Efficacy and Safety of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants for Japanese Patients With Venous Thromboembolism　- The Primary Results From the KUROSIO Study.

BACKGROUND: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are recommended as the first-choice anticoagulation therapy in the acute phase of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, there is limited real-world data for Japanese VTE patients.Methods and Results: The KUROSIO study (UMIN000023747) was a prospective long-term observational study comprising 1,017 patients with concurrent acute symptomatic pulmonary thromboembolism and proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or isolated calf DVT initially treated with DOACs. After excluding 24 patients, 993 (mean age, 66.3±15.1 years; 58.6% females) were analyzed. The incidences of recurrent symptomatic VTE and major bleeding for up to 52 weeks after diagnosis were 3.2% and 2.2%, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed chemotherapy and anemia as significant risk factors associated with recurrent symptomatic VTE and major bleeding, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and safety of DOACs in Japanese patients with VTE were determined in this real-world observational study.

Bilateral Axillary Artery Perfusion in Total Arch Replacement.

BACKGROUND: The site of arterial cannulation is an important consideration in the prevention of cerebral infarction after total arch replacement. We compared the outcomes of cannulation of the bilateral axillary artery, the femoral artery, and central cannulation in total arch replacement. METHODS: Enrolled were 242 patients, categorized into three groups according to the arterial cannulation site used: bilateral axillary artery group, 124 patients; femoral artery group, 88 patients; central cannulation group, 30 patients. Selective cerebral perfusion was used for brain protection in all patients. Surgical outcomes, including the incidence of postoperative cerebral infarction, were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary bypass time and lower-body circulatory arrest time were significantly shorter in the bilateral axillary artery group. Frozen elephant trunk procedure was performed in 54% of the bilateral axillary artery group (P < .001), and concomitant coronary artery bypass graft surgery was performed in 40% of the central cannulation group (P < .01). Hospital mortality in the bilateral axillary artery group was 1.6%, compared with 1.1% in the femoral artery group, and 0% in the central cannulation group (P = .72). The incidence of permanent neurologic deficit was significantly lower in the bilateral axillary artery group (0.8%) than in the central cannulation group (13%; P = .02). Logistic regression analysis indicated that bilateral axillary artery perfusion was a significant factor in the prevention of permanent neurologic deficit (odds ratio 0.10, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Recent technical advances using bilateral axillary artery perfusion and frozen elephant trunk technique were associated with shortening cardiopulmonary bypass time and prevention of postoperative cerebral infarction in total arch replacement.

[Total Arch Replacement Using Bilateral Axillary Artery Perfusion].

OBJECTIVES: The selection of arterial cannulation site is an important decision to avoid cerebral complication for total arch replacement(TAR). We report the surgical outcome of TAR using bilateral axillary artery perfusion in our hospital. METHODS: Between January 2012 and June 2020, 97 patients who underwent elective TAR for atherosclerotic aneurysms were enrolled in this study. Among them, bilateral axillary artery perfusion was used for 81 patients, and frozen elephant trunk( FET) procedure were used for 34 patients. In the case of FET procedure, translocated TAR was performed with distal anastomosis between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. The left subclavian artery was reconstructed by rerouting the graft used for the left axillary artery perfusion. RESULTS: There were no perioperative cerebral infarction and no hospital deaths. The mean operation time was 420 minutes. Compared to the conventional elephant trunk method, the FET method significantly reduced the operation time to 381 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral axillary artery perfusion could contribute to reduce the cerebral infarction in TAR and facilitate the FET procedure.

Serum Cystatin C Level as a Biomarker of Aortic Plaque in Patients with an Aortic Arch Aneurysm.

