Role of Helicopter Transfer and Cloud-Type Imaging for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection.

BACKGROUND: This study explored if long-distance transfer was safe for patients suffering from acute aortic dissection type A (AADA) and also analyzed the effectiveness of helicopter transfer and cloud-type imaging transfer systems for such patients in northern Hokkaido, Japan. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study included 112 consecutive patients who underwent emergency surgical treatment for AADA from April 2014 to September 2020. The patients were divided into two groups according to the location of referral source hospitals: the Asahikawa city group (group A, n = 49) and the out-of-the-city group (group O, n = 63). Use of helicopter transfer (n = 13) and cloud-type telemedicine (n = 20) in group O were reviewed as subanalyses.Transfer distance differed between groups (4.2 ± 3.5 km in group A vs 107.3 ± 69.2 km in group O; p = 0.0001), but 30-day mortality (10.2% in group A vs 7.9% in group O; p = 0.676) and hospital mortality (12.2% in group A vs 9.5% in group O; p = 0.687) did not differ. Operative outcomes did not differ with or without helicopter and cloud-type telemedicine, but diagnosis-to-operation time was shorter with helicopter (240.0 ± 70.8 vs 320.0 ± 78.5 minutes; p = 0.031) and telemedicine (242.0 ± 75.2 vs 319.0 ± 83.8 minutes; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: We found that long-distance transfer did not impair surgical outcomes in AADA patients, and both helicopter transfer and cloud-type telemedicine system could contribute to the reduction of diagnosis-to-operation time in the large Hokkaido area. Further studies are mandatory to investigate if both the systems will improve clinical outcomes.

Relationships among hemolysis indicators and neuron-specific-enolase in patients undergoing veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Neuron-specific-enolase is used as a marker of neurological prognosis after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It is also present in red blood cells and platelets. It is not known whether hemolysis increases the values of neuron-specific-enolase enough to clinically affect its interpretation in critically ill patients who are to be introduced to veno-arterial extracorporeal oxygenation. In this study, we examined the relationships among neuron-specific-enolase and hemolysis indicators such as free hemoglobin and lactate dehydrogenase after the introduction of veno-arterial extracorporeal oxygenation. Of the 91 patients who underwent veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in our hospital from January 1, 2018, to February 24, 2021, 68 patients survived for more than 24 h. Of these, 14 patients who were categorized into the better cerebral performance categories (1-3) and 19 patients who were categorized into the poor neurological prognosis category (4) were included. After the introduction of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, neuron-specific-enolase was markedly higher in the poor neurological prognosis group than in the good neurological prognosis group (41.6 vs. 92.0, p = 0.04). A significant positive correlation was revealed between neuron-specific-enolase and free hemoglobin in the good neurological prognosis group (rs = 0.643, p = 0.0131). A similar relationship was observed for lactate dehydrogenase and neuron-specific-enolase in both the conscious (rs = 0.737, p = 0.00263) and non-conscious groups (rs = 0.544, p = 0.0176). When neuron-specific-enolase is used as a marker for neuroprognostic evaluation, an abnormally high value is likely to indicate the lack of consciousness, whereas a lower elevation should be interpreted with caution, taking into account the effects of hemolysis.

[Early Outcomes and Indications for Surgical Intervention of Preoperative Atrial Fibrillation].

BACKGROUND: This study investigates short-term outcomes following surgical interventions for atrial fibrillation (Af), including the Cox-maze Ⅳ procedure (maze procedure) and pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), performed concurrently with other cardiac surgeries. Additionally, we aim to determine the indications for surgical intervention for Af. METHOD: We retrospectively studied a total of 1,580 patients, out of which 274 had preoperative Af, that underwent cardiac surgery between January 2015 and April 2023. Patients who underwent emergency surgery, died in the hospital postoperatively, or received pacemaker implantation were excluded. Patients were first divided into two groups:the intervention group (n=135, 53.6%) and the non-intervention group( n=117, 46.4%), further categorized by whether they were in sinus rhythm at discharge. The intervention group was then subdivided into the maze procedure group( n=54), and the PVI group (n=76). RESULTS: Within the maze procedure group, significant differences were observed between the sinus rhythm and non-sinus rhythm groups in terms of age, preoperative Af duration, and aortic valve intervention status. In the PVI group, patients with persistent Af, longer preoperative Af duration, and larger left atrium diameter( LAD) were less likely to return to sinus rhythm. Smaller LAD was also a significant factor for returning to sinus rhythm in the non-intervention group. Multivariate analysis for all patients revealed that an LAD smaller than 50 mm was the strongest predictor for returning to sinus rhythm post operation( p<0.01). CONCLUSION: For patients with persistent Af, the maze procedure is favored over PVI as a surgical intervention. When LAD exceeds 50 mm, the likelihood of returning to sinus rhythm is diminished.

