ABSTRACT
A 79-years-old female underwent total arch replacement for an aortic arch aneurysm. A postoperative CT scan showed no abnormalities on the anastomotic sites, including the supra-aortic neck vessels. However, 10 months after the operation, she visited our outpatient clinic to complain of left shoulder pain. A CT scan demonstrated complete occlusion of the left subclavian artery, and doppler echography detected a subclavian steal phenomenon. Eleven months after the operation, the patient was transferred to our hospital because of the transient loss of consciousness and progressive aphasia. MRI revealed hyperintensive lesions in the boundary area between the left temporal and occipital lobes, enlarged in a DWI (diffusion-weighted image) with time. Axillary-axillary bypass grafting was performed to suppress the progression of cerebral ischemia caused by a subclavian steal phenomenon. Aphasia seemed to be improved soon after the bypass and diminished on postoperative day 2. The hyperintensive area on DWI regressed, and no other lesion was found on a postoperative MRI. She was discharged without apparent sequelae, including aphasia. We report a successful case of revascularization for subclavian steal syndrome with aphasia.
ABSTRACT
<p>A 75-year-old man who presented with fever and cough was given a diagnosis with active pulmonary valve endocarditis and transferred to our institution. Blood cultures were positive for <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i>, and transthoracic echocardiography showed a mobile vegetation attached to the pulmonary valve. Despite an 8-week treatment with antibiotics, a relapse of the infection required surgery. During the surgical procedure, we found that the vegetation had destroyed all of the pulmonary valve leaflets. After excising the pulmonary valve leaflets, we implanted a bioprosthetic valve and closed the pulmonary artery with autologous pericardium. The patient completed a 6-week course of intravenous antibiotics and was discharged on postoperative day 68. Postoperative transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated an adequate effective orifice area index. Our case report of isolated pulmonary valve endocarditis without predisposing factors is rare. The implantation of a bioprosthetic valve and enlargement with an autologous pericardial patch is an effective option for achieving a satisfactory hemodynamic profile.</p>
ABSTRACT
Primary end-to-side anastomoses between the left upper pulmonary vein and left atrium performed in 21 puppies with continuous 5-0 polydioxanone (PDS) or polypropylene (PRO). Animals were sacrificed at 1, 7 and 28 days after operation. Stenosis occurred in one of 5 animals of the PDS group at 7 days and 28 days respectively, and one of 5 animals of the PRO group at 28 days. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of anastomosis patency. Histological examination showed slight tissue reaction and fibrosis surrounding the sutures in both groups. This study suggests that the absorbable monofilament suture material, in particular PDS, is useful for the repair of low pressure circulatory system and will not cause the stenosis of the anastomotic site.