[An adult case of double aortic arch].

Reports of surgical treatment are rare in adults with double aortic arch. We present such a case of a 15-year-old male who presented with dysphagia and dyspnea. Diagnosis was made by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), showing a dominant right arch. The patient underwent divisions of left aortic arch and ligamentum arteriosum, and further dissections around esophagus and trachea. After the operation, both dysphagia and dyspnea were disappeared completely. By reviewing literatures in adult cases, cautions in surgical procedure were discussed in this article.

[Effect of sivelestat sodium on acute lung injury after acute aortic dissection].

Acute lung injury is a frequent and serious complication in patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD). Elevated neutrophil elastase has been reported to be one of the major determinants occurring in AAD. On admission, we administered sivelestat sodium hydrate, a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, to 11 patients with AAD who were medically treated to prevent lung injury. We compared their clinical course with that of 12 patients of control group in which sivelestat was not used prophylacticaly. Although there were 5 patients (42%) who suffered from respiratory failure and needed mechanical ventilation in the control group, no one needed intubation in the sivelestat group. Our study suggested that sivelestat sodium hydrate could be effective in preventing intubation due to respiratory failure. Further prospective study is necessary to evaluate prophylactic administration of sivelestat sodium hydrate in AAD.

[Reconstruction of neck vessels in endovascular repair of aortic arch aneurysms].

We report 6 cases of aortic arch aneurysms necessitating reconstruction of the neck vessel during stent-graft (SG) placement. All patients were male and their average age was 75 years. The proximal landing zone was zone 0 in 2, zone 1 in 2, and zone 2 in 2 patients. The left subclavian artery (LSCA) was revascularized in every case; using left common carotid artery (LCCA)-LSCA bypass in 3, axillo-axillary artery bypass in 2, and LSCA transposition in 1. Prophylactic LCCA revascularization was done in 2 in which obstruction of LCCA by SG was anticipated. The proximal portion of LSCA from the origin of the vertebral artery was ligated in 3, and divided in 1. Two types of SG were used; Z stent in 1 and Matsui-Kitamura stent in 5. There was no hospital death or perioperative stroke. In the patient with Z stent, SG could not be deployed because of kinking of the delivery system. This patient subsequently underwent surgical SG placement under hypothermic circulatory arrest. In the other 5, SG was deployed without any type of endoleak. Postoperative complication included incomplete phrenic nerve palsy in 1. Prophylactic bypass for LCCA was divided because SG did not obstruct the antegrade flow of LCCA. Revascularization of neck vessels can be performed with low morbidity in endovascular repair of aortic arch aneurysms.

[Fontan completion after balloon angioplasty of multiple pulmonary artery stenosis in a child with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum; report of a case].

A 5-year-old boy was referred to our institute for cardiac evaluation having been previously seen at another center. He had been diagnosed a pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum just after birth, and undergone Blalock-Taussig shunts. Although his central pulmonary artery pressure was high (mean pressure 26 mmHg) after bilateral Blalock-Taussig shunts, multiple peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis protected his pulmonary vascular bed from pressure load. We released the multiple pulmonary artery stenosis partly by catheter intervention and partly by surgical operation, and staged Fontan operation was completed. The surgery in combination with catheter therapies would expand the indication of Fontan-type operation, and it would contribute to the patients' postoperative prognosis.

[Infectious endocarditis complicated with preoperative cerebral infarction and rupture of infectious intracranial aneurysm].

A surgically treated case of infectious endocarditis (IE) complicated with preoperative cerebral infarction and rupture of mycotic intracranial aneurysm was reported. A 66-year-old male was admitted with the diagnosis of active IE due to Streptococcus sanguis, complicated with cerebral infarction 17 days previously. Preoperative echocardiography showed mobile vegetations both on the aortic and the mitral leaflet, sizes of which were 12.6 and 25 mm. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a subarachnoid homorrhage due to the rupture of an intracranial aneurysm, and was treated surgically. The bacteriological study of the resected aneurysm showed Streptococcus sanguis. Eleven days after the operation, both the aortic and the mitral valve replacement were performed. There were mobile vegetations on the aortic and the mitral leaflet. There were no new neurological findings after operation. The duration between the cranial surgery and the cardiac surgery was thought to be important to prevent the new neurological complication.

