Fluttering cord-like thrombus in the aortic arch.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment for aortic thrombus remains to be determined, but surgical treatment is indicated when there is a risk for thromboembolism. CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old male presented with weakness in his left arm upon awakening. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a mobile pedunculated object suggestive of a thrombus arising from the ascending aorta and extending to the left common carotid artery. It was removed under hypothermic circulatory arrest and direct cannulation of the left carotid artery to avoid carotid thromboembolism. Histopathological examination revealed that the object was a thrombus. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged 9 days after surgery. CONCLUSION: When a thrombus in the aortic arch extends to the neck arteries, direct cannulation of the neck arteries with selective cerebral perfusion via cervical incision is a useful technique.

Long-term outcomes following surgical repair of coronary artery fistula in adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Coronary artery fistula (CAF) is a relatively rare cardiac anomaly. We investigated long-term outcomes following surgical repair of CAF in adults. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 13 consecutive patients undergoing surgical repair of CAF in our institution between 2008 and 2019 (67.3 ± 10.4 years old, 38% male). CAF types were coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula (77%), coronary artery-coronary sinus fistula (15%), and both (8%). CAFs originated from the left coronary artery (38%), right coronary artery (8%), and bilateral coronary arteries (38%). Pulmonary and systemic flow (Qp/Qs) was measured in seven patients (54%), with a mean value of 1.52. Seven patients underwent surgery for CAFs alone, and others simultaneously underwent surgery for comorbid cardiac diseases. RESULTS: All procedures were conducted under cardiopulmonary bypass. Surgical procedures were direct epicardial ligation of fistula (92%), direct closure of CAF through pulmonary artery incision (38%), direct closure of CAF through coronary sinus incision (8%), or patch closure of CAF through coronary artery incision (8%). Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy showed asymptomatic myocardial ischemia in the right coronary area after surgery in one patient. There were no deaths perioperatively or during follow-up (mean: 66.6 months). There were no coronary or other CAF-related events. CONCLUSIONS: Several anatomical variations in CAF were observed which coexist with cardiac disease. Long-term outcomes following surgical repair were satisfactory, and the concurrent intervention of CAFs during surgery for comorbid cardiac disease is useful to prevent future complications related CAFs in adults.

Impact of dialysis in patients undergoing bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of bioprosthetic structural valve deterioration in dialysis patients undergoing aortic valve replacement compared to that in patients without dialysis. METHODS: This single-centre retrospective observational study included 1159 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement using bioprosthetic valves for aortic stenosis and/or regurgitation at our institution between 2007 and 2017 [patients with dialysis (group D, n = 134, 12%) or without dialysis (group N, n = 1025, 88%)]. To adjust for potential differences between groups in terms of initial preoperative characteristics or selection bias, a propensity score analysis was conducted. The final sample that was used in the comparison included 258 patients, as follows: 129 patients with dialysis (group D) and 129 patients without dialysis (group N). The cumulative incidences of all-cause death, cardiac death and moderate or severe structural valve deterioration were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Operative mortality was significantly higher in group D than group N (9% vs 0%, P = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that in group D, the incidence was significantly higher for all-cause death (P < 0.001, 50% vs 18% at 5 years), cardiac death (P = 0.001, 18% vs 5% at 5 years) and moderate or severe structural valve deterioration (P < 0.001, 29% vs 5% at 5 years) compared with group N. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of structural valve deterioration in dialysis patients undergoing aortic valve replacement was higher than that in patients without dialysis. Bioprosthetic valves should be carefully selected in dialysis patients undergoing aortic valve replacement.

Communicating Syringomyelia.