Neuron-specific enolase levels immediately following cardiovascular surgery is modulated by hemolysis due to cardiopulmonary bypass, making it unsuitable as a brain damage biomarker.

Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is one of the biomarkers used as an indicator of brain disorder, but since it is also found in blood cell components, there is a concern that a spurious increase in NSE may occur after cardiovascular surgery, where cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes hemolysis. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between the degree of hemolysis and NSE after cardiovascular surgery and the usefulness of immediate postoperative NSE values in the diagnosis of brain disorder. A retrospective study of 198 patients who underwent surgery with CPB in the period from May 2019 to May 2021 was conducted. Postoperative NSE levels and Free hemoglobin (F-Hb) levels were compared in both groups. In addition, to verify the relationship between hemolysis and NSE, we examined the correlation between F-Hb levels and NSE levels. We also examined whether different surgical procedures could produce an association between hemolysis and NSE. Among 198 patients, 20 had postoperative stroke (Group S) and 178 had no postoperative stroke (Group U). There was no significant difference in postoperative NSE levels and F-Hb levels between Group S and Group U (p = 0.264, p = 0.064 respectively). F-Hb and NSE were weakly correlated (r = 0.29. p < 0.01). In conclusion, NSE level immediately after cardiac surgery with CPB is modified by hemolysis rather than brain injury, therefore it would be unreliable as a biomarker of brain disorder.

Impella Implantation as a Bridge to Surgery for Repair of Aorto-Right Ventricular Fistula Following Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: A Case Report.

For patients with cardiogenic shock, delaying surgery with mechanical circulatory support is reported to yield better outcomes than emergency surgery. We report on an 82-year-old man diagnosed with vertebral osteomyelitis with concomitant infective endocarditis. Chest radiographs revealed a growing abscess, which resulted in an aorto-right ventricular fistula. Providing Impella support allowed for hemodynamic stabilization prior to surgery. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and reported to be well in a follow-up 1 year later. Impella support can be used as a bridge to surgery for repairing fistulous tract formation in patients in cardiogenic shock.

Interventional Bridging Therapy for Radical Cardiac Surgery in a Patient Seemed to be Inoperable Due to Very Poor Left Ventricular Function: A Case Report.

Cases that are inoperable owing to poor preoperative conditions are sometimes encountered. However, there are some cases that are led to radical treatment by performing bridge therapy. Here, we presented a case of a patient with complex cardiac disease in an inoperable state who underwent bridging therapy that led to successful surgical treatment. A 73-year-old male who received hemodialysis treatment and had severe aortic valve stenosis and coronary artery disease planned surgical treatment. However, he was deemed inoperable owing to his low cardiac function and hemodynamic instability. Therefore, to escape from a fatal condition, we first performed balloon aortic valvuloplasty and percutaneous coronary intervention as palliative procedures. Subsequently, his cardiac function and hemodynamic stability remarkably improved; therefore, after 1 month, we performed a successful radical surgical treatment. Even in inoperable patients, bridging therapy leading to radical treatment is possible.

[Degenerated Monocusp Valve Complicated with Infective Endocarditis after Total Correction of Tetralogy of Fallot;Report of a Case].

There have been few reports about degenerated monocusp-valve patches, which were used for right ventricular outflow tract( RVOT) reconstruction with complications of infective endocarditis after total correction of tetralogy of Fallot( TOF).A 44-year-old male patient, who had a total correction of TOF using Monocusp Valved Outflow Patch (MVOP) 34 years previous, was admitted for heart failure with aortic regurgitation. An echocardiographic study showed an infective endocarditis with vegetations, attached to the aortic valve and the monocusp-valve outflow patch. The aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical prosthesis and the pulmonary valve was replaced with a biological prosthesis. RVOT was reconstructed using a bovine pericardial patch. The explanted monocusp-valve was deteriorated and heavily calcified. The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient was discharged and returned to his preoperative lifestyle 36 days after the redo surgery.

A Rare Case of Leukemoid Reaction During Mechanical Circulatory Support in a Patient With Severe Heart Failure: An Autopsy Study.