Long-term results of treatments for varicose veins due to greater saphenous vein insufficiency.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term recurrence rates of greater saphenous vein (GSV) insufficiency after treatments for primary varicose veins, and to elucidate risk factors for recurrence. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective analysis of 376 limbs of 296 patients treated for primary varicose veins due to GSV insufficiency from January 1996 to December 1997. The recurrence-free rates after stripping surgery, saphenofemoral ligation, and sclerotherapy were estimated. The risk factors for the recurrence of primary varicose veins were estimated by multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The follow-up period was 3.1+/-1.3 (mean+/-SD) years. The recurrence-free rates at 4 years after stripping, saphenofemoral ligation and sclerotherapy were 80.7%, 64.5%, and 51.3%, respectively. The saphenofemoral ligation group and sclerotherapy group had significantly higher recurrence rates than the stripping group (P=0.002, P<0.001, respectively). There was no difference in recurrence rates between the saphenofemoral ligation group and sclerotherapy group (P=0.074). Logistic regression analysis revealed that being female (P<0.029) and treatment without stripping (P<0.001) increased the recurrence rate. CONCLUSIONS: Stripping surgery may be the treatment of first choice for patients with varicose veins due to GSV insufficiency. Patients who have not received stripping surgery and female patients require closer follow-up.

[Acute type A aortic dissection associated with intestinal necrosis].

We report a case with acute type A aortic dissection associated with occlusion of the celiac artery (CA) and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) who underwent replacement of the aortic valve and the ascending aorta concomitant with CA and SMA bypass grafting and partial resection of the ileum and the cecum. A 79-year-old man who has a history of Y-graft replacement of abdominal aortic aneurysm developed re-dissection of thrombosed type A acute dissection 2 weeks after the onset. We performed CA and SMA bypass grafting followed by replacement of the aortic valve and the ascending aorta. In spite of successful revascularization of the CA and SMA, residual necrosis in the ileum and the cecum necessitated resection of them. He was discharged 11 months postoperatively without neurological sequelae.

[Risk factors for the surgical repair of ventricular septal perforation; an 8-year multiinstitutional analysis].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the surgical outcomes and risk factors for surgical repair of the ventricular septal perforation (VSP). METHOD: From 1995 to 2003, 41 patients with VSP underwent surgical repair. There were 18 males and 23 females, with the mean age of 71.7 +/- 9.2. Sixteen patients (39.0%) had the preoperative shock, while 30 patients received intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) assistance and 1 of those required percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS). Mean durations from onset of myocardial infarction and VSP to operation were 5.8 +/- 9.4 and 2.4 +/- 8.1 days, respectively. Twenty-six patients underwent infarct exclusion technique, 11 underwent patch closure, and 4 Daggett operation. Mean cardiopulmonary and aortic cross-clamp time were 211 +/- 85 and 105 +/- 43 minutes, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty days mortality was 11 (26.8%). Nine patients (22%) required PCPS after repair, however, 2 weaned off the support and only 1 discharged the hospital. Residual shunt was found in 12 patients (29.3%), and 4 underwent the reclosure of the residual shunt 13 +/- 8.6 days after the initial operation, whereas none of patients with PCPS had residual shunt. Univariate analysis revealed the preoperative shock (p = 0.03), longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (p < 0.01), and the need for PCPS after repair (p < 0.01) were the risk factors for the early mortality. Multivariate analysis indicated the cardiopulmonary time over 210 minutes and the need for PCPS to be the significant risk factors. CONCLUSION: The long cardiopulmonary bypass support after repair and the subsequent need for PCPS imply the poor left ventricular function. Since the residual shunt was not the cause of PCPS, the surgical outcome for VSP may be limited in patients with poor left ventricular function. In these patients, other therapeutic strategies may be required, such as ventricular assisting devices, transplantation, or regenerative therapy.

Adenovirus-mediated CTLA4 immunoglobulin G gene therapy in cardiac xenotransplantation.

