Spontaneous Rupture of the Aortic Arch: A Case Report and a Review of Literature / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

The extremely rare occurrence of a case of spontaneous rupture of the aortic arch is reported. The patient was a 55-year-old woman who underwent a medical examination at a hospital following a sudden onset of chest pain. After a diagnosis of having cardiac tamponade was established, she was transferred to our hospital. She was in a state of shock with systolic blood pressure recorded at 70mmHg. Computerized tomographic findings indicated cardiac tamponade and hematoma around the ascending aortic arch but no aortic dissection. She was diagnosed as having a ruptured aortic arch and an emergency operation was performed. Apertures were observed on the anterior arch and were closed by a suture under halted circulation. Transesophageal echography was used to correctly identify the aperture on the rupture during the operation. Pathologic findings also indicated only extramural hematoma on the ascending aortic arch without the dissection. The patient's postoperative progress was satisfactory, and she was discharged after spending 16 days in the hospital. Spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta is extremely rare; it cannot be accurately diagnosed and leads to poor prognosis. Even in a case without trauma and aortic aneurysm, this disease should be diagnosed through rapid and detailed examination using computed tomography, and aggressive surgical treatment should be performed.

Surgical Treatment of Internal Iliac Artery Aneurysms / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Between 1987 and 2002, 22 internal iliac artery aneurysms in 14 patients were repaired. In 13 we performed aneurysm excision or reconstruction. There were 3 cases in which simple proximal ligation of the internal iliac artery was performed; in 2 of these CT scans confirmed that the reduction of the internal iliac artery aneurysms was not recognized, but blood flow was not shown in the aneurysm. However, 6 years postoperatively 1 patient was confirmed with an expansion of the aneurysm, and blood flow was seen on a CT scan. In the 2 latest patients, the blood pressure of the internal iliac artery was measured before and after proximal clamping of the internal iliac artery, but the blood pressure of aneurysms could not be fully lowered by proximal ligation of the internal iliac artery. Therefore, endoaneurysmorrhaphy seemed to be the operative method of choice for treatment of the internal iliac artery aneurysms.

Surgery of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Associated with Coronary Artery Disease: Simultaneous or Two Staged Operation / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Coronary artery disease (CAD) was evaluated by noninvasive examination in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients. A simultaneous operation or a 2-staged operation was performed depending on the seriousness of the condition when both diseases were combined. A total of 36 patients underwent elective repair of AAA between 1996 and 2001. Coronary angiography (CAG) was performed only in patients with suspected CAD by dipyridamole myocardial scintigraphy. Significant CAD was found in 8 patients. Simultaneous operation was performed in 4 patients, and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) was performed in all cases of simultaneous operation. In 4 patients receiving 2-staged operations, 1 standard coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 1 OPCAB and 2 percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties (PTCA) were performed prior to AAA surgery. Twenty-eight patients underwent only AAA operation. Though there were no incidents of perioperative myocardial infarction or cardiac related deaths in this group, 2 patients died due to other causes (hemorrhage and duodenal perforation). In the 8 patients associated with CAD, 1 patient died of MNMS after simultaneous operation. The other 7 patients revived their social function soon of the discharge. Dipyridamole cardiac scintigraphy was considered to be an effective examination for evaluation of CAD in AAA patients. There was no need to perform CAG in all AAA patients. The policy of choosing simultaneous operation or 2-staged operation according to the seriousness of the 2 diseases seemed to be appropriate.

Coarctation of the Abdominal Aorta Associated with Aneurysm of the Descending Thoracic Aorta Probably due to Aortitis Syndrome / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 67-year-old woman had left lateral chest pain. CT scan and digital subtraction angiography revealed coarctation of the abdominal aorta just distal from the renal artery and a fusiform aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta with a maximum diameter of 60mm. The meandering mesenteric artery was significantly dilated as a collateral vessel from the superior mesenteric artery to the inferior mesenteric artery. Aortitis syndrome was suspected from the angiographic findings although inflammatory changes in laboratory data were not observed. She underwent aneurysmectomy followed by prosthetic graft replacement of the descending thoracic aorta under femoro-femoral bypass and an extraanatomical bypass grafting from the replaced graft to the abdominal aorta proximal to the aortic bifurcation via the retroperitoneal space. She was discharged on the 42nd day after operation without any complications and in the past year has returned to her usual daily life without any anastomotic site trouble.

