Aortic valve replacement for dextrocardia with situs inversus totalis.

Dextrocardia is a rare congenital cardiac positional anomaly. A 74-year-old woman was referred for aortic regurgitation (AR). Chest X-ray revealed a mildly enlarged heart that directed to the right side. Transthoracic echocardiography showed AR due to cusp prolapse with a dilated left ventricle and reduced wall motion. Computed tomography demonstrated the heart and great vessels in a mirror image of their normal positions. A median sternotomy performed by the surgeon standing on the right side of the patient. After establishing a cardiopulmonary bypass, the surgeon moved to the left side of the patient, and then performed aortic valve replacement.

Aortic Dissection Associated with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

A 78-year-old man who had been diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and hypertension presented with chest pain. His family history was positive for ADPKD. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a type A aortic dissection with thrombotic occlusion of a false lumen and an ulcer-like projection in the ascending aorta, an aneurysm of the ascending aorta, and pericardial effusion. Abdominal CT showed multiple renal and hepatic cysts. At surgery, aortic dissection with thrombotic occlusion of the false lumen and an intimal tear in the distal ascending aorta were observed. Hemiarch replacement including the intimal tear was performed. The patient is doing well without requiring dialysis and without recurrence of aortic dissection or aneurysm under strict antihypertensive therapy 3 years after the operation. Pathological examination of aortic wall specimens revealed no degenerative abnormality. ADPKD should be kept in mind as one of the causative disorders of aortic dissection.

Infective Endocarditis Associated with Atopic Dermatitis.

We report a case of aortic valve infective endocarditis (IE) in a 24-year-old man with atopic dermatitis (AD). He had a history of balloon valvuloplasty for a stenotic bicuspid aortic valve, and had dental caries but no invasive dental procedure before the onset of IE. On admission, skin lesions of AD with itching and scratches were found on the neck, trunk, and extremities. Echocardiography showed a vegetation on the aortic valve with mild steno-regurgitation, but extension of IE to the annulus was not detected. Magnetic resonance imaging identified fresh cerebral infarction without neurological dysfunction, leading us to suspect an embolism. Blood cultures grew methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. During emergency surgery, a vegetation attached to the conjoined cusp was observed, and the aortic valve was replaced with a mechanical valve. The patient recovered uneventfully without any complications such as recurrent IE or mediastinitis. We also review previously reported cases of IE associated with AD.

Pulsatile Varicose Veins Secondary to Severe Tricuspid Regurgitation: Report of a Case Successfully Managed by Endovenous Laser Treatment.

We report a case of pulsatile varicose veins successfully managed by endovenous laser treatment (EVLT) of the great saphenous vein (GSV). A 77-year-old woman taking an anticoagulant was transferred to our hospital for pulsatile varicose veins complicated with repeated venous bleeding from an ulcer of her left lower leg. Doppler echocardiography showed severe tricuspid regurgitation, and duplex ultrasonography revealed an arterial-like pulsating flow in the saphenofemoral junction and along the GSV, but an arteriovenous fistula, obstruction of the deep veins, and the distal incompetent perforators were not detected. Because of a significant bleeding risk due to elevated venous pressure and anticoagulant therapy, EVLT was performed for the GSV, which resulted in the complete occlusion of the GSV and healing of the ulcer. EVLT presents a safe and useful therapeutic technique for pulsatile varicose veins in the limbs.

Enlargement of the Excluded Left Atrial Appendage With Thrombus.

We report progressive enlargement of the excluded left atrial appendage (LAA) with a thrombus in a patient who had undergone valve surgery and endocardial suture closure of the LAA previously. Echocardiography and CT detected no communication between the LAA and the left atrium. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the LAA was filled with fresh and old thrombi. Coronary arteriography demonstrated small left coronary artery-LAA fistulae. At surgery, successful exclusion of the LAA was confirmed after removal of the thrombi. Persistent inflow of blood through the coronary artery fistulae to the excluded LAA may be the primary mechanism of this pathology.

Intra-Atrial Excision of the Left Atrial Appendage: A Simple and Easy Technique.

In patients with atrial fibrillation, closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is recommended to prevent thromboembolic events, however, conventional exclusion or excision techniques have potential drawbacks such as persistent blood flow into the appendage and a residual stump. We propose a simple and easy technique for LAA closure consisting of intra-atrial excision of the LAA, which is invaginated into the left atrium (LA), and direct suture closure of the orifice from inside the LA. In this technique, complete elimination of the LAA was achieved without leaving a residual stump because the LAA was excised at the orifice and was closed at the base of the LAA.

Aortic Stenosis in a Patient With Sjogren's Syndrome.