The leukemoid reaction (LR) is reported to be caused by severe stress conditions such as infection, malignancies, intoxication, severe hemorrhage, or acute hemolysis; this condition is attributed to a very severe prognosis. Some reports have suggested that the LR was associated with a systemic stress response. A 36-year-old man who required mechanical circulatory support (MCS), including veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and Impella 5.5 due to severe heart failure, was transferred to our hospital. He showed a markedly elevated WBC count and died of multiple organ failure. The autopsy revealed the possibility that leukocytosis might have been due to an LR; however, the cause of the cardiac failure was unknown. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report a rare case of LR in a patient with severe heart failure requiring MCS.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation at operating room entry in acute aortic dissection type A patients: is surgery contraindicated?

Background: This study aimed to compare the short-term outcomes of surgical treatment for acute type A aortic dissection between patients undergoing cardiopulmonary arrest at the time of entry into the operating room and patients who received successful preoperative cardiopulmonary resuscitation before entering the operating room or patients who had cardiopulmonary arrest on the operating room table after entering the operating room without cardiopulmonary arrest. In the present study, we focused on the circulatory status at the time of entering the operating room because it is economically and emotionally difficult to cease intervention once the patient has entered the operating room, where surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and perfusionists are already present, all necessary materials are packed off and cardiopulmonary bypass have already been primed. Methods: Twenty (5.5%) of 362 patients who underwent surgical treatment for acute type A aortic dissection between January 2016 and March 2022 had preoperative cardiopulmonary arrest. To compare the early operative outcomes, the patients were divided into the spontaneous circulation group (n = 14, 70.0%) and the non-spontaneous circulation group (n = 6, 30.0%) based on the presence or absence of spontaneous circulation upon entering the operating room. The primary endpoint was postoperative 30-day mortality. The secondary endpoints included in-hospital complications and persistent neurological disorders. Results: Thirty-day mortality was 65% (n = 13/20) in the entire cohort; 50% (n = 7/14) in the spontaneous circulation group and 100% (n = 6/6) in the non-spontaneous circulation group. The major cardiopulmonary arrest causes were aortic rupture and cardiac tamponade (n = 16; 80.0%), followed by coronary malperfusion (n = 4; 20.0%). Seven patients (50.0%) survived in the spontaneous circulation group, and none survived in the non-spontaneous circulation group (P = .044). Five survivors walked unaided and were discharged home; the remaining two were comatose and paraplegic. Conclusions: The outcomes were extremely poor in patients with acute type A aortic dissection who had preoperative cardiopulmonary arrest and received ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation at entry into the operating room. Therefore, surgical treatment might be contraindicated in such patients.

Fulminant respiratory failure due to severe pneumothorax after re-do coronary artery bypass grafting treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

This case report details the management of a 79-year-old man who developed massive postoperative pneumothorax following redo coronary artery bypass grafting due to severe lung adhesions. We successfully treated the patient using veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation without femoral cannulation, allowing for early rehabilitation initiation. Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a reasonable option for cases of severe respiratory failure due to pneumothorax with lung destruction caused by re-sternotomy during re-do cardiac surgery.

A case of non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis on the aortic valve following coronary angiography.

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) on the aortic valve involves fibrin and platelet aggregate formation, potentially leading to embolic events. We present a case of NBTE on the aortic valve following coronary angiography (CAG) in a 54-year-old man with multiple comorbidities. Surgical thrombectomy was performed owing to acute cerebral infarcts. This case highlights the significance of considering that mechanical trauma from catheterization during CAG can trigger thrombus formation.

Intra-Operative Occlusion of the Contralateral Common Iliac Artery by the Gore Excluder Iliac Branch System.

Introduction: During stent grafting, managing the internal iliac artery (IIA) becomes a significant issue when an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is complicated by bilateral common iliac artery (CIA) aneurysms. The iliac branch system (IBS) has a defined length; therefore, the CIA should be sufficiently long. However, situations arise where the IBS must be used even in patients with a short CIA. A case of contralateral CIA occlusion due to deviation of the proximal iliac branched component of the IBS is reported. Report: A 73 year old man underwent stent grafting with inferior mesenteric artery coil embolisation and IBS for a 70 mm AAA and >30 mm bilateral CIA aneurysm. As standard procedure, the right iliac branched component and the internal iliac component were used. After removing the guidewire used for deploying the internal iliac component, the left 12 Fr Dryseal and guidewire were pulled down. The proximal end of the right iliac branched component deviated over the left CIA origin, resulting in CIA occlusion. As a solution, a 12 Fr Dryseal was inserted with a dilator and guidewire in the 16 Fr Dryseal from the left side, following which the tip of the 12 Fr Dryseal dilator was used to push the iliac branched component to create a gap. The guidewire was successfully inserted, and the surgery was subsequently completed as planned. The post-operative course of the patient was uneventful. Conclusion: When deploying an iliac branched component in cases where the CIA is shorter than the length of the component, it is crucial to place the contralateral guidewire into the aorta before pulling down the contralateral sheath. The iliac branched component may follow the pull through wire and occlude the contralateral CIA. Furthermore, if the element occludes the contralateral CIA, it can be managed using this method.

