Visualizing the invisible: aortopulmonary window diagnosis enhanced by 3D computer graphics.

An aortopulmonary window is a rare disorder that occurs in 0.1­0.2% of all congenital disorders. Our patient was a 1-month-old boy weighing 4180 g. The patient had heart failure associated with an aortopulmonary window. We used 3-dimensional computer graphic software (Viewtify, SCIEMENT) for diagnosis based on DICOM data from contrast-enhanced computed tomography. This made it easy to identify anatomical landmarks and findings and select the most suitable approach. We avoided stenosis of the right pulmonary artery and aorta. We encountered a case of an aortopulmonary window in which 3-dimensional computer graphic software was helpful in selecting the surgical technique. We report this case using 3-dimensional computer graphic images and present a review of the literature.

[Surgical Treatment of Aortic Stenosis Combined with Bilateral Pheochromocytomas in a Dialysis Patient].

We report a case of a dialysis patient with severe aortic stenosis(AS) along with bilateral pheochromocytomas. A 52-year-old man presented with syncope and was diagnosed with severe AS. Although aortic valve replacement(AVR) was scheduled, bilateral pheochromocytomas were found during preoperative examination. There was a high possibility of developing hemodynamical crisis during AVR, and we planned to perform adrenalectomy prior to AVR. To avoid circulatory collapse just after adrenalectomy, balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) was performed beforehand. Two weeks after the adrenalectomy, AVR was performed in a stable condition.

[Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Caused by a Sodium-glucose Co-transporter (SGLT) 2 Inhibitor after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting].

A 65-year-old woman with type Ⅱ diabetes and unstable angina presented with chest pain due to in-stent restenosis. Her regular medication comprised an sodium-glucose co-transporter( SGLT) 2 inhibitor. Because of unstable hemodynamic status, semi-emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was performed. Postoperatively, the cardiac and hemodynamic status stabilized, but there was progression of metabolic acidosis. Based on the presence of massive urinary ketone bodies without hyper glycosuria, the patient was diagnosed with euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis( DKA) caused by an SGLT2 inhibitor. Ketoacidosis without elevated blood glucose( i.e., euglycemic DKA) has been reported to be associated with intake of an SGLT2 inhibitor, which promoted glucose excretion in the urine. Our patient developed euglycemic DKA due to the progression of myocardial ischemia and surgical stress. Guidelines in other countries have stipulated that SGLT2 inhibitor should be stopped 24 hours preoperatively. In our case, euglycemic DKA occurred even when the SGLT2 inhibitor was stopped for more than 24 hours preoperatively. Further studies on the withdrawal of an SGLT2 inhibitor in the appropriate perioperative period are required.