Transapical cannulation for surgical repair of chronic type B aortic dissection.

Open surgery for chronic type B aortic dissection has been shown to have considerable risks of cerebrovascular complications. Because retrograde perfusion is a potential cause of intraoperative cerebrovascular events, we report our transapical cannulation strategy for descending aorta replacement in chronic type B aortic dissection repair with circulatory arrest. This technique provides an easy and quick establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass by way of a left thoracotomy, and prevention of cerebrovascular event. Transapical cannula can be also used as a vent to ensure a bloodless field during proximal anastomosis and to prevent extension of left ventricle during rewarming. Transapical cannulation is a useful option in open repair of the descending aorta for chronic type B aortic dissection by way of left thoracotomy.

Optimal results of aortic valve replacement with small mechanical valves (< 19 mm).

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Controversy exists regarding the optimal operative method or type of prosthesis for patients with a small aortic root. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the early and mid-term outcomes of standard aortic valve replacement (AVR) using 16 mm or 18 mm ATS Advanced Performance (AP) or 17 mm St. Jude Medical (SJM) Regent valves for a small aortic root. METHODS: Between April 2003 and August 2009, 78 patients (age range: 50-86 years; 86% aged > or = 65 years) underwent AVR with 16 mm or 18 mm ATS AP valves (16AP group: n = 21, 18AP group: n = 32), or a 17 mm SJM Regent valve (17Regent group: n = 25). Fifty-six patients (72%) had a body surface area (BSA) of < 1.5 m2; the BSA in the 16AP group was significantly smaller than in the other two groups. The early and mid-term outcomes, and the hemodynamic performance of the prostheses, were evaluated and compared among the groups. RESULTS: No operative deaths were observed in the 16AP and 17Regent groups, but one hospital death occurred in the 18AP group. During follow up, there were four cardiac-related deaths (two patients each in the 16AP and 18AP groups). Although the postoperative pressure gradient of the 16AP group was significantly higher than that of the 18AP group, the left ventricular mass in all groups was decreased significantly during follow up, but the extent of left ventricular mass regression was similar among the groups (-30%, -25% and -28% in the 16AP, 17Regent and 18AP groups, respectively; p = 0.844). CONCLUSION: The early and mid-term results of AVR with 16 mm or 18 mm ATS AP valves, or with a 17 mm SJM Regent valve, were satisfactory. Therefore, standard AVR using these small mechanical prostheses, which avoids the need to enlarge the annulus or to conduct stentless bioprosthesis implantation, might represent an acceptable method, especially in elderly patients with a small aortic root.

Left atrial appendage rupture: A rare complication of right-sided haemothorax: A case report.

Cardiac injury accounts for less than 10 % of all traumas and it is a fatal condition associated with cardiac tamponade or massive haemothorax, which requires immediate intervention, such as resuscitative thoracotomy. However, in case of haemothorax without the findings suggestive of cardiac damage such as pericardial effusion, it is difficult to determine the complications of cardiac injury, because injury of the lung or intercostal arteries is usually considered first. We describe a rare case of left atrial appendage rupture with a right-sided massive haemothorax with slight cardiac effusion. A 47-year-old man with no significant medical history was transferred to our emergency department after crashing his motorcycle into a car. A right resuscitative thoracotomy for massive haemothorax was performed, followed by hilarious clamping and pericardial drainage. We found continuous bleeding from a right dorsal pericardial injury which indicated cardiac injury. Soon after the patient was referred to the operating room, left atrial appendage rupture was found, and ligated. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on 15th postoperative day without complication. Left atrial appendage rupture is caused by a direct external force to the left atrium, so the pericardial injury is usually ipsilateral to the left side of the pericardium, resulting in perforation of the left thoracic cavity. Therefore, left atrial appendage rupture with a right-sided massive haemothorax is rare. In addition, when a cardiac injury is associated with a pericardial injury, most of the pericardial effusion drains into the thoracic cavity, resulting in a small amount of pericardial effusion, which make it difficult to recognize the cardiac injury. In conclusion, in blunt trauma, even in the case of a right-sided haemothorax, the possibility of cardiac injury in addition to pulmonary contusion should be considered and explored, because cardiac injury could be fatal.

Simple supra-annular prosthesis insertion for dialysis patients with extensive mitral annular calcification.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Mitral annular calcification (MAC) occurs mainly at the posterior half of the annulus, and is often seen in dialysis-dependent patients who have a high risk for cardiac surgery. A simple supra-annular prosthesis insertion ('half-and-half') technique was applied to five dialysis patients with extensive MAC to prevent catastrophic complications. METHODS: Five dialysis patients with extensive MAC underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) using the 'half-and-half' technique. In all patients, everted mattress sutures were anchored to the left atrial wall just around the posterior half of the calcified annulus with minimum debridement, while horizontal mattress sutures were placed from the left ventricular side to the left atrial side on the non-calcified anterior half of the annulus. In one patient with an entirely calcified annulus who underwent double valve replacement, the anterior MAC was removed through the aorta to enable mitral valve sutures to be placed on the annulus. St. Jude Medical (SJM) valves were secured in the supra-annular position in all patients. RESULTS: No valve dysfunction was observed in any patient. Among the four hospital survivors, there were no valve-related events, except for a trivial paravalvular leak in one patient, during follow up periods ranging from 11 to 33 months. CONCLUSION: This simple supra-annular prosthesis insertion technique was safely and easily performed with minimum debridement of the calcified annulus in five dialysis patients. The technique may represent an alternative approach for high-risk patients with extensive MAC. The SJM valve, with its hinge protruding into the atrial side, is suitable for use in this technique.

