ABSTRACT
A 54-year-old man with ischemic mitral regurgitation underwent surgical ventricular restoration, mitral valve plasty and a coronary artery bypass. A chest X-ray 7 days later revealed pleural effusion on the right side. A chest tube was inserted and about 1,000 ml of fluid was drained. However, re-expansion pulmonary edema (RPE) occurred 2 h later. Positive pressure ventilation and intravenous infusion with a diuretic improved the RPE. He was resuscitated on the following day to receive percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) for unstable hypoxemia and hypotension. Oxygenation improved, PCPS was withdrawn 2 days later, and the endotracheal tube was removed. Re-expansion pulmonard. He was resuscitated on the following day to receive percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) for unstable hypoxemia and hypotension. Oxygenation improved, PCPS was withdrawn 2 days later, and the endotracheal tube was removed. Re-expansion pulmonary edema might cause fatal short-term cardio-respiratory failure. We considered that RPE requires appropriate early diagnosis, early treatment and aggressive therapy, including PCPS.
ABSTRACT
A 79-year-old woman with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) on aortic position underwent re-aortic valve replacement. Although emergency operation was indicated due to huge vegetation over 20 mm in diameter attached to the prosthesis shown by preoperative transesophageal echocardiography, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed disappearance of the vegetation. The prosthesis was carefully removed and replaced by a new bioprosthesis, though only small vegetation was observed on the removed prosthesis. Sudden blue toe 11 h after the operation and diminished pulse on right pedal artery suggested an acute arterial occlusion of a right lower extremity, requiring an emergency thrombectomy. Pathology diagnosed bacterial embolus with fresh thrombus that was considered apart from the prosthesis at the time of operation.
ABSTRACT
We report a case of successful surgical treatment for an aortic anastomotic false aneurysm associated with a graft-duodenal fistula after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. A 63-year-old man was admitted with melena and an aortic anastomotic false aneurysm after prosthetic graft replacement 8 years previously. CT scan demonstrated an aneurysm with a maximum diameter of 70mm at the proximal anastomotis of the prosthetic graft. Gastroduodenoscopy revealed no bleeding site in the stomach or the first and second portions of the duodenum. Therefore, we performed an emergency operation under a diagnosis of an aortic anastomotic false aneurysm associated with a graft-duodenal fistula. The aneurysm was replaced with interposition of a new prosthetic graft via a thoracoabdominal approach. The fistula was repaired by covering the duodenum with the jejunum through a left pararectal laparotomy. The postoperative course was uneventful, and there was no evidence of graft infection at 14 months after the operation.