BACKGROUND: Communicating syringomyelia can develop in association with hydrocephalus, with communication between syringomyelia and the fourth ventricle a representative neuroimaging finding. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 51-year-old woman presented with slowly progressive bladder dysfunction and scoliosis. She had a nonfunctioning cerebrospinal fluid shunt that had been placed after birth for neonatal hydrocephalus. Tetraventricular enlargement and a holocord syrinx were noted in neuroimaging findings, while phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging and ventriculography revealed communication between the syrinx and fourth ventricle via a dilated central canal. Placement of a de novo ventriculoperitoneal shunt led to collapse of the syringomyelia, though apparent improvement of clinical symptoms was not obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Communicating syringomyelia can develop as a late complication in patients with shunted hydrocephalus. In the majority of reported cases, shunt revision has been shown to be effective, though some cases require posterior fossa decompression and exploration.

Mechanical ventilatory assistance may reduce dyspnea during walking especially in patients with impaired cardiopulmonary function early after cardiovascular surgery.

BACKGROUND: To determine which patients effectively respond to ventilatory assistance (VA) and to examine the factors influencing patient response in patients who underwent cardiovascular (CV) surgery. METHODS: We conducted the first walking session after surgery either with or without VA in a randomized order. The patients walked with 3cmH2O of inspiratory pressure support. We measured dyspnea and leg fatigue during initial walking either with or without VA by using a modified Borg scale. Ventilatory parameters were measured by mechanical ventilation before and immediately after walking. Lung function and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) were measured and chest radiographs were analyzed by the same cardiac surgeon on the same day as walking. RESULTS: From the total of 74 patients who underwent CV surgery, 56 patients were successively enrolled in the study. Thirty-five out of 56 patients had dyspnea and 18 patients (30% of the total patients) effectively responded to VA (responders). Minute ventilation/estimated maximum voluntary ventilation immediately after walking significantly decreased with VA, and MIP was lower in responders than in non-responders after surgery. The responders revealed greater pulmonary edema scores than non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study suggest that VA may possibly facilitate successful mobilization early after CV surgery, especially in patients with impaired cardiopulmonary function.

[Perioperative management after non-cardiac surgery in patients with chronic kidney disease].

The number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to increase all over the world for the past ten years. It follows that we have more CKD patients with various complications who need perioperative management in Japan. Previous studies revealed that impaired renal function in preoperative period was the independent predictor of postoperative renal dysfunction. Safe comprehensive anesthetic management is required in order not to aggravate the preoperative CKD. In this review, we will take up some recent topics and novel concept in association with noncardiac surgery for the perioperative management of CKD patients.

[Successful treatment of the intracranial hemorrhage after the cardiac surgery for infective endocarditis].

We report an extremely rare case of a successful treatment of the intracranial hemorrhage after the cardiac surgery for infective endocarditis(IE). A 34-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of active IE due to Staphylococcus aureus, complicated with cerebral infarctions. Preoperative echocardiography showed mobile vegetations on both leaflets of the mitral valve with 15 and 6 mm diameters. Mitral valve repair was performed on hospital day 10. There were mobile vegetations on the A2 and P3. Five days after the cardiac surgery, brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and angiography demonstrated intracranial hemorrhage due to the rupture of the intracranial aneurysm, which was urgently clipped. No neurological sequel has been noted since the successful treatment.

Ocular Circulation and Chronic Ocular Ischemic Syndrome before and after Carotid Artery Revascularization Surgery.

Background. We evaluated the effect of carotid revascularization surgery on ocular circulation and chronic ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS). Methods. We examined ninety patients with carotid artery stenosis (more than 50% stenosis) at its origin treated with carotid endarterectomy (N = 56) or carotid artery stenting (N = 34). Twenty-five patients (28%) complained of chronic OIS. Ocular circulation was examined before and after revascularization surgery using ophthalmic artery (OphAr) and central retinal artery (CRA) color Doppler flow imaging. Results. (1) Ocular circulation: preoperatively, the average OphAr peak systolic flow velocity (Vs) was 0.05 m/sec, and the average CRA Vs was 0.07 m/sec. At 1 week after surgery, the average OphAr Vs significantly increased to 0.32 (P < 0.05), and the average CRA Vs significantly increased to 0.11 m/sec (P < 0.05). These significant improvements were sustained throughout the three months of the followup. (2) OIS: during the follow-up period (mean: 3.6 years), 15 patients (60%) showed visual acuity improvement, and no patients complained of amaurosis fugax or worsening of the chronic OIS. Conclusion. Carotid revascularization surgery was effective in improving the ocular circulation, and it was also useful for the chronic OIS due to the carotid artery stenosis.