Bail-Out TEVAR through a Branch of Four-Arm Dacron Graft for Misdeployment of a Frozen Elephant Trunk Prosthesis.

The frozen elephant trunk (FET) is an effective method for making the distal anastomosis more proximal and facilitating aortic remodeling in acute aortic dissection. However, misdeployment of FET to the false lumen has been reported in several cases. Such cases are usually treated with bail-out thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) through the femoral artery or additional FET under direct vision to redirect the blood flow to the true lumen. We encountered a case of misdeployment of FET into the false lumen during open aortic surgery for the treatment of Stanford type A acute aortic dissection. After reconstruction of the aorta and all arch vessels, we performed antegrade bail-out TEVAR through a side branch of the four-arm Dacron graft as main access using a pull-through technique through the right femoral artery, which was perfused from the true lumen. This technique, which uses a Dacron graft branch for stent graft access, enabled us to confirm the true lumen because the distal anastomotic site was definitely the true lumen, and we were also able to avoid access difficulties at the iliac artery.

Giant Superior Mesenteric Artery Aneurysm Treated by Endovascular Treatment in a Very Elderly Female.

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) aneurysms (SMAAs) are rare and account for approximately 7% of all visceral artery aneurysms. If the anatomical complexity permits and the patency of organ perfusion is allowed, then an endovascular approach is the first choice for minimally invasive procedures. We report the case of a 92-year-old female with a giant SMAA and challenging anatomy, including a short proximal sealing zone from the origin of the SMA and a short distal sealing zone from the hepatic artery bifurcation. In view of her advanced age, she was treated endovascularly with covered stents. Reintervention was required to correct a postoperative endoleak; however, a favorable outcome was achieved with endovascular therapy.

Proximal and extended aortic arch replacement in acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of proximal repair vs. extensive arch surgery for acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection. Subjects: From April 2014 to September 2020, 121 consecutive patients with acute type A dissection were surgically treated at our institute. Of these patients, 92 had dissections extending beyond the ascending aorta. Methods: Of the 92 patients, 58 underwent proximal repair, including aortic root and/or hemiarch replacement, and 34 underwent extended repair, including partial and total arch replacement. Perioperative variables and early and late postoperative results were statistically analyzed. Results: The duration of surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, and circulatory arrest was significantly shorter in the proximal repair group (p < 0.01). The overall operative mortality rate was 10.3% in the proximal repair group and 14.7% in the extended repair group (p = 0.379). The mean follow-up period was 31.1 ± 26.7 months in the proximal repair group and 35.3 ± 26.8 months in the extended repair group. During follow-up, the cumulative survival and freedom from reintervention rates at 5 years were 66.4% and 92.9% in the proximal repair group, and 76.1% and 72.6% in the extended repair group, respectively (p = 0.515 and p = 0.134). Conclusions: No significant differences were found in the rates of long-term cumulative survival and freedom from aortic reintervention between the two surgical strategies. These findings suggest limited aortic resection achieves acceptable patient outcomes.

Staged revascularization and multi-modal mechanical circulatory supports in a patient with severe cardiogenic shock due to acute-on-chronic coronary syndrome.

Acute coronary syndrome with cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening condition, but with planned staged treatment combined with coronary revascularization and mechanical circulatory supports its management is increasingly possible. Here, we present our successful life-saving case. A 76-year-old male patient was diagnosed with ST-elevation myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock due to severe stenosis of the left main coronary artery based on the severe triple vessel disease. We initially introduced Impella CP and performed a percutaneous coronary intervention without stenting on the patient. We maintained hemodynamics with Impella CP and performed coronary artery bypass grafting after a week. Intraoperatively, Impella CP was left to function as a left ventricular vent. The patient required upgrading to Impella 5.5 plus veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation postoperatively, but his condition gradually improved, all mechanical circulatory supports could be weaned off, and he eventually survived.

