ABSTRACT
This case report aimed to evaluate the efficacy of applying VIABAHN endoprosthesis at the dissection re-entry of the right renal artery after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in a patient with a chronic type B dissected thoracoabdominal aneurysm. A 78-year-old man was given a diagnosis of type B aortic dissection 5 years ago and underwent a successful TEVAR operation. Two years later, he developed complications such as chronic expanding aortic dissections ; thus, he underwent a second endovascular repair. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning at the five-year follow-up after initial endovascular repair showed a 58-mm diameter thoracoabdominal dissected aneurysm. It also showed an apparent entry point dissection arising from the lower thoracic aorta and a re-entry point at the base of the right renal artery. Although the right renal artery was affected by the dissecting false lumen, all other abdominal branches were intact. He was treated with VIABAHN via occlusion of the re-entry of the dissection and reconstruction of the right renal artery. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged 10 days after the operation. Postoperative enhanced CT scanning showed that the aortic false lumen was completely thrombosed, and the right renal arterial flow had significantly improved. Although TEVAR is the standard treatment in acute complicated type B dissections, its role in chronic type B dissections remains controversial. Our technique of using VIABAHN for the reconstruction of the right renal artery showed promising results for patients with chronic type B dissections.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated data on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) indices in order to estimate exercise intensity and ramp load from maximum walking speed (MWS) in elderly hospitalized patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Subjects were 66 male patients hospitalized with ACS (49 young-old patients and 17 old-old patients). We measured exercise intensity by CPX using a cycle ergometer and MWS over 10 m, and examined the patients’ clinical characteristics. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to identify variables that most closely predicted exercise intensity. We then estimated the ramp load from the relationship between exercise load at anaerobic threshold and MWS. The results indicated that MWS was an independent predictor of exercise intensity in old-old patients (adjusted R<sup>2</sup>=0.278, p=0.037) but not in young-old patients. The regression formula predicted the proper ramp load to be 5 and 10 watts as MWS was less than 1.5m/s or more than 1.5m/s, respectively. MWS was related to exercise intensity and could be used to consider the ramp load in CPX in old-old male patients with ACS.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objectives</b> : Mediastinitis results in significant morbidity in pediatric patients after cardiac surgery. The management of mediastinitis is not well established in the pediatric population. Our strategy for pediatric mediastinitis after cardiac surgery consists of rapid introduction of simple vacuum-assisted drainage system and sternal closure without plombage under aseptic conditions. The efficacy of our strategy was examined. <b>Methods</b> : The records of 7 pediatric patients with mediastinitis after cardiac surgery managed with this drainage system from May 2006 to May 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The median age of the patients was 20.5 months and median body weight was 9.7 kg. Mediastinitis occurred 1-3 weeks after surgery. The mediastinum was re-explored immediately under general anesthesia after the diagnosis was made, and continuous drainage was used after extensive debridement was performed. We developed a simple vacuum-assisted drainage system consisting of conventional polyurethane foam, surgical drape containing povidone-iodine, and 1 to 3 silicone drainage tubes connected to a drain aspirator (-99 cmH<sub>2</sub>O). Patients were allowed oral intake and resumption of daily activity after extubation. The components of the drainage system were exchanged every 2-3 days. The sternum was closed without the use of the omentum or muscle for plombage of the mediastinum after two negative topical swab cultures were obtained. <b>Results</b> : Negative topical swab cultures were obtained in all cases (3-12 days after the drainage commencement) and the sternum was closed 7-19 days after the drainage commencement. The median duration of hospital stay was 31 days (range, 14-47). Although one patient with prenatal infection died of aortic rupture, the remaining six children survived and did not experience recurrence after hospital discharge. <b>Conclusion</b> : The simple vacuum-assisted drainage system enabled rapid control of wound bacterial infection and sternal closure in postoperative pediatric mediastinitis without the need for special, and expensive devices.
ABSTRACT
A 48-year-old man underwent an non-anatomical bypass surgery for aortic coarctation when he was 38 years old, when a bypass laid between the left subclavian artery and the descending aorta with a prosthesis (10 mm, internal diameter). Four years after the first surgery, aortic aneurysms at the proximal and distal sites of the coarctation were detected. Six years from then, we decided to perform another surgery when the maximum diameters of the proximal and distal sites exceeded 60 and 47 mm, respectively. We performed the aortic replacement from the proximal left subclavian artery to the descending aorta at eighth thoracic vertebra. The approach to the aortic aneurysm was through the extended left thoracotomy with the transection of the sternum. The cardiopulmonary bypass was established with an antegrade aortic perfusion (from the ascending aorta) and drainage from the right atrium. The circulatory arrest was obtained under deep hypothermia at 20°C measured by deep body temperature. After the surgery, the pressure differences between upper and lower extremities decreased to 10 mmHg, which had been 40 mmHg before surgery. Macroscopic observation showed the coarctation site was completely obstructed by an old thrombus. From this observation, we surmise that one of the reasons for the aneurysmal formation at the proximal site of coarctation might be an insufficient depressurization by the non-anatomical bypass grafting from the left subclavian artery to the descending aorta at the first surgery. We consider that a severe coarctation might become thrombotic sooner or later after a non-anatomical bypass surgery due to a change of blood flow, and a radical anatomical surgery would be recommended for adult coarctation cases.