AIM: During surgery for an aortic arch aneurysm, aortic plaque in the descending aorta should be evaluated, but there are currently no suitable biomarkers for it. Surgeons should be especially aware of cerebral embolism from femoral perfusion and of peripheral embolism from stent graft deployment. Cystatin C is a known useful marker of renal dysfunction with a role as a biomarker for severity of coronary artery disease. In the absence of a suitable biomarker for aortic plaque in the descending aorta, we examine cystatin C as a candidate. METHODS: In all, 75 patients who underwent surgery for an aortic arch aneurysm were enrolled. They were divided into two groups, depending on whether they had chronic kidney disease or not. The serum cystatin C value and creatinine value were evaluated preoperatively. The aortic plaque volume ratio and components in the descending aorta were calculated from preoperative enhanced computed tomography. RESULTS: The soft plaque volume ratio was higher in patients with chronic kidney disease than in patients without it. Cystatin C positively correlated with the total aortic plaque volume ratio in all cases, and it positively correlated with the soft plaque volume ratio in both groups. Creatinine had no correlation with any type of plaque volume ratio in either group. In patients without chronic kidney disease, the soft plaque volume ratio was higher in patients with higher cystatin C levels than in patients with normal levels. CONCLUSION: The preoperative serum cystatin C level could be a biomarker of aortic plaque in the descending aorta in patients with an aortic arch aneurysm.

Impact of instantaneous wave-free ratio on graft failure after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess an impact of instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) on a graft failure after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 131 coronary arteries from 88 patients who underwent invasive coronary angiography, intracoronary pressure measurements, CABG, and scheduled follow-up coronary computed tomography angiography within one year were investigated. All studied arteries had FFR <0.80. The rate of graft failure was significantly higher in vessels with negative iFR (>0.89) than in those with positive iFR (<0.89) (25.7% vs. 7.3%, p = 0.012). The graft failure rates increased as the preoperative iFR values rose (iFR <0.80, 3.3%; iFR: 0.80-0.84, 5.6%; iFR: 0.85-0.89, 16.0%; iFR: 0.90-0.94, 28.0%; and iFR: 0.95-1.00, 50.0%; p = 0.002). A cut-off value of iFR to predict graft failures was determined as 0.84 by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 88%, 62%, 25%, 97%, and 66%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of graft failure becomes higher, as the preoperative iFR increases. The graft failure is significantly more frequent when a bypass graft is anastomosed on vessels with negative iFR than those with positive iFR.

A biodegradable microneedle sheet for intracorporeal topical hemostasis.

Management of bleeding is critical for improving patient outcomes. While various hemostatic products are used in daily practice, technical improvement is still needed. To addresses this problem, we newly developed a microneedle hemostatic sheet based on microneedle technology. We demonstrated the unique features of this microneedle hemostatic sheet, including reduced hemostatic time, biodegradable polymer composition that allows intracorporeal use without increasing infectious risk incorporation of microneedles to fix the sheet to the wound even on the left ventricular wall of a swine while beating, and a mesh structure with flexibility comparable to that of bonding surgical tape and sufficient rigidity to penetrate human aorta tissue and swine left ventricular wall. One potential application of the microneedle hemostatic sheet is intracorporeal topical hemostasis for parenchymatous organs, large vessels, and heart wall during trauma or surgery, in addition to new, widespread applications.

Severe aortic regurgitation with intimal intussusception secondary to Debakey type I aortic dissection.

Aortic regurgitation (AR) with intimal intussusception, secondary to aortic dissection, is relatively rare and the images are interesting findings. We report a typical case of severe AR with intimal intussusception, secondary to DeBakey type I aortic dissection, detected by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Since there are three types of aortic regurgitation with aortic dissection, it is imperative to consider the most appropriate intervention for AR. The combination of CECT, TEE, and surgical findings may play an important role in determining the optimum surgical procedure for AR with aortic dissection.

Effect of coronary artery bypass grafting on blood pressure response to head-up tilting.