Aortic valve aneurysm associated with infective endocarditis: case report and review of literature.

Although there are several mitral valve aneurysm reports, studies on aortic valve aneurysm are extremely rare. This paper describes an uncommon case of a large saccular aortic valve aneurysm associated with infective endocarditis. A 37-year-old man was hospitalized in our hospital with fever and dyspnea. Echocardiography found severe aortic regurgitation and aortic valve aneurysm of the non-coronary cusp going in and out of the left ventricular chamber. Blood cultures grew Streptococcus viridance. Therefore, the patient underwent aortic valve replacement. During the operation, we observed a 30 × 20 mm ruptured aneurysm that arose from the non-coronary cusp. The aortic valve containing the aneurysm was resected and replaced with a mechanical heart valve. Histopathological examination of the aortic valve aneurysm showed active inflammatory changes. Infective endocarditis was considered to be the cause of this aortic valve aneurysm.

A Case of Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation after Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair.

I report a hemorrhagic complication due to disseminated intravascular coagulation after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for a dissecting aortic aneurysm. A 74-year-old man underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair and carotid-carotid artery bypass to close the primary entry site of the dissecting aortic aneurysm. Postoperatively, he developed a gradually expanding cervical hematoma. Laboratory data showed disseminated intravascular coagulation. He could not extubated until postoperative day 6 because of the risk of airway obstruction. He was treated with transfusion to replenish the coagulation factor. Disseminated intravascular coagulation may occur secondary to thrombus formation in the false lumen after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Endovascular repair of ruptured aberrant left subclavian artery with right aortic arch.

Association of a right-sided aortic arch with an aberrant left subclavian artery is rare. We present a case of successful endovascular repair of a ruptured Kommerell diverticulum associated with a right-sided aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery. We treated a 47-year-old woman with a diagnosis of ruptured aberrant left subclavian artery with thoracic endovascular stent-grafts. The descending aorta above Kommerell diverticulum was a reverse-tapered configuration. We managed the rather hostile neck with an extra-large Palmaz stent. A left carotid-to-subclavian bypass with an 8-mm Dacron graft was also performed to restore left arm perfusion and prevent vertebrobasilar insufficiency.

Thrombus in the distal aortic arch after apicoaortic conduit for severe aortic stenosis.

We report an uncommon case of thrombogenesis in the distal aortic arch after apicoaortic conduit (AAC) for severe aortic stenosis (AS). A 71-year-old woman underwent AAC with a bioprosthetic valve for severe AS because of heavy calcification of the ascending aorta. Although anticoagulant therapy with warfarin was performed, a postoperative computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed a thrombus in the distal aortic arch. Cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed stagnation of the blood flow at that site. Administration of warfarin was continued. A follow-up CT-scan showed a marked reduction of the thrombus at six months after the surgery. A follow-up MRI revealed that the antegrade flow through the native aortic valve was decreased at one year after the surgery. We suggest that thrombogenesis may occur after AAC because of stagnation of the blood flow and that the distribution of the blood flow may change during the follow-up period. Therefore, we recommend that postoperative anticoagulant therapy should be initiated immediately, even when a bioprosthetic valve is used.

Closed cardiopulmonary bypass circuits suppress thrombin generation during coronary artery bypass grafting.

Thrombin generation is considered unavoidable during cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We compared the effects of open and closed circuits on coagulation and fibrinolysis under identical conditions of priming volume, heparin-coating, and anticoagulation and transfusion protocols. Thirty coronary surgery patients were randomized to surgery using open circuits with open reservoirs and cardiotomy suction (open group, n=15) or closed circuits without either (closed group, n=15). In the closed group, a cell-saving device was used instead of cardiotomy suction. Blood samples were collected at eight time points from before the operation to the first postoperative morning. Thrombin-antithrombin III (TAT), fibrinogen degradation products, and D-dimer were not elevated during CPB in the closed group, but were significantly increased in the open group (P<0.0001 for all markers). The peak TAT value at the termination of CPB in the open group was significantly correlated with CPB time (r(2)=0.879, P=0.037) and the simultaneous peak D-dimer value (r(2)=0.640, P=0.040). In conclusion, the use of closed circuits maximally suppressed thrombin generation and coagulofibrinolytic activation during coronary artery bypass grafting. The respective contribution of open reservoirs and cardiotomy suction to the perioperative thrombin generation remains to be elucidated.