A Successfully Treated Case of Abdominal Aortic and Iliac Aneurysms Associated with Iliac Arteriovenous Fistula / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 72-year-old man suffering from congestive heart failure, swelling of the lower limbs and hematuria was transferred from another hospital with a diagnosis of large aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and the left common iliac artery. Iliac arteriovenous fistula (AVF) was definitively diagnosed preoperatively by contrast-enhanced CT and angiogaphy. At operation, an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm of 8cm and left iliac arterial aneurysm of 12cm were identified. After proximal and distal aortic clamping, the aneurysm was entered and an AVF orifice of 1cm communicating with the left common iliac vein was disclosed at the right posterior wall of the left common iliac artery. Venous blood reflux was controlled by inserting an occlusive balloon catheter to the fistula and intraoperative shed blood was aspirated and returned by an autotransfusion system. The AVF was closed from inside the iliac aneurysm by three interrupted 3-0 monofilament mattress sutures with pledgets. The aneurysms were resected and replaced with a bifurcated Dacron prosthetic graft. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative recovery; the lower limb edema subsided and heart failure improved rapidly. Preoperative identification of the location of the AVF is mandatory to make surgery safe. Moreover, easy availability or routine use of the devices for controlling undue blood loss such as an autotransfusion system and an occlusive balloon catheter are other important supplementary means to obtain good results of surgical treatment.

Combined Monitoring of rSO2 and SSEP during Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Postoperative Changes in Plasma Levels of S-100.BETA.: Is Diagnostic Sensitivity for Detecting Brain Damage Improved? / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Combined monitoring of rSO₂ and SSEP is routinely performed during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), but it is not sensitive enough to detect focal lesions of the brain. Thus, we assessed whether simultaneous measurement of S-100β is able to enhance diagnostic sensitivity or not. Between September 1999 and February 2000, serial measurement of plasma levels of S-100β and SSEP and rSO₂ monitoring during CPB were simultaneously performed in 26 consecutive patients (19 men and 7 women). Ages ranged from 46 to 85 (mean 67±10 years). Neurological complications developed in 5 (19.2%). Among those patients, hemiplegia developed in 2, and dementia, temporary convulsion, and deep coma in 1 each. Three of them showed abnormally low rSO₂ levels during surgery, but no patient showed abnormal change in SSEP waves after surgery. There was no significant difference in S-100β level 1h after CPB between patients associated with or without neurological complications (1.98±0.48 vs. 1.89±1.65), however, its level 24h after CPB remained significantly higher in patients with neurological complications (1.01±1.14 vs. 0.22±0.24). S-100β level 24h after CPB appears to improve diagnostic sensitivity for detecting such focal brain damage lesions as those in which SSEP or rSO₂ are not efficient enough to make a diagnosis. However, further study is required to evaluate how fast it can differentiate patients with and without brain damage.

Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Dialysis Patients / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

