smaller in the ALT group than in the SF group (6.5 ± 0.5 vs. 7.3 ± 1.0 mm, P = 0.013). Operating time was longer in the ALT group than in the SF group (259.2 ± 54.0 vs. 208.3 ± 54.9 min, P = 0.031). One patient was converted to ascending aortic cannulation owing to high perfusion pressure. Postoperative major cardiac or cerebrovascular events, such as death, stroke, or myocardial infarction, did not occur in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Alternative perfusion access was safe in ASD closure via a right minithoracotomy approach. Precise preoperative evaluation of the iliofemoral artery is important for choosing the appropriate perfusion strategy.

Cerebral Protection During Mitral Valve Repair in a Patient With Moyamoya Syndrome.

In patients with moyamoya syndrome requiring heart surgery, the brain blood flow during the low perfusion state under cardiopulmonary bypass is a concern. We report on a successful mitral valve repair and tricuspid repair in a patient with moyamoya syndrome, performed using an integrated cerebral protection strategy with cerebral oxygen saturation monitoring, intraaortic balloon pumping, and cardiopulmonary bypass perfusion at a relatively high pressure. An integrated approach with a thorough discussion among cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and perfusionists was invaluable to protect brain perfusion in a patient with moyamoya syndrome.

Management of right atrial hemangioma in a patient with antithrombin deficiency.

Hereditary antithrombin (AT) deficiency is an autosomal dominant inheritance disorder. Patients with AT deficiency have a high risk of thromboembolism, and intraoperative cardiopulmonary bypass management is difficult. We present the case of a 53-year-old man who was diagnosed with AT deficiency and who underwent an open heart operation for a right atrial hemangioma. We administered AT-III concentrate perioperatively to maintain his AT-III level up to 80% to establish cardiopulmonary bypass and prevent thromboembolic events postoperatively. The right atrial hemangioma was successfully excised after right atriotomy. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on postoperative day 14.

Temporary extravascular shunt for reconstruction of a superior vena cava invaded by a lung tumor.

Advanced central lung cancers can invade the superior vena cava (SVC). Although the indications for resection of the vessel remain controversial, it has been suggested that it increases the long-term survival of selected patients; however, little consensus has been reached regarding the optimal method of vascular reconstruction. While the SVC is often replaced during unprotected cross-clamp, the placement of a temporary venous shunt with a view to preserve the periprocedural safety and facilitate the postoperative management seems preferable. We describe an SVC reconstruction procedure using an autologous pericardial patch and placement of a temporary extravascular shunt via a lateral thoracotomy.

Minimally invasive surgery of mitral valve (MIS-MV).

Following the revision of the therapeutic guideline of ACC/AHA in (Circulation 114:450-527, 2006), the incidence of mitral valve repair in asymptomatic patients with moderate or severe mitral valve regurgitation has increased. For mitral valve repair, the quality and outcomes as well as lower invasive procedure are important to obtain the confidence of cardiologists and ensure request of early phase operation from cardiologists. With recent innovations of technologies and the development of revolutionary techniques, minimally invasive surgery of the mitral valve (MIS-MV) has become a widespread surgical option of mitral valve repair. It is vital, however, that careful preoperative assessment, and planning of the approach and perfusion strategy are put in place to perform MIS-MV safely.