ABSTRACT
In the presence of Leriche syndrome, the lower extremities are perfused by collateral flow from internal mammary arteries. If an internal mammary artery graft is used in coronary artery surgery, an acute ischemic limb will develop postoperatively. A 52-year-old man was admitted to our department with bilateral claudication. Multidetector row computed tomography with contrast showed total occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta and rich collateral flow to the lower extremities from internal mammary arteries. Cardiac angiography revealed three-vessel disease. Simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting and an ascending aorto-bifemoral bypass were performed without cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperative computed tomography angiography showed that grafts to the coronary and bifemoral arteries were patent. This combined procedure is useful for patients with coronary artery disease and aortoiliac occlusive disease. This procedure without cardiopulmonary bypass has not previously been reported.
ABSTRACT
A 62-year-old woman with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) was admitted to undergo cardiac surgery for aortic stenosis, angina pectoris, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. A bleeding tendency was expected due to the dramatic decrease in platelets during cardiopulmonary bypass. We performed high-dose transvenous gammaglobulin infusion (400mg/kg/day) for 5 consecutive days immediately before surgery. The gammaglobulin therapy caused steady increase of thrombocytes from 4 days after surgery, even though the platelet count showed no significant change preoperatively. The postoperative course was satisfactory with neither a bleeding tendency nor wound infection. High-dose transvenous gammaglobulin therapy is thus useful for perioperative patients with accompanying ITP, who are often under medication with steroids. This therapy is also effective for prevention of infection.