Successful Treatment of Whole Coronary Artery Spasm after Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Coronary artery spasm after coronary artery bypass grafting is a rare but life-threatening condition. Herein, we report the case of a 77-year-old man who received off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. An hour after surgery, there was a sudden hemodynamic compromise due to coronary artery spasm, prompting emergent coronary angiography with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Because the angiography results showed diffuse severe spasm of the entire native coronary artery, the patient was treated with an intracoronary injection of vasodilators. The patient recovered in 7 days with mechanical support, catecholamines, and vasodilators, and he was discharged on postoperative day 30. Although coronary artery spasm after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery is a rare condition, it must be suspected when sudden circulatory collapse occurs.

Two-stage hybrid repair with over-the-scope clip for atrioesophageal fistula after catheter-based ablation.

In this report, we present a case in which we successfully performed two-stage hybrid repair of heart surgery and endoscopic treatment with over-the-scope-clip system for atrio-esophageal fistula after catheter based ablation.

Surgical and multitreatment approach in a case of primary cardiac angiosarcoma: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Primary cardiac angiosarcoma is extremely rare, and its prognosis remains poor, with a mean life expectancy of only a few months. Here, we report a case of primary cardiac angiosarcoma. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old Japanese woman with a month-long history of dyspnea was admitted to our hospital for pericardial effusion. Chest computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass in the right atrium. The patient underwent surgical resection of the tumor, and the pathological diagnosis was angiosarcoma. The patient received radiotherapy after surgery. Six months following surgery, she underwent chemotherapy following the diagnosis of lung metastasis. The patient died 18 months after the initial diagnosis. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Cardiac angiosarcoma is rare and difficult to diagnose early because it is associated with few symptoms. Moreover, there are currently no established guidelines for the treatment of this disease because of its rarity and sparse descriptive literature Therefore, multidisciplinary therapies should be considered, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: There is no standard treatment for cardiac angiosarcoma, but surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these therapies may be useful.

Surgical Strategy for Huge Right Coronary Artery Aneurysm Combined with Left Ventricular Fistula.

Coronary artery aneurysms combined with left ventricular fistulas are rare; coronary revascularization strategy after coronary artery aneurysm resection is complex in such cases. We report the surgical repair of a giant right coronary artery aneurysm with a fistula in the left ventricle in a 79-year-old woman diagnosed with an aneurysm 50 mm in diameter. Surgical repair included resection of the coronary artery aneurysm, coronary artery bypass grafting to the posterior descending artery, and isolation of reconstructed right coronary circulation from the fistula. The postoperative course was uneventful; postoperative coronary angiography revealed a patent bypass graft unconnected to the left ventricle.

Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction of Double Valve Re-Replacement Using Bioprosthesis.

We present a case of left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction after double valve re-replacement with bioprostheses. A 72-year-old man, who had undergone double valve replacement (DVR) with bioprosthetic valves 9 years previously, underwent re-replacement of valves because of structural valve deterioration. However, owing to LVOT obstruction related to the bioprosthesis in the mitral position, acute pulmonary edema occurred immediately after surgery. LVOT obstruction was diagnosed by emergent cardiac catheterization. So prompt re-replacement surgery using a mechanical prosthesis was performed.

Extreme Elevation of the Prothrombin Time-International Normalized Ratio due to a Probable Interaction between Warfarin and Flutamide.

Flutamide, a chemotherapeutic agent for prostate cancer, is known to enhance warfarin anticoagulation. However, not much is known about its pharmaceutical interaction. We herein report the case of a patient with an implanted pacemaker for atrial fibrillation with bradycardia who was on warfarin. This patient presented with deterioration of hematuria, gingival, ear, and subcutaneous bleeding. The prothrombin time-international normalized ratio was extremely elevated after starting flutamide to treat progression of prostate cancer. Fatal bleeding complications were able to be prevented by the immediate administration of prothrombin complex concentrate, but the effect of flutamide on warfarin was prolonged for about two more weeks after the withdrawal of flutamide.

Effect of an artificial ring on mitral valve function.

Differences of the effect of annuloplasty rings on the mitral annulus and leaflets, and differences between types of annuloplasty rings are not well known. We analyzed annular motion and leaflet movement with a rigid or flexible ring and without a ring using an isolated swine working heart model. Hearts of 10 swine (weight: 40-50 kg) were used for a rigid ring (n=5) and a flexible ring (n=5). Four ultrasound crystal tips were fixed around the annulus and an annuloplasty ring was implanted in the isolated heart. In the working heart mode, measurement of mitral annular dimension was acquired by sonomicrometry. Images of mitral valve motion were acquired by a high-speed video camera. The same analyses were performed after removing the artificial ring. The antero-posterior diameter of the diastole distance was significantly reduced in the flexible ring (21.59±0.71 mm) and rigid ring (15.93±1.88 mm) compared with no ring (23.51±2.01 mm). The flexible ring made the transverse diameter shrink significantly more than did the rigid ring. The contraction range of the transverse diameter was significantly smaller in the flexible ring compared with no ring. The duration of opening to closing of the mitral leaflet with the rigid (124.7±4.4 ms) and flexible rings (107.9±3.5 ms) was significantly shorter than that with no ring (168±36.5 ms). Annuloplasty rings allow simplicity of leaflet motion, regardless of the type of artificial ring. In a flexible ring, the mitral annulus shows a vertically long shape, suggesting preservation of posterior annular movement.