In dialysis cases complicated with ischemic heart disease, there are many problems, such as poor preoperative general condition, calcified aorta, water-electrolyte control, and the necessity for other simultaneous operations. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) was considered very useful in coping with these problems. OPCAB, employed in five cases, was compared with conventional coronary artery bypass grafting with extracorporeal circulation (ECC group, 9 cases). Regarding preoperative coexisting diseases, collagen diseases, porcelain aorta, cerebral infarction, and others were recognized in the OPCAB group in 3 of 5 cases. Emergency operations were performed in 5 of 9 cases in the ECC group, and in 2 of 5 cases in the OPCAB group. The bypass number (3.2 vs. 2.0) and complete revascularization rate (7 of 9 vs. 2 of 5), tended to be higher in the ECC group. The OPCAP group was significantly superior in blood transfusion (6.7 vs. 3.0u), postoperative CK-MB (63 vs. 33u), and the postoperative usual hemodialysis commencing time (4.2 vs. 1.0 day). Concerning use of postoperative IABP (3 of 9 vs. 0 of 5), and postoperative ventilator weaning time (2.7 vs. 1.0 day), a good tendency was shown in the OPCAB group. Although a high mortality rate (2 of 5) was recognized in OPCAB group compared with ECC group (1 of 9), those were urgent cases who had a very poor preoperative condition, and both cases suffered non-cardiac deaths. Excluding special cases, such as an unstable hemodynamic state requiring assisted circulation, and poor coronary run off, OPCAB seems useful for the treatment of coronary artery disease in dialysis patients.

Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Chronic Atrial Fibrillation Associated with Mitral Valve Disease / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Pulmonary vein isolation procedure was performed for atrial fibrillation associated with mitral valve disease in twelve patients. This simple procedure consisted of only isolation of the four pulmonary veins. Combined mitral valve surgery consisted of mitral valve plasty, mitral valve replacement with or without aortic valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty. Ten patients returned to a sinus rhythm. Two patients required DDD pacemaker implant for sick sinus syndrome. Left atrial contraction was detected in eight cases by trans-esophageal echography. Compared with the maze procedure, this operation was less invasive and preserved atrial appendage, helping to maintain normal secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide. This study suggests that the pulmonary vein isolation procedure may be an effective and simple maneuver for atrial fibrillation associated with mitral valvular disease.

A Case of Acute Descending Aortic Rupture Associated with Splenic Rupture and Pelvic Fracture / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 24-year-old woman had been injured in an automobile accident. The chest X-ray showed widening of the mediastinum and computed tomography showed mediastinal hematoma around the aortic arch. Aortic rupture was suspected, so we performed aortography, which revealed pseudoaneurysm of the descending aorta. Moreover, she also had splenic rupture and pelvic fracture. She underwent an emergency operation 4 hours after the accident. Medial tear of the descending aorta was replaced with a graft under temporary bypass without heparin. Simultaneously, splenectomy was performed. Her postoperative course was uneventful. We consider that temporary bypass without heparin is a useful method during repair of the descending aortic rupture due to trauma.

Mitral Valve Replacement in a Patient with a Patent Internal Thoracic Artery Graft after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 63-year-old woman underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral annuloplasty 4 years previously. She was readmitted owing to heart failure. Cardiac catheterization revealed worsened mitral regurgitation, although the internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft had good patency. Reoperation was performed by median resternotomy and continuous retrograde cardioplegia without clamping the ITA graft. The mitral valve had a perforation in the anterior leaflet, and was replaced by a 29mm Carbo-Medicus valve. The patient was discharged with transient myocardial ischemia. Although median resternotomy and continuous retrograde cardioplegia at reoperation provided on excellent view and myocardial protection, myocardial ischemia in the region perfused by the ITA graft may occur when the ITA graft cannot be clamped during continuous retrograde cardioplegia.

The Myocardial Protection of Immersion Hearts in Perfluorochemicals during Ischemia / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Topical cardiac hypothermia has unequivocal preservation effects during ischemia, but it has some disadvantages. Topical cooling, especially with ice slush, can injure the phrenic nerve, disturb the equal distribution of the cardioplegic solution due to coronary artery spasm and damage the epicardium. It is easy to prevent cooling injury without topical hypothermia, but the myocardial oxygen demands are increased. In order to supply the myocardium with oxygen for the increased oxygen demands during ischemia, isolated rat hearts were immersed in perfluorochemicals (PFC) which have excellent transportation of oxygen. The effects of immersion in PFC during mild hypothermic ischemia (at 20°C without cardioplegia and at 30°C cardioplegic arrest) on the cardiac function on reperfusion were evaluated. Under 20°C hypothermic ischemia without cardioplegia, cardiac beating was maintained for 20±4 minutes in the hearts were immersed in PFC, and for 10±2 minutes in the hearts that were not immersed in any solution. In the recovery of cardiac function (LVDP and LV_max d<i>p</i>/d<i>t</i>) after mild hypothermic (30°C) cardioplegic arrest, the hearts immersed in PFC showed better results than hearts that were not immersed.