BACKGROUND: CTLA4 immunoglobulin (CTLA4 Ig), which binds with high affinity to B7-1 and B7-2, interrupts T-cell activation by inhibiting the costimulatory signal. CTLA4Ig has been used to achieve antigen-specific tolerance induction in cardiac allografts. On the other hand, we have shown that short-term administration of deoxyspergualin (DSG) and daily cyclosporine (CsA) induces long-term survival of cardiac xenotransplants. We hypothesized that the combination therapy of DSG and adenovirus-mediated CTLA4IgG might induce long-term, survival or tolerance in cardiac xenotransplantation. OBJECTIVES: Syrian hamster hearts were transplanted heterotopically into Lewis rats. We compared the survival time and immunopathology of the following five groups: (1) no treatment; (2) DSG (5 mg/kg per day intramuscularly [IM], days -1 to +7) alone; (3) CsA (15 mg/kg per day IM, day 0 to rejection) plus DSG; (4) AdexLacZ (LacZ-adenovirus 1 x 10(9) (PFU intravenously [IV], day -7) plus DSG; and (5) AdexCTLA4IgG (CTLA4IgG-adenovirus 1 x 10(9) PFU IV, day -7) plus DSG. RESULTS: The survival times were: (1) no treatment, 3.7 days; (2) DSG alone, 12.4 days; (3) CyA plus DSG, >100 days; (4) AdexLacZ plus DSG, 11.0 days; and (5) AdexCTLA4IgG plus DSG, 23.6 days. Adenovirus-mediated CTLA4IgG therapy with DSG prolonged survival time significantly compared with DSG alone or AdexLacZ plus DSG, but CTLA4IgG therapy was not as effective as CsA. Immunopathology showed the deposition of C3 and IgM on the endothelium in the AdexCTLA4IgG plus DSG group. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that the effectiveness of adenovirus-mediated CTLA4IgG gene therapy in cardiac xenotransplantation in less than that of CsA. Combination therapy with inhibition of the B7/CD28 constimulatory signal and DSG administration might not be sufficient for long-term survival or tolerance in cardiac xenotransplantation.

[Off-pump coronary artery bypass via left thoracotomy in patient with infective pancreatic fistula after surgery for bile duct carcinoma; report of a case].

A 62-year-old man with infective pancreatic fistula after surgery for bile duct carcinoma underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) through left thoracotomy to avoid the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and the postoperative mediastinitis, since this patient has infective pancreatic fistula close to the xiphoid process. The coronary arterial revascularizations were performed: left internal thoracic artery to left anterior descending branch and saphenous vein graft to descending thoracic aorta. The aortic mechanical anastomosis device, aortic connector, was utilized the proximal anastomosis of saphenous vein graft so as to avoid aortic clamp, while the distal anastomoses were completed with stabilizer and apical retraction device. Postoperative angiogram showed both grafts were patent. No signs of infection or recurrence of malignant neoplasm was observed. OPCAB via left thoracotomy is one of useful options for patients in whom median sternotomy is not suitable approach for myocardial revascularizations.

[Aortic root replacement with free-style stentless valve for aorto-left and right ventricular communication due to infective endocarditis; report of a case].

Aortic root abscess remains a major determinant of both early and late results of surgical treatment of endocarditis. This complication rarely progresses to intracardiac shunt followed by cardiac failure. We report a surgical case of a 40-year-old man, who had been diagnosed as prosthetic valve endocarditis with aortic root abscess ruptured into left and right ventricle creating aorto-left and right ventricular communication. Because of complete debridment of infective and/or dead tissue, aortic root replacement was required. We used free-style stentless valve, xenograft, since homograft was not available at the time of operation. We believe that this prosthesis has easier handling and is more resistant to infection, therefore, it might be an option for infective endocarditis with aortic root abscess.

Prediction of functional recovery after coronary bypass surgery using quantitative gated myocardial perfusion SPECT.

Previous studies have demonstrated that myocardial perfusion imaging using 99mTc-tetrofosmin at rest allows viability assessment similar to that obtained with 201Tl imaging and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET). The simultaneous assessment of perfusion and regional function is now available by quantitative gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). This study was designed to evaluate the utility of quantitative values of wall motion and wall thickening, calculated by quantitative gated myocardial perfusion SPECT, for the prediction of functional recovery after coronary bypass grafting (CABG). Fifty-six patients with coronary artery disease scheduled for CABG were included prospectively. All patients underwent 99mTc-tetrofosmin gated SPECT imaging at rest preoperatively and 3 months after CABG. The myocardium was divided into nine segments and the average quantitative values of regional perfusion (percentage uptake) (%), wall motion (mm) and wall thickening (%) were determined automatically using quantitative gated SPECT (QGS) software. The wall motion score was defined visually using a four-point scale (0, normal; 3, akinesis), and segments with severe asynergy (score of 2 or 3) with patent grafts were assessed. Of 77 segments with severe asynergy, 56 segments showed improved wall motion and 21 segments did not improve after CABG. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of wall thickening for the prediction of functional recovery was significantly higher (0.92) than that of the percentage uptake (0.77, P<0.017) or wall motion (0.60, P<0.0001). When each analysis used the optimal threshold, the wall thickening analysis (>or=10%) had a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 81%. These values tended to be higher than those of the percentage uptake (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 67%). The wall motion analysis (>or=1.5 mm) had a significantly lower sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 43% than the wall thickening analysis (P=0.0038 and P=0.011, respectively). The results indicate that wall thickening, calculated by QGS software, may be more useful than regional perfusion or wall motion analysis for the prediction of functional recovery after CABG. The areas of asynergy with relatively preserved wall thickening may have the potential for improved function despite severely decreased perfusion.