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by dryness of the mouth and the eyes. Systemic involvement in SS is well known, however, obvious cardiac manifestations, particularly significant valve disorders, are extremely rare and only three cases of significant valve disease associated with SS that required surgical intervention have been previously described. We report a case of aortic stenosis (AS) associated with SS in an elderly patient. The diagnosis of primary SS had been made based on clinical features, positive ocular signs, and positive serologic findings. Echocardiography showed severe calcification, elevated mean pressure gradient (57 mmHg), and a small orifice area (0.45 cm(2)) of the aortic valve. At surgery, severe calcification of the aortic cusps and the annulus was the mechanism of AS, and the aortic valve was replaced with a bioprosthetic valve. Valve pathology showed nodular calcification and hyaline degeneration, but lymphocyte infiltration was not evident. The etiologic relation of SS to the valve lesions is not clear pathologically in this case, however, chronic inflammation related to immunologic reactions in SS could have some effect on exacerbation for degeneration of the valve tissue.

Evaluation of advancing the standard valve dysfunction by multidetector-row CT.

We evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of electrocardiographically gated multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) for prosthetic valve dysfunction (PVD) of an ATS valve. Twenty-four patients underwent MDCT following echocardiography and cineradiography. Echocardiography and cineradiography showed normal valve function in 17 patients and PVD in 7. PVD included aortic prosthetic valve obstruction in 4 patients, an aortic annular aneurysm with paraprosthetic regurgitation in one, and a blocked leaflet in the mitral position in 2. Among the 7 patients, 5 received reoperation after MDCT. MDCT revealed a subprosthetic mass in all 5 patients with PVD and in 4 patients with normal valve function in the aortic position. In addition to a subprosthetic mass, an annular aneurysm was found in one. Valvular masses were detected in 2 patients with mitral PVD. At reoperation, subprosthetic pannus in the aortic position was detected in 2 patients, subprosthetic pannus and annular aneurysm with paraprosthetic leaks in one, and mitral valve thrombosis in 2. These findings confirmed at reoperation matched to the findings observed on MDCT. The mean CT attenuation of the subprosthetic mass in 6 patients was 152 ± 12 HU and that of the subprosthetic pannus in 3 patients was 163 ± 17 HU. CT attenuation of the thrombus in the mitral valve in the 2 patients was 60 and 99 HU. Our study demonstrates that MDCT is a valuable and reliable diagnostic technique for PVD in an ATS valve and that MDCT may identify an abnormality causing PVD.

Sutureless repair for left ventricular free wall rupture after acute myocardial infarction.

We report three cases of left ventricular free wall rupture (LVFWR) after acute myocardial infarction, which were repaired using a sutureless technique without cardiopulmonary bypass. At operation, a sheet of fibrin tissue-adhesive collagen fleece (TachoComb) was secured to the hematoma surrounding the tear and the infarcted area under compression by the surgeon's fingers. After complete hemostasis, several sheets of an absorbable gelatin sponge (Gelfoam) were glued onto the collagen fleece in layers. Intra-aortic balloon pumping was electively performed. Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting was not carried out. All patients survived the operation but recurrence of the rupture occurred on postoperative day 10 in one patient and an LV aneurysm was found four months after repair in another patient. The sutureless technique may be a simple and fast option for treatment of an oozing type LVFWR; however, careful follow-up is mandatory.

Evaluation of prosthetic valve obstruction on electrocardiographically gated multidetector-row computed tomography--identification of subprosthetic pannus in the aortic position.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic role of electrocardiographically gated multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) for prosthetic valve obstruction (PVO) in the aortic position. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2006, 9 patients were diagnosed with PVO of an aortic bileaflet mechanical valve based on echocardiographic and cineradiographic criteria. These 9 patients were examined using MDCT before replacement of the mechanical valve, and intraoperative findings were compared to morphologic periprosthetic abnormalities observed on MDCT. CT attenuation (Hounsfield units; HU) of the periprosthetic abnormalities was measured to investigate the underlying cause of the PVO. MDCT showed subprosthetic masses extending beyond the prosthetic ring into the orifice of the valve. At reoperation, presence of subprosthetic pannus was confirmed in all of the 9 patients, but no periprosthetic thrombus was found. The mean CT attenuation of the subprosthetic pannus was 170 HU, and it was significantly greater than that obtained from the interventricular septum (108 HU; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: MDCT can be used to clearly visualize subprosthetic pannus causing PVO and the mean CT attenuation of subprosthetic pannus is significantly higher than that of the interventricular septum on MDCT.

Structural valve deterioration in a starr-edwards mitral caged-disk valve prosthesis.