Blood pressure response to head-up tilt (HUT) in 7 healthy subjects and 9 patients before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was measured during supine and 15-min 60° HUT. Stroke volume (SV) and ejection fraction (EF) were assessed by echocardiography. Baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in patients before CABG were similar to healthy subjects. MAP in patients decreased by 6 (4-9) mmHg [median (1st-3rd quartiles)] during 7-12 mmHg of HUT with decreased cardiac output (CO = SV × HR) while HR remained unchanged. MAP in healthy subjects remained unchanged during HUT with increased HR. Body weight decreased by 3.5 (2.5-3.7) kg and MAP decreased by 6 (2-13) mmHg during the last 3-min HUT while HR increased after CABG. Decreases in SV and CO during HUT disappeared after CABG. Blood pressure decreased during HUT in patients before and after CABG regardless of HR response.

Staged hybrid aortic procedure for chronic type B aortic dissection in two patients with Marfan syndrome.

We here report two patients with Marfan syndrome treated by a combination of surgical grafting and endovascular repair in our hospital. One was a 32-year-old woman who underwent thoracoabdominal aortic replacement for a Crawford type III dissected aortic aneurysm. Subsequently, the Bentall procedure and total arch replacement was performed for an aortic root and arch aneurysm. Finally, thoracic endovascular aortic repair bridging implanted grafts was performed. The second was a 67-year-old woman with Stanford type A acute aortic dissection who underwent the Bentall procedure and total arch replacement at the age of 64. Subsequently, she underwent thoracoabdominal replacement for a dilated dissected aortic aneurysm and finally, bridging endovascular aortic repair was performed. This procedure is less invasive than open repair for patients with Marfan syndrome.

Usefulness of routine use of bilateral axillary artery perfusion in total arch replacement.

OBJECTIVES: To avoid cerebral infarction for aortic arch aneurysm and malperfusion for acute aortic dissection, the site of cannulation during total arch replacement remains important. Recently, we have used bilateral axillary artery perfusion in total arch replacement and in acute aortic dissection. Herein, we report the surgical outcomes. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with aortic arch aneurysm and 45 patients with acute aortic dissection were enrolled in this study. During surgery, translocation of the total arch was performed on 67 patients using a 'frozen elephant trunk technique'. RESULTS: In patients with aortic arch aneurysm, there was no postoperative cerebral infarction. New postoperative cerebral infarction was observed in only one patient who underwent acute aortic dissection. Two patients who had aortic arch aneurysm and 2 patients who had acute aortic dissection died at the hospital. Complications related to bilateral axillary perfusion were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The routine use of bilateral axillary artery perfusion in total arch replacement for aortic arch aneurysm to avoid cerebral infarction has the potential to be a useful procedure. It can facilitate the frozen elephant trunk procedure in acute aortic dissection.

Functional assessment of improvement of myocardial ischemia using coronary flow velocity reserve after coronary artery bypass surgery in hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: In patients with end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis (HD patients), myocardial ischemia after coronary artery disease is a major cause of mortality. Coronary pathophysiology, namely myocardial microvascular dysfunction, appears to differ from patients not requiring HD (non-HD patients). OBJECTIVES: We compared functional improvement of myocardial ischemia after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) between HD and non-HD patients by transthoracic coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed isolated CABG patients from between 2008 and 2017. Finally, 161 patients were enrolled; each underwent pre- and postoperative CFVR assessment, and left anterior descending (LAD) artery revascularization with "in-situ" internal mammary artery (IMA). Graft patency was confirmed, and after successful CABG, postoperative CFVR improvement between the two groups was compared. RESULTS: Preoperative CFVR value in group H was 1.81 ± 0.52, group N was 1.93 ± 0.66. There was no significant difference between the groups. IMA to LAD grafts were patent in postoperative evaluation in all patients. Postoperative CFVR in group H was 2.48 ± 0.72 and group N was 2.83 ± 0.73 (P = .042). Significant difference was observed. CONCLUSION: In both groups, CFVR values improved after successful CABG, but postoperative CFVR values were significant different. In younger populations CFVR values are generally higher. Our HD group was significantly younger than the non-HD group, but CFVR values were postoperatively significantly lower. CFVR values are reportedly affected by both epicardial and microcoronary circulation. In this study population, as all grafts to the LAD were patent, the lower CFVR value in the HD group was considered to have resulted in microvascular disorders.

