Early effects of transcatheter aortic valve replacement on cardiac sympathetic nervous function assessed by 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis.

PURPOSE: The effects of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) on cardiac sympathetic nervous (CSN) function have not been fully explored. This study aimed to investigate the early (within 2 weeks) effects of TAVR on CSN function in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) using 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy. METHODS: Of 143 consecutive patients who were scheduled to undergo TAVR, 67 (18 men; median age 86 years) were evaluated in this single-centre prospective observational study. MIBG scintigraphy was performed at baseline and 3-14 days after the TAVR procedure to evaluate the heart-mediastinum ratio (H/M) and washout rate (WR). Differences between baseline and post-TAVR MIBG parameters were analysed. MIBG parameter changes were compared with echocardiographic parameters. Furthermore, factors involved in the improvement in MIBG parameters were investigated. RESULTS: All patients successfully underwent TAVR with improved echocardiographic parameters, including aortic valve area (AVA; 0.6 cm2 vs. 1.6 cm2), peak velocity (4.5 m/s vs. 2.0 m/s), mean pressure gradient (50 mmHg vs. 9 mmHg), and left ventricular ejection fraction (56% vs. 62%) (all p < 0.001). On MIBG imaging, delayed H/M significantly increased (2.57 vs. 2.68, p < 0.001), whereas WR decreased (32.2% vs. 26.8%, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, higher baseline WR was associated with improvement in WR (> 3%). Female sex, Clinical Frailty Scale score ≤ 5, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, and baseline AVA were predictors of improvement in delayed H/M (> 0.1). Baseline AVA and E/E' were independent predictors of improvement in both WR and delayed H/M. CONCLUSIONS: The CSN function was impaired in patients with AS, as assessed using MIBG scintigraphy. WR and delayed H/M improved immediately after TAVR. Improvement in CSN function may be related to echocardiographic AS severity at baseline before TAVR.

[A Case of Aortic Graft Infection Due to Listeria monocytogenes Detected by Microarray-Based, Multiplexed, Automated Molecular Diagnosis System].

A 80-year-old man was transferred to our hospital for hemoptysis caused by erosion(perforation) of thoracic aortic stent graft infection into the airway. Blood cultures on admission detected Gram-positive rods, and a microarray-based, multiplexed, automated molecular diagnosis instrument (Verigene® system) identified Listeria spp. Although Listeria monocytogenes is rare organism of stent graft infection, we were able to start appropriate antibiotic therapy on the second hospital day due to rapid identification of bacteria. Verigene® system is considered to be useful in severe infectious diseases including stent graft infections, even if the causative organism is rare.

Two-stage hybrid repair of Kommerell diverticulum with supra-aortic debranching.

OBJECTIVES: The surgical treatment of Kommerell diverticula is associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. In the mid-2000s, hybrid aortic arch repair was developed, and the procedure has since been used to repair Kommerell diverticula. In the present study, we focused on the postoperative outcomes of two-stage hybrid repair of Kommerell diverticula that required supra-aortic debranching (type I hybrid arch repair). METHODS: From August 2010 to July 2013, a total of four patients (aged 73.5 ± 9.5 years) underwent two-stage hybrid repair (type I hybrid arch repair) for Kommerell diverticula, and their cases were retrospectively studied. All four patients had right aortic arches and aberrant left subclavian arteries. The repair procedure consisted of two stages: (1) debranching of the supra-aortic vessels via a median sternotomy; (2) exclusion of the Kommerell diverticulum by performing thoracic endovascular repair via a femoral approach and coil embolization of the orifice of the aberrant subclavian artery. RESULTS: There were no in-hospital deaths. One patient developed an acute kidney injury and required hemodialysis on postoperative day 2, although his renal function recovered within 48 hours. No strokes, paraplegia, or early aortic events were observed in our series. The mean follow-up period was 19.5 months (range, 5-47 months). All patients remained free from aortic events and endoleaks during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The early and mid-term outcomes of hybrid repair for Kommerell diverticula that require supra-aortic debranching, which are less invasive and do not involve hypothermic circulatory arrest, are acceptable. However, this procedure requires the insertion of an endograft into the ascending aorta, and careful and long-term follow-up is required to confirm its efficacy.

Endovascular repair of traumatic aortic injury using a modified, commercially available endograft to preserve aortic arch branches.

A 25-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital after being involved in a high-speed motorcycle accident. Computed tomography angiography revealed a blunt traumatic aortic injury of the lesser curvature of the distal aortic arch accompanied by splintered fractures of the seventh thoracic vertebra and left clavicle. If the pseudoaneurysm had been treated with open surgical repair, then arch replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass, which was considered to be too invasive, would have been necessary. Therefore, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was preferred as a first-line treatment to prevent pulmonary complications and hemorrhaging. Because the proximal landing zone for TEVAR was insufficient, we used a modified (fenestrated) commercially available endograft to preserve the branches of the aortic arch. Postoperative computed tomography scans confirmed that the pseudoaneurysm had been excluded without the endoleaks, and the aortic arch branches were patent. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged from the hospital to have surgery for a vertebral fracture on postoperative day 6.

Symptomatic Ipsilateral Limb Twisting Due to Extensive Rotational Re-orientation of the C3 Excluder.