Clinical Experience with a Gelatin Sealed Dacron Prosthesis / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A gelatin-sealed knitted Dacron graft which has zero-porosity at implantation and does not require preclotting preparation has been developed. Gelatin-sealed aortic grafts were implanted into 39 patients and vascular surgery reconstruction was performed for thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) in 10, abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in 19, and arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) and other conditions in 10. A total of 39 bifurcated or straight grafts were inserted. The Gelseal Dacron graft had superior handling characteristics and biocompatibility in comparison to conventional graft. There was no measurable blood loss from the body of the sealed graft at the time of implantation. The gelatin-sealed Dacron graft (<i>n</i>=10) was compared with an Intervascular Micron^® graft (<i>n</i>=10) implanted into the abdominal aorta. No problems were evident with regard to intraoperative bleeding, allogenic and autologous transfusion volume and blood parameters between the two groups. These results suggested that the Gelseal Dacron graft sealed with gelatin was a safe, zero-porosity implantable prosthesis for clinical use.

Congenital Bicuspid Aortic Stenosis in Siblings / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

The authors encountered 22 cases of congenital bicuspid aortic valve, some of which occurred in siblings. In this paper, a 58-year-old brother and a 56-year-old sister cardiac valve disease was diagnosed first at the age of 51 in the brother and at the age of 15 in the sister. Aortic valve replacement using a 21mm Medtronic-Hall prosthesis was done in both cases. Additionally, pacemaker implantation was carried out in the sister. Both cases showed favorable progress after operation. Hereditary factors are involved in congenital bicuspid aortic valve. Therefore if congenital bicuspid aortic valve are found in any patients, thorough investigations including cardiac auscultation, ECG and ultrasound cardiogram should be carried out routinely among immediate family members and relatives to reveal whether any of them is suffering from this congenital anomaly.

A Case of Impending Ruptured Aneurysm of the Common Iliac Artery; Regarded as Being Associated with Serous Leakage in Retroperitoneal Space / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We have recently experienced a case of impending ruptured aneurysm of the common iliac artery associated with a gelatinous substance in the retroperitoneal space. A 69 year-old male had been diagnosed as a left common iliac aneurysm at another hospital by CTscan during the examination of lower abdominal pain. At the midnight of the day he admitted, the severity of pain gradually intensified. But there was no sign of anemia nor hypotension. Next morning CTscan showed low density left retroperitoneal mass. The patient underwent emergency laparotomy. The further inspection revealed about 600cm³ of gelatinous substance in left retroperitoneal space without the sign of aneurysmal rupture. A bifurcated graft replacement was performed. The low density mass was not recognized by CTscan done 42 days postoperatively. Electrolyte study of the gelatinous substance indicated its serous leakage through the impending ruptured aneurysm. Our present report constitutes a completely distinct variety of common iliac aneurysm, associated with a gelatinous substance in retroperitoneal space without a major rent of the aneurysmal wall.

Recording of Epicardial Monophasic Action Potentials Using Suction Electrode to Evaluate Myocardial Protection. As an Additive Effects of Diltiazem on Crystalloid Cardioplegic Solution / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