Diagnostic value of adenosine-induced left ventricular diastolic dysfunction for detecting coronary artery restenosis in patients undergoing stent implantation by Stress ECG-gated myocardial perfusion SPECT. A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Usefulness of diastolic dysfunction after adenosine stress for detecting coronary stenosis has not been defined. The diagnostic accuracy of a combination of myocardial perfusion and diastolic function, as defined by prolongation of time to peak-filling rate (TTPF)/R-R and myocardial perfusion alone for the detection of coronary restenosis, was evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used rest (201)Tl/ adenosine stress (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion singlephoton emission computed tomography (SPECT) in 70 patients. Patients were divided into the following 4 groups: 20 patients with normal SPECT without stent (Control group), 20 patients showing normal SPECT without coronary restenosis (Group 1), 16 patients showing significant coronary restenosis and myocardial ischemia (Group 2a) and 14 patients showing significant coronary restenosis without myocardial ischemia (Group 2b). The TTPF, which was calculated by quantitative gated SPECT (QGS)/R-R, was not different between after stress and at rest in Control group (0.18±0.02 vs 0.19±0.04, P=NS). The TTPF/R-R after stress was significantly lower than that at rest in Group 1 (0.17±0.02 vs 0.18±0.03, P<0.05), but TTPF/R-R after stress was significantly higher than that at rest in Groups 2a and 2b (0.22±0.03 vs 0.16±0.03, P<0.001 in Group 2a and 0.19±0.02 vs 0.16±0.02, P<0.001 in Group 2b, respectively). Diagnostic accuracy improved from 72% to 92% when prolongation of TTPF/R-R was taken into account (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Diastolic dysfunction after stress was an accurate marker for detecting significant restenosis following stent implantation.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: electrophysiological grading and surgical results by minimum incision open carpal tunnel release.

The safety and effectiveness of the minimum incision technique were assessed in 138 hands of 108 consecutive patients with carpal tunnel syndrome treated from April 1, 1997 to March 31, 2006. Clinical and electrophysiological examinations were conducted before and after surgical decompression. All hands were divided into early, mild, moderate, and severe groups based on preoperative electrophysiological severity. We examined the surgical outcomes of the affected hands in each group. Nocturnal or daytime dysesthesia, which had been present in 132 (96%) of the 138 hands preoperatively, was completely relieved in 124 (94%) of the 132 hands. Complete relief was achieved in 7 (100%) of the 7 hands in the early group, 68 (99%) of the 69 hands in the mild group, and 45 (94%) of the 48 hands in the moderate group. Complete relief was achieved only in 4 (50%) of the 8 hands in the severe group, and 3 (38%) of the 8 hands did not show any improvement. No painful or hypertrophic scar formation was observed in this series. Only 2 patients complained of postoperative scar discomfort after more than 12 months, which completely disappeared by 14 months after surgery. Minimum incision open carpal tunnel release is a safe and reliable procedure with a high rate of functional improvement and patient satisfaction. Postoperative results were satisfactory regardless of the degree of preoperative electrophysiological severity if preoperative sensory nerve action potentials were detected.

