ABSTRACT
A 61-year-old man with consciousness disorder was transferred to our hospital. Computed tomography found acute type A aortic dissection and cardiac tamponade, and an emergency operation was performed. Operation findings indicated dissection above the commissure between the left coronary cusp and the right coronary cusp, to the ostium of the right coronary. An ascending aorta replacement and coronary aorta bypass grafting were performed. The postoperative course was good, but he did not regain clear consciousness. Results of magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple cerebral infarctions. At the same time, the platelet count had decreased and we suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Following detection of an heparin-dependent antibody, administration of an heparin was discontinued. However, the platelet count still tended to decrease. Therefore, we started continuous administration of argatroban, which resulted in the gradual increase in platelet count to within normal limits on postoperative day 26. The results indicate that in patients continuously and repeatedly treated with heparin, there is a possibility of the development of HIT and thrombosis with HIT.
ABSTRACT
A 9-year-old boy with multisaccular thoracic aortic aneurysm associated with coarctation of the aorta underwent definitive repair under partial cardiopulmonary bypass. The operation consisted of resection of the aneurysm and reconstruction of the descending aorta. Aortic reconstruction was done without an artificial graft, and extended end-to-end anastomosis was performed successfully. He has been doing well and there was no significant restenosis at the repair site 5 years after the operation. Some authors reported that untreated coarctation of the aorta frequently developed aneerysm, which usually has multisaccular lesions. Surgical strategy of aortic reconstruction for coarctation of the aorta in boyhood should be decided prudently to avoid postoperative complications.
ABSTRACT
We encountered a case of pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta, aortic stenosis and regurgitation, and infected popliteal aneurysm discovered 24 years after cardiac operation. A 34-year-old male who had undergone radical operation for subaortic stenosis at age 10 had infectious endocarditis. Pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta and aortic stenosis and regurgitation were noticed after diagnosis of a popliteal aneuyrsm, and operation was performed in two stages. Resection of the popliteal aneurysm, direct suturing of the entry as well as resection of the pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta, patch plasty of the defect and replacement of aortic valve were performed with satisfactory results.