[Infected false aneurysm due to methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus after proximal aortic grafting].

A 70-year-old man developed meticillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) mediastinitis after prosthetic graft replacement of the ascending aorta. The sternal wound was reexplored and a single-stage procedure of irrigation, debridement, and omental transposition was performed. Ten months after the first operation, he suffered recurrence of pyrexia and the presence of false aneurysm originated from the distal suture line was diagnosed by the chest computed tomography (CT) scan. Re-replacement of the ascending aorta and proximal hemiarch with rifampicin soaked Gelseal was successfully performed. Hypothermic perfusion with circulatory arrest through peripheral cannulation and left ventricular venting via a left anterior thoracotomy was useful to obtain safe reentry in the operation of retrosternal false aneurysm.

Changes in cerebral oxygenation in children undergoing surgical repair of ventricular septal defects.

There have been few published studies on changes in cerebral oxygenation during paediatric cardiac surgery as measured by conventional near-infrared spectroscopy. We studied changes in cerebral oxygenation in 16 children undergoing surgical repair of ventricular septal defects. Fifteen of the patients showed similar patterns of changes: brain tissue concentrations of oxyhaemoglobin decreased significantly during cardiopulmonary bypass, whereas there was no significant change in brain tissue concentrations of deoxyhaemoglobin. In the remaining patient, who suffered decreased blood flow to the lower body during surgery, the pattern of changes was different to that of the other subjects. This patient suffered postoperative respiratory and renal failure. This study suggests that conventional near-infrared spectroscopy may be useful for clinical monitoring during ventricular septal defect repair.

[Surgical results for aortic involvement in Marfan syndrome].

From 1991 through 2001, 21 Marfan patients underwent aortic operations in our hospital. They received a total of 36 aortic operations, 31 by ourselves including 4 non-elective operations and 2 operations before 1991. Extent of replacement was Bentall + total arch (4), Bentall (8), valve sparing aortic root (reimplantation) (2), re-anastomosis + coronary aortic bypass grafting (CABG) after Bentall (1), ascending + total arch (3), ascending (1), total arch (1), total thoracoabdominal (10), thoracoabdominal (1), descending thoracic (2), distal arch (1), abdominal (2). Multiple operations were required in 11 patients (2 operations in 7, 3 operations in 4). Eight reoperations in 6 patients were for adjacent lesion, 5 reoperations were for remote lesion, and 2 others were for complication of Bentall (initial operation elsewhere). Among the 8 reoperations for adjacent lesion, 3 were scheduled operation (2 with elephant trunk), 4 were for residual dissection, and 1 was for annulo-aortic ectasia (AAE). Total aortic replacement was achieved in 4 and subtotal replacement excluding the root in 2. There was no hospital mortality. Paraparesis occurred in 1 who died 4.7 years after operation. The remaining patients are currently alive. No other aortic event occurred. Aortic reoperation-free survival was 83% at 5 year and 28% at 10 year.

[An evaluation of the potential ischemia of the forearm after harvesting of radial artery by near infrared spectroscopy].

We evaluated the potential ischemia of the forearm after harvesting of radial artery (RA) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The subjects consist of two groups; patients group (group P) including 18 patients who received CABG with RA and control group (group C) including 9 healthy volunteers. Group P was divided into two groups; early post operative group (group E, n = 11) and mid-term post operative group (group M, n = 7). NIRS was used to measure the recovery time (RT) in the muscles of the forearm during occlusion test. There was a significant prolongation of the RT in group P than group C. There was no significant difference of the RT between group E and group M. In conclusion, harvesting of RA may cause ischemia of the forearm and it may continue for a long time.