Incremental prognostic value of cardiac function assessed by ECG-gated myocardial perfusion SPECT for the prediction of future acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic value of ECG-gated rest 201Tl/stress 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography for the prediction of acute coronary syndrome (ACS: myocardial infarction (MI) and unstable angina (UA)) and the implications of ejection fraction (EF) has not yet been defined in Japanese. METHODS AND RESULTS: The 1,895 patients were followed up for the occurrence ACS. The mean follow-up interval was 26.9+/-15.5 months. The 142 patients with revascularization within 60 days were censored. Summed stress score (SSS) and summed difference score (SDS) were calculated. The 19 MI and 29 UA occurred (1.1% and 1.6%, respectively). Univariate Cox analysis showed that hypertension (Wald 5.09, p<0.05), poststress EF (Wald 10.9, p<0.01), SSS (Wald 12.4, p<0.001) and SDS (Wald 18.7, p<0.001) were significant predictors of ACS. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that hypertension (Wald 4.27, p<0.05) and SDS (Wald 8.59, p<0.01) were independent predictors. When multiple clinical risk factors (number of coronary risk factors > or =2), significant ischemia (SDS > or =4) and low EF (EF <45%) were applied to multivariate Cox analysis, the combination of significant ischemia and low EF showed the highest predictive value (Wald 11.9; p<0.001) for future ACS. CONCLUSION: Poststress EF added incremental prognostic value for the prediction of ACS.

Clinical study of therapeutic angiogenesis by autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantation in 92 patients with critically ischemic limbs.

Patients with critically ischemic limbs due to maintenance hemodialysis and diabetes are increasing in number markedly in Japan. The difficulty of treating critically ischemic limbs is well recognized. Despite active medication and surgical therapy, many critically ischemic limbs are amputated. Ninety-two patients with critically ischemic limbs were treated by transplantation of autologous peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs). The stem cells were mobilized into the peripheral blood by administration of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The mobilized mononuclear cells were separated by an apheresis technique using a centrifuge. The separated mononuclear cells contained approximately 4.0 x 10(7) CD34-positive cells. The collected cell suspension was divided into aliquots of 0.5-1.0 ml and transplanted into the muscle of ischemic limbs at 50-70 transplantation points. At 1.5 months after PBSC transplantation, a strong immunostaining of CD34-positive cells and factor VIII, as well as capillary formation, was observed in the muscles into which stems cells had been transplanted. In each patient tested, the serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level increased after stem cell transplantation; the mean VEGF level increased by 176%. Of 11 diabetic patients (DM) who were not receiving hemodialysis (HD), there were no amputees regardless of their Fontaine classification. Of 19 patients in the HD(+)DM(-) category, there were no amputations in Fontaine stage I, II, and III patients, whereas three limbs and one toe were amputated in Fontaine stage IV patients. Of 13 patients in the HD(-)DM(+) category, none of the Fontaine stage I, II, or III patients underwent amputation, but six Fontaine stage IV patients underwent amputation. Of 49 patients in the HD(+)DM(+) category, 38 (78%) were classified as Fontaine stage IV, 71% (27/38) of whom had a toe or a limb amputated. In nine patients over 80 years of age, one toe and one limb were amputated. Nondiabetic, nondialyzed patients with ischemic limbs are strongly indicated for stem cell transplantation regardless of Fontaine classification. Therapeutic angiogenesis is effective for critically ischemic limbs resulting from hemodialysis and diabetes until Fontaine stage III, but is of limited effectiveness for stage IV cases.

Effect of carotid artery stenting on ocular circulation and chronic ocular ischemic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The authors evaluated the effect of carotid artery stenting (CAS) on ocular circulation and chronic ocular ischemic syndrome. METHODS: We examined 38 patients with carotid artery stenosis (>80%) at its origin treated with CAS. Ocular circulation and symptoms were examined before, within 24 h, and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after CAS based on ophthalmic artery color Doppler flow imaging and ophthalmological examinations. RESULTS: Ocular circulation: Before CAS, 13 patients showed reversed ophthalmic artery flow, and 25 antegrade flow. Average peak systolic flow velocity was -0.038 m/s. Within 24 h after CAS, all patients showed antegrade ophthalmic artery flow; reversed flow before CAS was thus resolved. Average peak systolic flow velocity rose significantly to 0.36 m/s (p < 0.05). One week, 1 month and 3 months after CAS, there were no significant changes compared to the findings at 1 week after CAS. Ocular symptoms: Before CAS, 8 patients showed chronic ocular ischemic syndrome. During the follow-up period (mean: 2.8 years), the visual acuity improved in 7 cases. Average retinal artery pressure and arm-to-retina circulation time improved significantly to the normal level (p < 0.05). The other 30 patients complained of recurrent and worsened visual symptoms during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: CAS was effective in improving ocular circulation, and also improved the chronic ocular ischemic syndrome caused by the severe carotid artery stenosis.

