[Mycotic Aneurysm of Distal Aortic Arch, after Total Arch Replacement with Open-stent Graft;Report of a Case].

The patient was a 72-year-old man, who had undergone total arch replacement with an open-stent graft due to saccular aneurysm of distal arch, 2 years before. He was admitted to a local hospital with the complaint of high fever, and was diagnosed as having pyothorax, after computed tomography (CT) scanning. After transferred to our hospital, he was treated by drainage, and antibiotic therapy. But CT scans showed the enlargement of distal arch aneurysm, and migration of the stent graft. Urgent operation was performed. We approached to the site by a full sternotomy, and left anterolateral thoracotomy. Segment 1+2 of the left lung was resected to avoid bleeding and lung injury. Graft replacement of distal arch and descending aorta was performed on cardiopulmonary bypass, with hypothermia, selective brain perfusion and systemic circulatory arrest. To protect from recurrence of infection, the omental flap was transposed to the graft site. Until now, there is no recurrence of infection.

[Discrete type subaortic stenosis disclosed by hemolytic anemia after aortic and mitral valve replacement].

We report a case of discrete type subaortic stenosis disclosed by hemolytic anemia 7 years after aortic and mitral prosthetic valve replacement. A 53-year-old female complained of general fatigue, dyspnea, macrohematuria and hemolysis. She had undergone aortic valve replacement for non-coronary cusp perforation 15 years before, and mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty 7 years before. Echocardiography showed mitral prosthetic valve regurgitation (III/IV degree) and symptomatic hemolysis might be caused by accelerated blood flow through the prosthetic valve. A mild aortic stenosis (peak flow verocity:3.73 m/s) was also pointed out. The redo double valve replacement was performed. Intraoperative findings showed discrete type subaortic stenosis due to extensive pannus formation, but that the previously implanted prosthetic valves were intact. The blood flow biased by the interference of the subaortic stenosis might have obstructed closure of the mitral prosthetic valve and caused mitral regurgitation. Postoperatively, hemolysis and mitral regurgitation were diminished, and aortic stenosis was improved.

[Successful management of aorto-esophageal fistula, using staged 3 times operation].

A 66-year-old man, presented with hematemesis and hemorrhagic shock, was transported to our institution. Computed tomographic examination suggested a pseudo-aneurysm formed by bleeding from aorto-esophageal fistula( AEF). We planned staged operations. At first, in an emergent operation, graft replacement of descending aorta, was performed under partial cardiopulmonary bypass, by left thoracotomy approach. AEF was 5 mm in diameter, and existed inside of normal-diameter and non-aneurysmal aortic intima. AEF orifice into pseudo-aneurysm was closed with aortic wall and was sutured tightly. Next day, gastrointestinal fiberscopy was performed, and penetrating ulcer was found at lower esophagus.To prevent infective complications, the 2nd operation, subtotal esophagectomy, cervical esophagostomy, gastrostomy and tube ileostomy were performed by right thoracotomy approach. Post- operative course was uneventful. Two months later, 3rd operation, cervical esophago-gastric anastomosis was performed, uneventfully. Two years and four months elapsed, and no evidences of infection and formation of pseudo-aneurysm were observed.

[Successful postoperative percutaneous cardiopulmonary support( PCPS) for the right-heart failure in a patient with recurrent mitral valve stenosis and a calcified left atrium; report of a case].

A 79-year-old female underwent open mitral commissurotomy and thrombectomy for mitral valve stenosis and thrombus in the left atrium 21 years ago. She was admitted for congestive heart failure because of recurrent mitral valve stenosis. Cardiac echocardiography showed severe mitral valve stenosis and the calcification of the left atrium wall. We performed mitral valve replacement and removal of thrombus calcification in the left atrium. Cardiopulmonary bypass was weaned successfully. In the intensive care unit, her blood pressure (BP) dropped, central venous pressure (CVP) increased, and urine volume decreased. Cardiac echocardiography revealed functional deterioration and dilatation of the right ventricle. As medical therapy was not effective, percutaneous cardiopulmonary support(PCPS)was established through the femoral artery and vein. Then her BP increased, CVP decreased, and the right ventricular function and the dilatation improved. PCPS was removed after 3 days, and the respirator on the 13th postoperative day. She moved out of the intensive care unit on the 24th postoperative day.

[Ventricular septal rupture and right ventricular free wall rupture after acute myocardial infarction].

Cardiac rupture is a catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction with highly mortality rate. Three types of rupture are ventricular free wall rupture( VFR), ventricular septal rupture( VSR), and papillary muscle rupture( PMR). A combination of any 2 types of rupture is called ventricular double rupture (VDR), and very rare. We report a case of VDR (VSR and VFR) after acute myocardial infarction. A 76-year-old female with heart failure was admitted to our hospital. Echocardiography showed an apical VSR and pericardial effusion. She was diagnosed with VDR and emergent operation was performed. During operation, the site of VFR was right ventricle, which was the same infarction area of VSR. VSR was closed by infarction exclusion technique, concurrently excluding the site of VFR. VFR was successfully repaired by mattress sutures. Post-operative course was good without heart failure, though residual shunt was remained. The patient survived and was discharged from our hospital.