Functional Evaluation of the Myocardial Ischemia After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Using Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve in Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.

Patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) have reportedly higher than normal mortality and incidences of cardiovascular events. Coronary microvascular pathophysiology also appears to differ from other populations. Such coronary microcirculation dysfunctions are considered strong causes of cardiac events. We compare the functional improvement of myocardial ischemia between LVH patients and other patients after successful coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) using coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) by transthoracic echo cardiography. Patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass surgery, including left anterior descending artery (LAD) revascularization via "in situ" internal thoracic artery (ITA) between June 2008 and July 2017 (n = 155), were retrospectively reviewed. ITA grafts were patent in postoperative graft evaluation in all patients. CFVR was evaluated pre- and postoperatively, and data were compared between patients with severe LVH group and those without (non-LVH group). Preoperative mean CFVR was 1.77 ± 0.75 in LVH group and 1.91 ± 0.63 in non-LVH group (P = 0.188). After the operation, ITA to LAD graft patency was confirmed in all patients. Postoperative CFVR was 2.23 ± 0.70 in LVH group and 2.85 ± 0.71 in non-LVH group, respectively (P = 0.002). Significant difference was observed between the 2 groups. CFVR values improved after ITA to LAD bypass grafting in both LVH and non-LVH groups, but postoperative CFVR was significantly lower in patients with severe LVH than in patients without. Myocardial ischemia may exist in patients with LVH, despite patent graft, due to microvascular dysfunction. Comprehensive treatment, including long-term oral medication to improve microvascular dysfunction, is necessary for patients with LVH.

Aortic valve replacement with essential thrombocythemia.

Cardiac surgery in patients with essential thrombocythemia carries the risks of both thrombotic events and a bleeding tendency. We report the case of a 75-year-old man with essential thrombocythemia who underwent successful surgical aortic valve replacement after his platelet count was controlled with plateletpheresis 3 times before surgery.

Repair of an adult aorto-pulmonary artery fistula associated with a ruptured aortic arch aneurysm using a frozen elephant trunk technique.

We describe the repair of an acute aorto-pulmonary artery fistula in a 82-year-old patient with a ruptured aortic arch aneurysm using a frozen elephant trunk technique.

Congenital mitral regurgitation with Down syndrome.

A 19-year-old man with Down syndrome had congenital mitral regurgitation. He had slight mental retardation and difficulty in performing independent oral drug administration. We planned mitral valve plasty to avoid postoperative anticoagulant therapy. The mitral valve lesions were complicated. A prolapsed anterior mitral leaflet, shortened posterior leaflet, abnormal cleft, abnormal papillary muscle, and enlarged annulus were observed. Successful mitral valve plasty was performed using several techniques. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no significant mitral regurgitation was found.

Efficacy of Paclitaxel in a Patient with Inoperable Pulmonary Vein Leiomyosarcoma.

Pulmonary vein leiomyosarcoma is extremely rare and has a poor prognosis. Surgical resection with a wide margin seems to offer the only chance of cure. The role of adjuvant therapy is controversial, and the exact efficacy of chemotherapy has not been observed. In this report, we present an 18-year-old male patient with pulmonary vein leiomyosarcoma in whom the use of paclitaxel (PAX) proved to be effective. Because the tumor originated from the left superior pulmonary vein and diffused into the left atrial wall and the junction of the right superior pulmonary vein and left atrium, the en bloc excision of the tumor was impossible. The first-line chemotherapy, including ifosfamide, doxorubicin, and dacarbazine, in conjugation with radiation therapy could not demonstrate any effect on the tumor size. However, the following PAX-containing regimen provided complete regression of the tumor. After PAX-based high-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, the patient showed complete remission for 2 years. Although he suffered metastatic recurrences and died 4 years after the onset of symptoms, our patient's clinical course clearly reveals the efficacy of PAX.