[Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Valve Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Septic Arthritis of the Sternoclavicular Joint:Report of a Case].

A 54-year-old man with a history of atopic dermatitis was admitted to our hospital for persistent fever and multiple arthralgias unresponsive to antibiotics. On the second day of hospitalization, Staphylococcus aureus was detected in the blood culture, and debridement for presumed pyogenic arthritis was performed on the patient's bilateral wrists and right ankle joints. Echocardiography showed evidence of infective endocarditis of the aortic valve. The patient's fever persisted after drainage of multiple joint abscesses, and blood cultures remained positive. A right sternoclavicular joint abscess that had been noted on computed tomography (CT) at the time of admission had not decreased in size on repeat CT performed 10 days post-admission. After additional drainage of the sternoclavicular joint abscess on the 15th day, the patient's fever subsided, and blood culture was negative. On the 29th day, an aortic valve replacement was performed via a right anterior thoracotomy to prevent sternal osteomyelitis. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on the 35th day after valve surgery. One year after the surgery, he continues to take antibiotics, and recurrence of infection has not been observed.

[Total Arch Replacement using the Frozen Elephant Trunk for Kommerell Diverticulum with Right Aortic Arch:Report of a Case].

A 42-year-old woman with dysphagia was referred to our hospital. Computed tomography (CT) revealed Kommerell diverticulum( KD) associated with right aortic arch( RAA) and aberrant left subclavian artery (ALSCA). We performed total arch replacement (TAR) using a frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique. We ligated ALSCA at the distal portion of the KD after perfusing from a 8 mm tubular graft from left axillar artery. We inserted a FET from the ascending aorta to avoid locating the nonstented portion at the steep-angled site of RAA. Postoperatively dysphagia disappeared and CT scan showed complete exclusion of KD without leakage of the stent graft and successful reconstruction of the arch. The TAR and FET technique is an effective procedure for KD with RAA and ALSCA.

[Comparison of Three Methods of Sternal Closure after Open Heart Surgery:Analysis of 722 Cases for 11 Years].

722 patients who returned to the intensive care unit( ICU) after completing the cardiac surgery and closing the median sternotomy from Jan 2010 to Feb 2021 at our hospital were divided into 3 groups according to the different sternal closures. Sternum was fixed with 6 wires alone in group A (n=333), with 2 absorbable plates and 6 wires in group B( n=259) or with 3 titanium plates with 20 screws and 4 wires in group C (n=130). Background characteristics were not different between the 3 groups. Total number of 3 complications (postsurgical bleeding, mediastinitis and delayed cardiac tamponade) was significantly less in group B and C than group A. Among them postsurgical bleeding needed hemostasis surgery was significantly less in group C than in group A. Surgical nor hospital mortality were not significantly different in 3 groups. Postsurgical complications were significantly less when the sternum closure was fixed with plates( absorbable, not absorbable).

[Stanford Type A Acute Aortic Dissection with Acute Myocardial Infarction due to Compression of Left Main Coronary Artery:Report of a Case].

A 58-year-old man was admitted to our institution with sudden onset of hypotension and acute ischemia of left lower extremity. Electrocardiography showed ST segment elevation in leads V1~V6 and a transthoracic echocardiogram revealed antero-septal wall hypokinesis. He was given a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction caused by left main coronary artery compression due to acute aortic dissection by enhanced computed tomography. We implanted a stent in the left main coronary artery and performed right external iliac-left femoral arterial bypass under general anesthesia. We performed a conventional total arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk and mitral valve repair at day 16. His postoperative course was good. Implantation of a left main trunk stent is an effective strategy for Stanford type A acute aortic dissection with left main coronary arterial occlusion before surgical repair.

[Repeated Rupture of Infective Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm:Report of a Case].

A 79-year-old man was diagnosed with rupture of infective thoracic aortic aneurysm following septicemia caused by infective cholangitis. He underwent emergent endovascular aortic repair and discontinued antibiotics. Graft infection occurred and was treated 29 days after the first operation. He underwent emergent resection of the abscess with graft coverage using pedicled intercostal muscle flaps. Aortic re-rupture was found and treated 183 days after the second operation. He underwent emergency additional thoracic endovascular aortic repair and continued to take antibiotics again. We should continue a careful follow up.

[Papillary Fibroelastoma Arising from Chordae Tendineae of the Mitral Valve Chordae;Report of a Case].

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma is a rare primary cardiac tumor arising from any part of the endocardium. In particular, papillary fibroelastoma originating from the mitral valve chordae is very rare. A 66-year-old man was hospitalized for a left ventricular tumor. Echocardiography revealed a high echoic mass of the mitral valve chordae with grade I mitral regurgitation. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, we performed excision of the mass and the marginal chordae of the mitral valve, and decided there was no need of valvuloplasty. Pathological diagnosis indicated the tumor was papillary fibroelastoma. The postoperative course was uneventful and echocardiography showed no progression of mitral valve regurgitation.