Two-stage repair for DeBakey type II acute aortic dissection and distal aortic arch aneurysm in a nonagenarian patient.

Although total arch replacement would be performed in a patient with acute type A aortic dissection and concomitant aortic aneurysm in the distal aortic arch, total arch replacement may be too invasive in elderly patients with significant morbidities. A 92-year-old female with acute type II DeBakey aortic dissection and concomitant distal aortic arch aneurysm was successfully treated with hemi-arch replacement followed by thoracic endovascular aortic repair. Hybrid two-stage repair of DeBakey type II aortic dissection complicated by distal arch aneurysm using thoracic endovascular aortic repair after hemi-arch replacement may be effective.

Insulin therapy maintains the performance of PVA-coated PCL grafts in a diabetic rat model.

Vascular tissue engineering has shown promising results in "healthy" animal models. However, studies on the efficacy of artificial grafts under "pathological conditions" are limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to characterize the performance of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-coated poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) grafts (PVA-PCL grafts) under diabetic conditions. To this end, PCL grafts were produced via electrospinning and coated with the hydrophilic PVA polymer, while a diabetic rat model (DM) was established via streptozotocin injection. Thereafter, the performance of the graft in the infrarenal abdominal aorta of the rats was evaluated in vivo. Thus, we observed that the healthy group showed CD31 positive/αSM positive cells in the graft lumen. Further, the patency rate of the PVA-PCL graft was 100% at 2 weeks (n = 7), while all the DM rats (n = 8) showed occluded grafts. However, the treatment of DM rats with neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin (tDM) significantly improved the patency rate (100%; n = 5). Furthermore, the intimal coverage rate corresponding to the tDM group was comparable to that of the healthy group at 2 weeks (tDM vs. healthy: 16.1% vs. 14.7%, p = 0.931). Therefore, the present study demonstrated that the performance of the PVA-PCL grafts was impaired in DM rats; however, insulin treatment reversed this impairment. These findings highlighted the importance of using a model that more closely resembles the cases that are encountered in clinical practice to achieve a clinically applicable vascular graft with a small diameter.

Case of rapid aortic remodeling after thoracic endovascular aortic repair for retrograde type A aortic dissection.

The proper surgical strategy for retrograde type A aortic dissection (RTAD) is still controversial, and some studies have reported the efficacy of frozen elephant trunk and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). A 68-year-old man was diagnosed with acute type A aortic dissection using enhanced computed tomography. The false lumen at the arch and ascending aorta was thrombosed, and the primary entry was placed in the descending aorta. In addition, there were malperfusions of the right renal artery and both iliac arteries. We performed TEVAR using the right femoral artery combined with the petticoat technique. At 11 days postoperatively, we observed rapid aortic remodeling at the arch and ascending aorta. The patient was discharged uneventfully after 14 days. We believe that TEVAR for RTAD is effective in appropriate patients. However, the accumulation of the number of cases and accurate strategies for patient selection are in demand.

Polyvinyl alcohol coating prevents platelet adsorption and improves mechanical property of polycaprolactone-based small-caliber vascular graft.

The low patency of synthetic vascular grafts hinders their practical applicability. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is a non-toxic, highly hydrophilic polymer; thus, we created a PVA-coated polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber vascular graft (PVA-PCL graft). In this study, we examine whether PVA could improve the hydrophilicity of PCL grafts and evaluate its in vivo performance using a rat aorta implantation model. A PCL graft with an inner diameter of 1 mm is created using electrospinning (control). The PCL nanofibers are coated with PVA, resulting in a PVA-PCL graft. Mechanical property tests demonstrate that the PVA coating significantly increases the stiffness and resilience of the PCL graft. The PVA-PCL surface exhibits a much smaller sessile drop contact angle when compared with that of the control, indicating that the PVA coating has hydrophilic properties. Additionally, the PVA-PCL graft shows significantly less platelet adsorption than the control. The proposed PVA-PCL graft is implanted into the rat's abdominal aorta, and its in vivo performance is tested at 8 weeks. The patency rate is 83.3% (10/12). The histological analysis demonstrates autologous cell engraftment on and inside the scaffold, as well as CD31/α-smooth muscle positive neointima regeneration on the graft lumen. Thus, the PVA-PCL grafts exhibit biocompatibility in the rat model, which suggests that the PVA coating is a promising approach for functionalizing PCL.