INTRODUCTION: Since the introduction of the Gore C3 device, which allows level re-positioning and contralateral gate cannulation, there have been very few reported complications due to excessive readjustment attempts. A case is reported of ipsilateral limb twisting and severe stenosis caused by extensive rotational re-orientation of the C3 system during a challenging intra-operative gate catheterisation. REPORT: Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) was performed for an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. Owing to difficulties encountered during contralateral gate cannulation using a Gore C3 device, the device was re-constrained and rotated clockwise several times, which induced twisting and severe symptomatic stenosis of the ipsilateral limb. The stenosed ipsilateral limb was successfully dilated with a bare stent two days after EVAR. DISCUSSION: Ipsilateral limb twisting due to extensive rotational re-orientation of the Gore C3 Excluder may occur during challenging intra-operative gate catheterisation. Thus, in cases that require extensive rotational re-orientation of the C3 system, it is advisable to carefully inspect for ipsilateral limb twisting during surgery.

Internal Endoconduit Technique during Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

The transfemoral approach is the least invasive transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) approach, but the diameter of the iliofemoral arteries needs to exceed 5 mm. We report a case of limited access transfemoral TAVI by the "internal endoconduit technique," which is well known as a safe and effective dilatational technique for thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Subsequently, we could deliver the device without iliac artery injury and we performed transfemoral TAVI.

In Situ Graft Replacement for a Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Infected with Listeria monocytogenes after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair.

Listeria monocytogenes infection and rupture of the aneurysm sac, after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), are both rare. We report the case of an 82-year-old man who presented with a ruptured aneurysm by infection with L. monocytogenes after EVAR. We successfully treated him by in situ reconstruction with a bifurcated expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft, with partial removal of the infected stent graft. At 30 months from the reoperation, the patient was in good health at home, with no symptoms of infection, and the gallium-67-citrate single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) fusion images confirmed no fluid accumulation.

Aneurysm formation at both ends of an endograft associated with maladaptive aortic changes after endovascular aortic repair in a healthy patient.

We report a case in which saccular aneurysms formed at both ends of an endograft that exhibited maladaptive aortic changes after endovascular aortic repair in a patient without significant evidence of connective tissue disease. A 66-year old male underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for a distal aortic arch aneurysm. A follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan performed at 6 months after the TEVAR detected a small saccular aneurysm at the distal edge of the endograft. At 10 months after the TEVAR, a new large aneurysm appeared at the proximal edge of the endograft. To prevent the latter aneurysm rupturing, total arch replacement with endograft fixation was performed. A CT scan obtained at 18 months after the TEVAR demonstrated that the aneurysm at the distal edge of the endograft had progressed and so we considered reintervention. Unfortunately, the patient died of intracranial haemorrhaging before the second procedure could be carried out. A histopathological examination of the aneurysm wall did not detect any significant background factors, such as connective tissue disease, inflammation or infection. The present case involved unexpected late complications, which might have been caused by changes in the form of the aorta after TEVAR.

A case of iatrogenic subclavian artery injury successfully treated with endovascular procedures.

We report a case of a life-threatening massive hemothorax caused by iatrogenic injury of the right subclavian artery. The patient was successfully treated with placement of a covered stent. During the procedure, occlusion balloon catheters rapidly controlled the massive bleeding.

Impact of myocardial angiotensin-converting enzyme activity on coronary vascular resistance and serum brain natriuretic peptide concentration in coronary bypass surgery.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have cardioprotective effects in animals, but whether that occurs in humans is still controversial. The effect of myocardial ACE activity on coronary vascular resistance during coronary artery bypass surgery and on serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration after surgery was studied in myocardial tissue sampled from the right atrium of patients during cardiac surgery (n=20). Tissue enzyme activity (nmol/min per mg protein) was measured using a photometric technique, and the flow rate and pressure upon antegrade infusion of a crystalloid cardioplegic solution was measured for calculating the coronary vascular resistance (mmHg. ml(-1). min(-1)). Serum BNP concentration (pg/ml) was measured on days 0 and 5 after the surgery. Linear regression between tissue ACE activity and coronary vascular resistance (y = 0.46x + 0.56, r=0.85) as well as serum BNP concentration on days 0 (y = 129x + 30, r=0.59) and 5 (y = 347x + 180, r=0.73) after the surgery was significant (x: ACE activity; y: coronary vascular resistance/serum BNP concentration). The results indicate that inhibition of myocardial ACE activity might improve coronary circulation during surgery and hence, cardiac function after surgery.

An operative case of inferior vena cava stenosis due to fibrosis around permanent pacemaker leads.

A 56-year-old woman presented with general fatigue, dyspnea on exercise, and hepatomegaly subsequent to secondary implantation of a pacemaker. On admission, cardiac echo examination showed tricuspid valve regurgitation due to a migrated looped lead. At surgery, there was evidence of severe stenosis at both orifices of the superior and inferior vena cavae due to fibrous tissue around the leads. We removed the fibrous tissue, pacing leads, and generator. New leads were anchored onto the epicardium and a generator was inserted under the rectus muscle. The postoperative course was satisfactory and the symptoms disappeared.