[Case report of spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma in elderly].

Spontaneous spinal epidural hematomas (SSEH) are relatively rare clinical entities and associated with coagulopathies, tumors, or vascular malformation. In addition, these are often neurosurgical emergencies; therefore, prompt diagnosis and treatment are paramount. We reported a case of an 87-year-old woman with spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma. She presented with the sudden onset of neck pain, rt. upper arm sensory disturbance and rt. hemiparesis. MRI revealed a C3-Th1 dorsally placed extradural lesion. The lesion was iso-to hypointense on T1-weighted images and was hyperintense on T2-weighted images. She underwent surgery within 9 hours after symptom onset, removal of hematoma through the right hemilaminectomy was performed. She was a very high age, but she was discharged from the hospital without neurological deficit. To obtain good prognosis for patients with SSEH, early diagnosis and treatment are important. We also review the current literature concerning diagnosis and treatment of SSEH.

Prevention of limb amputation in patients with limbs ulcers by autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cell implantation.

There are many cases of amputation of ischemic limbs of dialysis patients due to diabetes, despite the availability of medicine therapy and vascular by-pass operations. As there is extensive ruin of the vascular bed due to diabetes, vascular regeneration therapy by stem cell implantation is effective. Thirty patients with ischemic limbs due to diabetes (not including type-I) and on dialysis for chronic renal failure (19 cases), diabetes (5 cases), dialysis patients without diabetes (4 cases), and arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO, 2 cases) were treated by autologous peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) implantation where imminent amputation was under consideration. Granulocyte Colony Stimulate Factor (G-CSF: 5 microg/kg/day) was administered subcutaneously for 4 days before PBSC collection, that was carried out using a centrifuge (Spectra and/or CS3000) via the vein. The collected PBSC, containing 4.2 x 10(7) of CD 34 positive cells, was divided into units of 0.5-1.0 mL and implanted, without any purification, to the ischemic area of the limbs in about 65 points. In 21 cases, normalization of limb temperature was observed by thermograph, and symptoms also improved. The result of this first attempt of PBSC implantation is that we were able to save 22 ischemic limbs. This is the first large report of the application of regenerative medicine to peripheral ischemic limbs.

[Extracranial vertebral artery dissection repeating distal embolism: case report].

We report a case of vertebral artery (VA) dissection presenting with repeated distal embolism. A 48-year-old man was admitted to our institution with neck pain and vertigo of two day duration. MRI on arrival showed infarction of the left cerebellar hemisphere and the right occipital lobe. Emergency angiography revealed left VA dissection and occlusion of the left posterior inferior cerebellar artery and right calcaline artery. Six hours after admission, he manifested cortical blindness due to embolism of the contralateral left calcaline artery despite giving heparin and aspirin. Thrombolysis was performed but was not successful. We embolized the affected VA to prevent further embolism. We discuss here the indication and timing of treatment for VA dissection presenting with ischemic symptom.

[Lung, bronchus, thorax].

Accumulating evidences suggested that three dimensional computed tomography(3D-CT) is important modality for differential diagnosis of tumorous lesion in lung. Here we report that virtual reconstruction of lung by 3D-CT is useful for diagnosis of emphysematous lesion, cystic lung disease, spontaneous pneumothorax and virtualized endoscopy.