BACKGROUND: The durability of the Starr-Edwards (SE) mitral caged-disk valve, model 6520, is not clearly known, and structural valve deterioration in the SE disk valve is very rare. METHODS AND RESULTS: Replacement of the SE mitral disk valve was performed in 7 patients 23-40 years after implantation. Macroscopic examination of the removed disk valves showed no structural abnormalities in 3 patients, in whom the disk valves were removed at <26 years after implantation. Localized disk wear was found at the sites where the disk abutted the struts of the cage, in disk valves excised >36 years after implantation in 4 patients. Disk fracture, a longitudinal split in the disk along its circumference at the site of incorporation of the titanium ring, was detected in the valves removed 36 and 40 years after implantation, respectively, and many cracks were also observed on the outflow aspect of the disk removed 40 years after implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Disk fracture and localized disk wear were found in the SE mitral disk valves implanted >36 years previously. The present results suggest that SE mitral caged-disk valves implanted >20 years previously should be carefully followed up, and that those implanted >30 years previously should be electively replaced with modern prosthetic valves

Acute Mitral Regurgitation After Blunt Chest Trauma: A Case Report.

Myocardial contusion is the most common cardiac injury from blunt chest trauma (BCT), whereas isolated valve injury is uncommon. We report a case of acute mitral regurgitation (MR) due to isolated valve injury after BCT. A 60-year-old man received an impact on his left chest by a car wheel three weeks prior to visiting our hospital. At the time a diagnosis of contusion of the chest wall without rib and sternal fractures was made. Thereafter, the patient had progressive worsening of heart failure symptoms. Eventually he developed dyspnea on slight exertion but echocardiographic evaluation was not performed at the time of diagnosis or during the three weeks prior to admission. At admission a holosystolic murmur was heard. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed prolapse of the posterior mitral leaflet due to torn chordae tendineae with severe MR and normal left ventricular wall motion. At surgery, torn chordae tendineae and a leaflet tear of the posterior leaflet were detected, and mitral valve repair was achieved without residual MR. Pathological examination of the torn chordae showed no findings of endocarditis or myxomatous degeneration. Echocardiography may play an important role for accurate and prompt diagnosis of cardiac lesions in patients with recent or a history of high-energy BCT.

Streptococcus Mitis Endocarditis Associated with Early Gastric Carcinoma.

We report a case of Streptococcus mitis endocarditis associated with early gastric carcinoma. A 71-year-old man who had been diagnosed with aortic regurgitation (AR) two years previously was referred for valve surgery and evaluation of elevated inflammatory markers. Four months previously, atrophic gastritis, early gastric adenocarcinoma, and colon polyp had been identified in the patient during endoscopy. However, Helicobacter pylori testing was negative. On admission, he had no dental diseases or recent oral procedures. Echocardiography demonstrated severe AR and mobile vegetation on the aortic valve. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebral embolism and spondylodiscitis. Blood cultures grew Streptococcus mitis. At surgery, destruction of the left cusp with vegetation and a perforation of the non-coronary cusp were found; in addition, aortic valve replacement was performed. Although the association between Streptococcus bovis bacteremia and colon neoplasm is well recognized, the association between Streptococcus mitis endocarditis and gastrointestinal carcinoma should also be kept in mind.

Rothia Aeria Endocarditis Complicated with Multiple Systemic Embolisms.

Rothia aeria is part of the normal flora in the human oral cavity and rarely causes serious systemic infection in healthy hosts. We report a case of infective endocarditis of the mitral valve due to Rothia aeria. A 53-year-old man suffered a cut on his left thumb. At the time, the patient licked the wound as a conventional way to accelerate its cure. Thereafter, he developed a recurrent fever, which was temporarily lysed with treatment using an intravenous antibiotic, over a period of 2 months after the injury. On admission, the patient had no dental caries and denied any dental procedures before onset of the fever. Auscultation revealed a systolic cardiac murmur. Echocardiography showed torn chordae of the posterior mitral leaflet with a small vegetation and severe mitral regurgitation. Two sets of blood cultures were positive for Rothia aeria. Computed tomography revealed splenic and left renal infarctions but no cerebral infarction. After resolution of the inflammation by 6 weeks of penicillin treatment, mitral valve repair was successfully performed.

Right Coronary Artery with an Intramural and Interarterial Course as a Unique Cause of Myocardial Ischemia: The Unroofing Method Might Still Be the Best Solution.

A 39-year-old man was admitted because of cardiac arrest. Emergent coronary angiography revealed a preserved coronary blood flow; however, multiple-row detector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed that the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) was running inside the aortic wall, creating proximal stenosis without atherosclerotic changes. Surgical intervention with unroofing was performed; however, postoperative stenosis of the proximal RCA required additional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Intraoperative findings during CABG did not reveal hematoma or coronary dissection. However, MDCT one year after CABG depicted improvement of the RCA and graft stenoses, suggesting that the post-unroof stenosis may have been caused by an inflammatory reaction after surgical intervention.

Aortic valve replacement in patients with an anomalous left circumflex artery: technical considerations.

The abnormal origin of the left circumflex artery from the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) is considered a coronary artery anomaly. Most of the coronary artery anomalies are diagnosed incidentally by coronary artery angiography, and several considerations are needed to avoid fatal complications in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR). We report a case of AVR with anomalous origin of the left circumflex artery from a common ostium of the RCA, and discuss the use of a smaller prosthesis to avoid compression of the anomalous left circumflex artery.

Anomalous Aortic Origin of the Right Coronary Artery Incidentally Detected In a Patient with Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease.

Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery from the opposite sinus of Valsalva is known as a cause of sudden cardiac death. However, it is often asymptomatic and incidentally diagnosed during evaluation for other cardiac diseases. We report a case of anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left sinus of Valsalva (ARCA) detected incidentally in a patient with degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR). A 47-year-old man, who had no history of myocardial ischemic symptoms on exertion, was admitted for sudden orthopnea. ECG revealed no ischemic changes and arrhythmias. Echocardiography demonstrated MR due to torn chordae of the posterior mitral leaflet. Computed tomography (CT) revealed the RCA arising from the left sinus of Valsalva at an acute angle and taking an interarterial course between the great arteries. The proximal RCA showed a circular shaped cross-section on CT, suggesting no presence of an intramural segment. Considering refractory heart failure and no history of myocardial ischemic symptoms on exertion as well as the findings of the CT angiography, urgent mitral valve repair was undertaken without surgical intervention for the anomalous RCA, and without evaluating myocardial ischemia. The patient recovered uneventfully. Postoperatively, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy demonstrated no exercise-induced myocardial ischemia. Patients with ARCA who are asymptomatic and whose coronary course is not intramural can be managed without surgical intervention for an anomalous coronary artery.

Disc wear and entrapment in a Starr-Edwards mitral caged-disc valve.

A case of wear and entrapment of a polyethylene disc observed in a Starr-Edwards (SE) mitral caged-disc valve at 37 years after implantation is reported. A 66-year-old woman who had undergone mitral valve replacement with a SE disc valve 37 years previously was admitted to the authors' hospital. Cinefluoroscopy showed the polyethylene disc of the SE valve to have impinged against a calcified mass on the left ventricular posterior wall, causing a tipping motion of the disc during opening. The valve was successfully replaced at surgery. A macroscopic examination of the excised valve revealed wear of the polyethylene disc at sites where the disc abutted the cage struts, and where it impinged on the calcified mass. The long-term durability of the SE caged-disc valves has been favorable; however, when implanted for over 20 years, they should be carefully followed up.

A case of angioleiomyoma presenting as a pulsatile tumor in the left ring finger.

Angioleiomyomas in the finger are rare and their preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Most of them are not associated with arteries and their chief complaint does not reveal pulsation tumor. We report a case of the angioleiomyoma in the finger which was misdiagnosed as arteriovenous fistula of tumor, based on the presence of pulsating tumor and angiography finding.

Twelve-year experience with the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial aortic valve at a single Japanese center.

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term results of implantation of the Carpentier-Edwards pericardial (CEP) valve in the aortic position. Between January 1996 and December 2007, 244 patients who underwent aortic valve replacement using the CEP valve were enrolled in this study. A 19-mm valve was used in 39 patients, a 21-mm valve in 94 patients, a 23-mm valve in 81 patients, and a 25-mm valve in 30 patients. The early and the late results were evaluated. Furthermore, echocardiographic examination was performed at follow-up. There were 5 early deaths, with an early mortality rate of 2.0%. Follow-up was performed in 95.4% of the survivors of the operation for a mean period of 4.1 years. Actuarial survival rates at 5, 10, and 12 years were 85.3 ± 2.8, 80.0 ± 3.7 and 70.0 ± 9.8%, respectively. Thromboembolism was observed in 6 patients, endocarditis in 2 patients, reoperation in 4 patients, and structural valve deterioration in 2 patients. Actuarial freedoms from thromboembolism, endocarditis, and reoperation at 10 years were 96.9 ± 0.14, 97.7 ± 0.16, and 97.0 ± 0.16%, respectively. Echocardiographic examination revealed that the pressure gradients across the valve prosthesis for valves of each size were acceptable. Left ventricular mass index decreased significantly in all valve sizes. The long-term results of implantation of the CEP bioprosthesis in the aortic position were satisfactory. The CEP bioprosthesis maintained its hemodynamic performance even as late as 10 years after implantation.