[Early and long-term results of surgery for aortic arch aneurysms using selective cerebral perfusion].

OBJECTIVE: We report our operative technique for atherosclerotic arch aneurysms and early and long term results of the surgery. METHODS: Between April 1992 and December 2001, 80 consecutive patients underwent operation for atherosclerotic arch aneurysms. Their mean age was 70 +/- 7 years. Sixty-six (82.5%) patients were operated on electively. All operations were performed under median sternotomy using hypothermic circulatory arrest and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. Total arch replacement was performed in 66 cases, proximal hemiarch replacement in 4 cases, distal arch replacement using stent graft implantation via aortic arch incision in 8 cases, and patch angioplasty in 2 cases. In 9 of these patients in whom mobile arch atheroma was revealed by intraoperative epiaortic ultrasonography, isolation technique was employed to avoid embolic stroke. RESULTS: Overall in-hospital mortality was 10.0% (8 of 80 patients). Postoperative temporary neurologic dysfunction was 7.5%, and stroke rate was 5.0%. The 3-year, and 5-year actuarial survival rate including hospital death was 79.3% and 75.3% respectively. The 3-year, and 5-year cardiovascular event free survival rate was 68.3% and 60.0% respectively. CONCLUSION: The early and long-term results of surgery for atherosclerotic arch aneurysms were acceptable. Selective cerebral perfusion is an effective brain protective adjunct.

Successful endovascular stent-grafting for thoracic aortic aneurysms in systemic lupus erithematosus. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is frequently associated with cardiovascular manifestations but rarely complicated with aortic disease, and surgical treatment is often complicated with later anastomotic dehiscence. We report successful endovascular stent-graft placement (EVSGP) as an alternative to conventional treatment of the aortic aneurysm in patients with SLE and review of the literature. Clinical cases included a 58-year-old woman with a saccular aneurysm of the distal aortic arch and a 52-year-old woman who had the aortic dissection in the whole descending thoracic aorta. Both patients underwent placement of the stent-graft in the diseased aorta through the iliac artery and received steroid perioperatively. Mortality was compared between surgical and medical treatment in the reported 39 cases of SLE associated with aortic aneurysm. Both patients were successfully treated by EVSGP and no inflammatory signs were seen after the procedure. There were no recurrence in the short follow-up period (up to 23 and 15 months after the procedure). In review of the literature, operative mortality (13.6%) was superior to that in patients receiving medical treatment only (53.3%), but two of 19 operative survivors died of rupture afterward. EVSGP can be a useful alternative to conventional treatment of the aortic aneurysm in patients with SLE, although it lacks the support of long-term follow-up data currently.

A case of an ascending aortic aneurysm due to mesoaortitis complicated with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

An 80-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the surgical treatment of an ascending aortic aneurysm. The diagnosis of idiopathic thombocytonenic purpura was also made by hematological studies which included the examination of the aspirated bone marrow. Preoperative chest computed tomography showed an ascending aortic aneurysm with a maximum diameter of 80 mm. Echocardiography demonstrated mild aortic regurgitation. The platelet count increased by intravenous administration of immunoglobulin. A prosthetic graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve repair were carried out with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass, selective cerebral perfusion and hypothermic circulatory arrest. No difficulty was encountered in hemostasis and the postoperative course was uneventful. Histological examination of the aneurysmal wall showed chronic mesoaortitis with patchy destruction of musculo-elastic medial tissue and adventitial focal lymphocytic infiltrates that were similar to syphilitic mesoaortitis, although serological treponemal tests were all negative. Perioperative administration of gamma-globulin is useful to minimize the hemorrhagic complication in a patient undergoing cardiovascular surgery with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. Reconstruction of the transected medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle.

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome (PAES) is an uncommon cause of arterial insufficiency, especially in younger, athletic patients. Surgical treatment should be performed in all cases of PAES whether the artery is occluded or not. Although transection of the compressing muscle or fascial band is required to obtain good results, controversy exists about reconstruction of the transected muscle or fascial band. We present a case of a young athlete with PAES for whom rapid recovery of the athletic activity was provided by reconstruction of the divided medial head of the gastrocnemius muscle.