Hemolytic anemia caused by an excessively kinked prosthetic graft after total arch replacement detected by 4-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging: A case report.

RATIONALE: Hemolytic anemia is a rare postoperative complication of aortic surgery, which may be caused by an excessively kinked graft that causes abnormal blood flow. It has been reported that 4-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) can identify abnormal flow. Herein, we report the guidance of 4D flow MRI in performing the revision procedure for a patient with hemolytic anemia by evaluating abnormal blood flow based on this method. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 70-year-old woman presented with dizziness and fatigue. She had undergone total arch replacement with a frozen elephant trunk 5 years prior. We diagnosed hemolytic anemia caused by a kinked graft after total arch replacement. DIAGNOSIS: Although computed tomography findings revealed 3 lesions of the kinked graft at the ascending portion and cervical branches, 4D flow MRI findings showed that only the kinked graft at the ascending portion caused hemolytic anemia due to an elevated viscous energy loss around it. INTERVENTION: We performed surgery to remove the kinked section instead of revision surgery consisting of total arch replacement. OUTCOMES: The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and there were no complications. Postoperative enhanced computed tomography findings showed that the repaired graft had an adequate length and smoothly curved shape. The 4D flow MRI findings revealed smooth flow in the ascending portion and decreased viscous energy loss. LESSONS: Based on the 4D flow MRI findings, we adopted a less invasive approach, repairing only the ascending portion of the graft, instead of performing revision surgery comprising total arch replacement.

[Right Coronary Ostial Aneurysm after Modified Bentall Procedure with Carrel Patch Technique in a Patient with Marfan Syndrome:Report of a Case].

A 58-year-old man with Marfan syndrome visited our clinic for a routine examination. He had undergone a modified Bentall procedure with Carrel patch technique for annuloaortic ectasia 15 years previously. Computed tomography revealed an aneurysm of 43×57 mm in diameter at the right coronary ostium. He underwent resection of the aneurysm and coronary reconstruction using Piehler technique. He was discharged on the 37th postoperative day when his renal function recovered. Although the modified Bentall procedure may improve the surgical outcome, long-term follow-up is important because of various postoperative anastomotic complications in patients with Marfan syndrome.

Preoperative Serum GDF-15, Endothelin-1 Levels, and Intraoperative Factors as Short-Term Operative Risks for Patients Undergoing Cardiovascular Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk score is widely used for the risk assessment of cardiac surgery. Serum biomarkers such as growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) are also used to evaluate risk. We investigated the relationships between preoperative serum GDF-15, ET-1 levels, and intraoperative factors and short-term operative risks including acute kidney injury (AKI) for patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. METHODS: In total, 145 patients were included in this study (92 males and 53 females, age 68.4 ± 13.2 years). The preoperative STS score was determined, and the serum GDF-15 and ET-1 levels were measured by ELISA. These were related to postoperative risks, including AKI, defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) classification criteria. RESULTS: AKI developed in 23% of patients. The GDF-15 and ET-1 levels correlated with the STS score. The STS score and GDF-15 and ET-1 levels all correlated with preoperative eGFR, Alb, Hb, and BNP levels; perioperative data (urine output); ICU stay period; and postoperative admission days. Patients with AKI had longer circulatory pulmonary bypass (CPB) time, and male patients with AKI had higher ET-1 levels than those without AKI. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the preoperative ET-1 level and CPB time were the independent determinants of AKI, even adjusted by age, sex, and BMI. The preoperative GDF-15 level, CPB time, and RCC transfusion were independent determinants of 30-day mortality plus morbidity. CONCLUSION: Preoperative GDF-15 and ET-1 levels as well as intraoperative factors such as CPB time may be helpful to identify short-term operative risks for patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery.