Innovative combined Ozaki and Bentall procedures for aortic root replacement.

In treating aortic root diseases, the Bentall procedure offers reliable and stable results. However, it requires a prosthetic valved conduit, which presents inherent challenges due to the need for anticoagulation. The Ozaki procedure, which uses pericardium for aortic valve neocuspidization, is an alternative to prosthetic valves and does not need anticoagulation. We developed a surgical technique combining the Bentall and Ozaki procedures to treat patients with aortic root disease, which we describe in this article. Because the risk of bleeding due to anticoagulation after prosthetic valve replacement was a concern, we combined the Bentall and Ozaki procedures with a graft conduit using bovine pericardial patch neocuspidization. Postoperative echocardiography showed a competent aortic valve with no regurgitation. We believe that this novel procedure provides hope for a more adaptable and patient-friendly option.

A Resuscitated Adult With Left Main Coronary Artery Ostial Atresia and Graves' Disease: 10-Year Follow-up.

This is the first report of a resuscitated adult with left main coronary artery ostial atresia (LMCAOA), with long-term follow-up for 10 years. A 57-year-old woman with untreated Graves' disease presented with resuscitated cardiac arrest, and her computed tomography coronary angiography showed a string-like left main without significant atherosclerosis, which led to the diagnosis of LMCAOA. Noninvasive and invasive testing revealed extensive myocardial ischemia because of LMCAOA with concomitant coronary spasm. After successful revascularization with coronary artery bypass grafting, the patient has remained stable for 10 years, which highlights this treatment as being highly effective and durable in patients with LMCAOA and cardiac arrest.

Il s'agit du premier rapport d'un adulte réanimé présentant une atrésie ostiale de l'artère coronaire principale gauche (atrésie ostiale de l'ACPG), comportant un suivi à long terme sur une période de 10 ans. Une femme de 57 ans atteinte de la maladie de Basedow non traitée a subi un arrêt cardiaque en réanimation. La coronarographie par tomodensitométrie a montré une artère principale gauche en forme de cordon sans athérosclérose importante, ce qui a conduit au diagnostic d'atrésie ostiale de l'ACPG. Des tests non invasifs et invasifs ont révélé une ischémie myocardique étendue due à l'atrésie ostiale de l'ACPG avec spasme coronaire concomitant. Après une revascularisation réussie par pontage aorto-coronarien, la patiente est restée stable pendant 10 ans, ce qui montre que ce traitement est très efficace et durable chez les patients atteints d'atrésie ostiale de l'ACPG et d'arrêt cardiaque.

[Coronary-pulmonary Artery Fistula Manifested by Cardiac Tamponade;Report of a Case].

Coronary-pulmonary artery fistula( CPAF) is a relatively rare congenital malformation. We successfully treated a patient who presented with cardiac tamponade due to ruptured CPAF. A 58-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital due to consciousness disorder. Enhanced computed tomography revealed hemopericardium, and she was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade due to a ruptured coronary artery aneurysm with fistula arising from the right coronary and entering the main pulmonary artery. Therefore, emergency operation was performed. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, the aneurysm was opened and the ostium of the fistula was closed with pledgetted mattress sutures. After ligating the tortuous CPAF, the aneurysmal wall was sutured. Postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on postoperative day 16.

[Early and Mid-term Outcomes of Surgical Treatment with Conservative Approach Using Adventitial Inversion Technique for an Acute Type A Aortic Dissection].

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess the early and mid-term outcomes of surgical treatment with adventitial inversion technique for an acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS: From June 2008 to June 2015, 48 patients underwent emergent surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. Ascending aorta/hemiarch replacement was performed in 44/48(91.7%)patients, and total arch replacement in 4/48(8.3%)patients. The adventitial inversion technique was used for both proximal and distal stump constructions of the dissected aortic wall without the reinforcement of Teflon felt. Aortic regurgitation was treated with resuspention of aortic commissures. RESULTS: The operative mortality was 8.3%(4/48). There was no re-exploration in all patients. Postoperative computed tomography showed the obliteration of false lumen in aortic root in all of patients, and aortic arch and/or descending thoracic aorta in 80.9%(38/47)of patients. The actuarial survival rates at 5 years were 74.7%.The freedom from aortic or aortic valve event rate and reoperation rate at 5 year were 90.9% and 95.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The adventitial inversion technique provides excellent early and mid-term outcomes for the repair of acute type A aortic dissection.

A Case of External Compression of Femoral Vein by the Enlarged Iliopsoas Bursa with Long Term Edema.

The iliopsoas bursa is the largest bursa in the region of hip joint. It is unusual that these bursa become symptomatic. However the bursa can compress femoral vein, leading to lower extremity edema. A 58-year-old man was referred to our department for his unilateral leg edema which had been treated as deep vein thrombosis without any favorable response. Magnetic resonance angiography was performed, which demonstrated enlarged iliopsoas bursa compressing his femoral vein. Surgical removal of the bursa was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient is free from symptoms with no evidence of recurrence.

Successful surgical exclusion of rapidly expanding kommerell diverticulum following a total arch replacement for an acute type a aortic dissection.

A 50-year-old man presented with an acute type A aortic dissection with an aberrant right subclavian artery. Emergent total arch replacement with an elephant trunk was performed. Intraoperatively, the origin of the aberrant right subclavian artery could not be resected because it was located too far from the distal arch. After two weeks, the patient became aware of dysphagia. Postoperative computed tomography showed the esophagus was compressed anteriorly by the aneurismal origin of this aberrant vessel (Kommerell diverticulum) with a patent false lumen. Additional replacement of the descending aorta via left thoracotomy was performed immediately to exclude a Kommerell diverticulum.

Nafamostat mesilate, as a treatment for heparin resistance, is not associated with perioperative ischemic stroke in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: Nafamostat mesilate, a short-acting protease inhibitor, treats heparin resistance during cardiopulmonary bypass. This study tested whether nafamostat mesilate is associated with perioperative ischemic stroke. DESIGN: A retrospective observational study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 870 adult cardiac surgery patients. INTERVENTION: The authors retrospectively identified the patients who received nafamostat mesilate and who suffered symptomatic ischemic stroke within 30 postoperative days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The authors evaluated perioperative patient characteristics in association with perioperative ischemic stroke and death. The patients were identified as heparin resistant if they had an activated coagulation time of <480 seconds after the administration of heparin at 400 to 500 U/kg. Heparin-resistant patients received a 10- to 20-mg bolus plus 25 to 50 mg/h of nafamostat mesilate and heparin at 100 U/kg intravenously every 1.5 to 2.0 hours to maintain an activated coagulation time over 480 seconds. Of the 870 patients, 11 (1.3%) suffered a perioperative ischemic stroke. Of the 190 (21.8%) patients who received nafamostat mesilate, 1 (0.5%) suffered ischemic stroke compared with 10 (1.5%) in 680 patients without nafamostat mesilate (Fisher exact test; p = 0.47; regression analysis; odds ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.45-2.8; p = 0.32); 3 (1.6%) patients with nafamostat mesilate died postoperatively within 30 days compared with 11 (1.6%) without nafamostat mesilate (Fisher exact test; p > 0.99, regression analysis; odds ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-3.5; p = 0.97). CONCLUSIONS: No evidence was found that nafamostat mesilate was associated with perioperative ischemic stroke in heparin-resistant patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Hemodynamic performance of the Edwards Prima Plus stentless valve at 1 year.

PURPOSE: The Edwards Prima Plus stentless valve bioprosthesis (EPPSV) is a porcine aortic root cylinder with resected coronary ostia, fixed in glutaraldehyde at low pressure, and chemically treated to prevent calcification. Utilization of this valve was approved in January 2005 in Japan. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early hemodynamic performance of EPPSVs in our experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From April 2005 to January 2006, a total of 21 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with EPPSVs. The hemodynamic performance of EPPSVs was evaluated at the time of discharge (2 weeks) and at 1 year by transthoracic two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: There was one non-valve-related early death and one non-valve-related late death. Hemodynamic data were available for comparison from the time of discharge and at 1 year postoperatively in 19 patients (mean valve size 22 +/- 1 mm). Hemodynamic follow-up showed a significant decrease in the peak and mean transvalvular pressure gradients at discharge (37 +/- 16 and 18 +/- 8 mmHg, respectively) and 1 year postoperatively (25 +/- 7 and 12 +/- 4 mmHg, respectively) (P < 0.01). The effective orifice area increased significantly between the time of discharge (1.31 +/- 0.31 cm2) and 1 year (1.57 +/- 0.37 cm2) (P < 0.05) postoperatively. The left ventricular mass index was significantly reduced from the time of discharge (167 +/- 49 g/m2) to 1 year postoperatively (126 +/- 47 g/m2) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: EPPSVs have been associated with high early transprosthetic gradients. Such gradients tend to regress, with significant improvement at 1 year and concomitant regression of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Successful replacement of aortic valve using a stentless porcine valve in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Open heart surgery in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) increases the risk of bleeding and infection. We document a 78-year-old female with severe aortic valve stenosis and MDS who underwent aortic valve replacement with stentless porcine prosthesis. Perioperatively, a transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs) and an infusion of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were needed for serious erythrocytopenia and leukocytopenia. We did not need a large amount of RBC transfusions in the postoperative course, and no infection was seen postoperatively.

Coronary artery bypass grafting following in-stent restenosis of drug-eluting stents deployed in the left main coronary artery.

Two cases of drug-eluting stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention in the left main coronary artery and its bifurcation are presented. An off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting following in-stent restenosis was performed. Drug-eluting stents have shown a reduced frequency of in-stent restenosis and a good safety profile compared with bare metal stents. However, intervention with drug-eluting stents for left main coronary artery disease should be undertaken with care. It is also important to note that preoperative anti-platelet drug administration can increase the risk of major bleeding during and after emergent surgery.

Initial clinical impact of drug eluting stents on coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Drug eluting stents (DESs) reduce the incidence of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and have been predicted to decrease the number of patients referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We studied about the impact of DESs on CABG. We compared our isolated CABG patients over two years (May 2002-April 2004) before the introduction of DESs (non DES term) with those over the two years (May 2004-April 2006) after the implementation of DESs (DES term). We studied a total of 136 CABG cases in the non DES term and 138 CABG cases in the DES term. In the non DES term, of 3650 coronary angiographies (CAGs), 794 (21.8%) underwent PCI, and 65 (1.9%) underwent CABG. In the DES term, of 4003 CAG, 1091 (27.3%) underwent PCI, and 70 (1.7%) underwent CABG. Among CABG patients, there was no significant difference in the age, sex, and ejection fraction. Patients in the DES term were more likely to have severe diabetes and severe renal failure. The clinical introduction of DESs was associated with a modest decrease in the percentage of CAG patients referred for CABG. Moreover, preoperative conditions have become more serious.

Stentless aortic root bioprosthesis implantation and coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with single right coronary artery.

Coronary arteries with anomalous origin from the aorta can be a risk factor during aortic root procedures. We report on the successful management of aortic root surgery in a 76-year-old man with a single coronary ostium. Preoperative computed tomography and angiography revealed an anomalous course of the left main coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva. A stentless aortic root bioprosthesis (Prima Plus) was implanted using a modified subcoronary technique. The origin of the left main coronary artery was approximately 2 mm beyond the ostium of the common trunk. Attention to the anatomic relationship of the anomalous coronary arteries to the aorta by clarifying the anatomy of coronary arteries in advance allowed us to safely perform aortic root surgery in a patient with an anomalous origin of the coronary arteries.

Intravalvular implantation technique for a modified Bentall's procedure in aortitis syndrome.

Surgical treatments of aortic root involvement in aortitis syndrome are frequently complicated by valve detachment and pseudoaneurysmal formation during active inflammation. A 40-year-old woman with aortitis syndrome complicating the ascending aortic aneurysm, severe aortic regurgitation (AR), and left coronary ostial stenosis was successfully treated by aortic root replacement and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) during acute inflammation. We devised an intravalvular implantation between the fragile aortic annulus and Teflon felt to a modified Bentall's procedure, which prevented anastomotic leakage and pseudoaneurysmal formation in the late period.

The HEARTSTRING proximal seal system is a possible source of atheroembolism.

It is necessary to use side clamps to construct proximal anastomoses in off-pump coronary artery bypass, and this can be related to neurologic complications. Recently a new device, the HEARTSTRING device, was developed. We present a 78-year-old man who underwent emergent bypass surgery using the HEARTSTRING device to avoid a side clamp. We found atherosclerotic debris from the punched hole and, unfortunately, a postoperative neurological complication resulted. We strongly suggest that it is most important that potential candidates for the HEARTSTRING device be carefully selected to reduce possible neurologic complications. We report that while this new device is useful, there is a potential pitfall in using it; that it is a possible source of atheroembolism.

Pulmonary torsion following right upper lobectomy.

We report on a case of postoperative lobar torsion in a 51-year-old woman following right upper lobectomy. A right middle lobar torsion was diagnosed by postoperative observation with chest X-ray and bronchofiberscopy. An emergency rethoracotomy was performed and a middle lobectomy was carried out. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 17th day after rethoracotomy. Careful postoperative observation with chest radiography and bronchofiberscopy is important for the precise diagnosis of a lobar torsion. In a case of lobar torsion following lobectomy, rethoracotomy should be immediately carried out.

NTS neuronal response to conversion from pulsatile to nonpulsatile pressure in isolated carotid sinus baroreceptors.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effect of pulsatile pressure (PP) and nonpulsatile pressure (NP) on the carotid sinus baroreceptors and baroreceptor-related neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), using an isolated carotid sinus preparation in anesthetized rats. The baroreceptor activities were recorded from the carotid sinus nerves (CSN). Fifteen baroreceptor-related NTS neurons were recorded extracellularly. Conversion of PP to NP corresponded to a shift from phasic to irregular activity in the CSN and caused an increase in CSN activity at a mean pressure of 100 mm Hg. Under this condition, however, the discharge rate of baroreceptor-related NTS neurons was decreased and the systemic blood pressure was elevated. These results indicate that the increasing baroreceptor afferent input resulting from depulsation was not faithfully transmitted in the NTS, and suggest that the NTS is an important site for modifying the arterial baroreflex under NP.