This study was designed to evaluate the myocardial protection with observation of the monophasic action potential (MAP) which was recorded by suction electrode. Using the isolated working rabbit hearts, amplitude, duration of MAP at 50% repolarization level (MAPD₅₀), aortic flow and heart rate were measured after reperfusion. The comparative study obtained for all five groups under the following various conditions of the aortic cross clamping are stated as follows. Myocardial temperature were maintained at 20°C during aortic cross clamping. Group I was treated with St. Thomas' Hospital cardioplegic solution. The cardioplegic solution was infused every 20min during ischemia and kept at 20°C. The hearts of group I was divided into four sub-groups, all of which were infused with different concentration of diltiazem (D) in cardioplegia: group Ia D=0μg/ml (<i>n</i>=10), group Ib D=1μg/ml (<i>n</i>=5), group Ic D=5μg/ml (<i>n</i>=5). group Id D=10μg/ml (<i>n</i>=5), and in group II cardioplegic solution was not used. The amplitude of MAP following 30min working mode of reperfusion in group I showed a significantly higher recovery compared to those in group II. The MAPD₅₀ of MAP following 30min working mode of reperfusion in group I showed a significantly lower recovery compared to those in group II, and 10min Langendorff mode in group I a showed a significantly higher recovery compared to those in group Ib, group Ic and group Id. 20min working mode in group Ia and group Ib showed a significantly higher recovery compared to those in group Ic and group Id. The heart rate following 30min working mode of reperfusion in group Ia and group Ib showed a significantly higher recovery compared to those in group Ic and group Id. The aortic flow following 30min working mode of reperfusion in group Ia and group Ib showed a significantly higher recovery compared to those in group Ic, group Id and group II. We would like to conclude that the permeability of large amount of calcium across myocardial cell membrane seems to be depressed by diltiazem added to cardioplegia. But when the concentrations of diltiazem in cardioplegia was over 5μg/ml, it showed negative inotropic action and negative chronotropic action.

Pathophysiological Relevance of Oxygen to Reperfusion-Induced Arrhythmias / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We have examined the role of readmission of oxygen in the initiation of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias by separating readmission flow from readmission of oxygen on a temporal basis. Isolated rat hearts (<i>n</i>=12/group) were subjected to 10 minutes of global ischemia and reperfusion. In controls reperfused with aerobic perfusion medium, 100% of hearts developed ventricular tachycardia 1.48±0.78 seconds after reperfusion, and ventricular fibrillation occurred 13.47±2.91 seconds after reperfusion. Also in hearts reperfused with anoxic perfusion medium, 100% of hearts developed ventricular tachycardia 1.98±0.96 seconds after reperfusion, and ventricular fibrillation occurred 27.01±18.52 seconds after reperfusion. But the duration of the time from reperfusion to the onset of ventricular fibrillation were statistically differrent in these two groups (<i>p</i><0.05). In conclusion anoxic reperfusion delayed ventricular fibrillation but prevent neither ventricular fibrillation nor ventricular tachycardia. This implies that oxygen-derived free radicals may play an important role in the initiation of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, but are unneccessary for arrhythmogenesis.

Experimental and clinical studies of left heart bypass using a centrifugal pump. Application as adjunct in operation for thoracic aortic aneurysms / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Left heart bypass was performed with Bio Medicus Co.-made Bio-pump, a representative centrifugal pump. A vinyl chloride tube for the usual cardio-pulmonary bypass not treated with antithrombogenic material. was used in the bypass circuit. In the experiment, the mongreal adult dogs were divided into the systemic heparinized group and non-heparinized group and the bypass was performed for 6 hours. As a result, coagulation and fibrinolysis were more activated in the non-heparinized group than the other group. So, when this method is used clinically, a small quantity of heparin should be administered. Clinically, this approach was used as an adjunct in operation for 7 cases of thoracic aortic aneurysm. During left heart bypass, a small quantity of heparin (0.5-1.0mg/kg) was administered. A rise in FPA and FDP considered attributable to autotransfusion during the operation was noted. Distal perfusion could be performed fully and the amount of bleeding during and after operation was small, but 1 case each of acute renal failure and paraplegia as postoperative complication was encountered. Neither was considered due to left heart bypass; and, changes in respiratory system and hepato-renal function were considered within the tolerable range. These results have led us to believe that left heart bypass using Bio-pump is safe and useful as an adjunct in operation for thoracic aortic aneurysm and should be used positively in the future.