[Giant pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta following the aortic valve replacement;report of a case].

56-year-old male, who had undergone re-aortic valve replacement (AVR) 33 years ago, received preoperative study for pancreatic surgery. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a giant pseudoaneurysm (7 cm diameter) of the ascending aorta. The ascending aorta was not dilated. A midline skin incision was performed, followed by full sternotomy. A tight pericardial adhesion was carefully dissected. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established by femoral arterial and bicaval venous cannulation. The pseudoaneurysm was incised under the retrograde cardioplegic protection. A communication between ascending aorta and aneurysm was found 1 cm distal to the previous aortic suture line. This communication coincided with the cardioplegic root cannulation site. The aortic prosthetic valve was intact. The ascending aorta was replaced with 26 mm prosthetic graft. Postoperative course was uneventful. In this case, CT was useful to select the approach to the complicated postoperative surgical site.

[Y-graft replacement with left renal artery reconstruction for acute aortic dissection type B].

A 56-year-old male was admitted to our hospital for acute type B aortic dissection. He received conservative therapy but follow-up computed tomography (CT) revealed a low-enhanced left kidney and severe stenosis of the left common iliac artery due to the expansion of the false lumen. Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine increased and renovascular hypertension worsened with severe intermittent claudication of the left leg. We performed Y-graft replacement with reconstruction of the left renal artery. Postoperative CT showed a well-enhanced left kidney and no stenosis of the left common iliac artery. Intermittent claudication and renal dysfunction improved and his hypertension became controllable. He was discharged on the 17th postoperative day.

[New technique of concomitant replacement of the aortic valve and the ascending aorta with enlargement of the aortic annulus for congenital bicuspid aortic valve].

Congenital bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is one of the most common congenital heart diseases, with a high incidence of associated valvular lesions and aortic abnormalities including aortic stenosis( AS), aortic regurgitation, aortic dilatation, and aortic dissection. Patients with BAV and AS often have a small aortic annulus. We encountered a case of BAV in which a 51-year-old woman with severe AS having a small aortic annulus and a dilated ascending aorta required surgical intervention. We performed the surgery using new technique that involved concomitant replacement of the aortic valve and the ascending aorta with enlargement of the aortic annulus using a single uniquely-shaped graft to avoid prosthesis patient mismatch. We trimmed the proximal end of the straight graft in shape of 2 teardrops hanging on it to fit the cut annulus. It requires only a single suture line to replace the ascending aorta and enlarge the aortic annulus, which entails a decreased risk of bleeding during surgery. We believe that it could be applicable to many cases requiring concomitant surgery.

[Management of a lung tumor accompanied by aortic dissection; report of a case].

During an annual health check-up, a 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital due to an abnormal shadow in the left upper lung field. A computed tomography (CT) scan taken at his 1st hospital visit showed a calcified nodule in the left upper lobe and Stanford type A aortic dissection. We could not perform bronchofiberscopy due to the risk associated with the aortic dissection and could not make a diagnosis prior to surgery. Because of the possibility of lung cancer, surgery for the lung tumor and aortic dissection was performed. The pathological diagnosis of the lung tumor was a hematoma. In a case of suspicion of lung cancer along with cardiovascular disease, a surgical diagnosis might be considered.

Congenital unicuspid aortic valve stenosis in siblings.

We reported the case of unicuspid aortic valve in sibling, suggesting the familial incidence and genetic relation. A 41-year-old man (elder brother) with 79 mmHg of aortic valvular peak pressure gradient (peak PG) underwent aortic valve replacement with mechanical prosthetic valve (ATS 21 mm). The intraoperative finding showed the unicuspid aortic valve with one rudimentary commissure. A 37-year-old woman (sister) had been followed by echocardiography as bicuspid aortic valve since 10 years old. After 27 years, the peak PG had increased to 176 mmHg on preoperative echocardiography. The aortic valve replacement was performed. The bioprosthetic valve (MOSAIC 21 mm) was implanted supra-annularly because the patient required pregnancy. The intraoperative finding showed the unicuspid aortic valve with two rudimentary commissures and one opening of LCC-RCC commissure. The histopathological study of both patients confirmed as congenitally unicuspid aortic valve. In our best knowledge, this is a first report of unicuspid aortic valve in sibling.

Adventitial cystic disease of the popliteal artery.

We describe a patient with adventitial cystic disease of the popliteal artery with intermittent claudication involving the right calf during exercise. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) revealed a cystic lesion that encircled and compressed the popliteal artery. Resection of the cyst involving a segment of the affected popliteal artery and interposing an autologous vein graft resolved the symptoms, and the postoperative course was uneventful. The cyst was histologically similar to a ganglion.