A functional evaluation of cerebral perfusion for coronary artery bypass grafting patients.

We evaluate the utility of providing a pulsatile blood flow by applying off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) with conventional CABG to prevent perioperative stroke in patients with cerebral hypoperfusion on single-photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT). A total of 286 patients underwent isolated CABG with a cerebral magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) evaluation between 2006 and 2015. Seventy-five had significant stenosis and/or occlusion of craniocervical vessels; the other 211 had no significant stenosis. Cerebral SPECT was performed for 49 (SPECT group) of the 75 patients. The SPECT group was further divided into a normal perfusion (NP) (n = 37); and a hypoperfusion (HP) (n = 12). In the present study we compared the NP group and the 211 patients with no significant stenosis (as a control group) to the HP group. No strokes occurred in the HP group, and 1 stroke occurred at the time of operation in the control group. Postoperative stroke within 30 days occurred in 3 patients in the control group; the difference was not statistically significant. The long-term stroke-free rates of the HP and Control group did not differ to a statistically significant extent. The functional evaluation of cerebral perfusion by SPECT is important when patients have significant stenotic lesions on cerebral MRA. Maintaining an adequate pulsatile flow by off-pump CABG or IABP with conventional CABG will help prevent perioperative stroke, even if cerebral hypoperfusion is detected by SPECT.

Pericardial Sandwich Technique for End-to-End Anastomosis of Artificial Graft.

End-to-end anastomosis between prosthetic grafts seems technically easy; however, bleeding from the needle hole or at the site of anastomotic discrepancy can be problematic. The pericardial sandwich technique helps to resolve this issue. The grafts are generally anastomosed to each other with a continuous suture, and a strip of autopericardium is sandwiched circumferentially between the two grafts. Although this anastomosis involves a special technique, it is not intricate. The pericardium effectively covers the needle hole and gap between the grafts. This method is useful for large-vessel surgery, especially in patients with coagulopathy.

The efficacy and risk of cerebrospinal fluid drainage for thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair: a retrospective observational comparison between drainage and non-drainage.

Objectives: We reviewed our experiences with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair to assess the efficacy of cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD) to prevent the neurological deficits and complications associated with CSFD. Methods: Between 2002 and 2015, 118 patients underwent TAAA repair. Seventy-eight patients underwent CSFD for 2.7 ± 1.1 days after surgery. CSFD was not performed for the other 40 patients due to an urgent situation, chronic disseminated intravascular coagulation or anatomical difficulties. Results: There were 5 in-hospital deaths (4.2%). The neurological complications included paraplegia ( n = 14, 11.9%), paraparesis ( n = 3, 2.5%), cerebral infarction ( n = 11, 9.3%) and intracranial haemorrhage ( n = 1, 0.85%), none related to CSFD. The complications related to CSFD included headaches ( n = 13, 11.0%), subdural haematoma (which was treated conservatively) ( n = 1, 0.85%), a neurological symptom of the bilateral thighs ( n = 1, 0.85%), pale haemorrhagic discharge ( n = 2, 1.7%) and a fractured catheter ( n = 1, 0.85%). Eight patients had paraplegia and 1 patient had paraparesis among the 78 patients who underwent CSFD (9/78, 11.5%); among the 40 patients who did not undergo CSFD, 6 had paraplegia and 2 had paraparesis (8/40, 20.0%). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that CSFD had a significant protective effect for the spinal cord (odds ratio = 0.045, P = 0.007). Conclusions: CSFD effectively prevented spinal cord dysfunction in TAAA repair. However, some serious complications occurred, including subdural haematoma and a fractured catheter. It is therefore important to recognize both the efficacy and the risks of CSFD in TAAA repair.

[Intra-operative Acute Aortic Dissection during Aortic Root Reimplantation and Mitral Valve Reconstruction Surgery in a Patient with Marfan Syndrome;Report of a Case].

In patients with Marfan syndrome, cardiovascular complication due to aortic dissection represents the primary cause of death. Iatrogenic acute aortic dissection during cardiac surgery is a rare, but serious adverse event. A 51-year-old woman with Marfan syndrome underwent elective aortic surgery and mitral valve reconstruction surgery for the enlarged aortic root and severe mitral regurgitation. We replaced the aortic root and ascending aorta based on reimplantation technique. During subsequent mitral valve reconstruction, we found the heart pushed up from behind. Trans-esophageal echocardiography revealed a dissecting flap in the thoracic descending aorta. There was just weak signal of blood flow in the pseudolumen. We did not add any additional procedures such as an arch replacement. Cardio-pulmonary bypass was successfully discontinued. After protamine sulfate administration and blood transfusion, blood flow in the pseudolumen disappeared. The patient was successfully discharged from the hospital on 33th postoperative day without significant morbidities.

[Aortic Valve Replacement of Quadricuspid Valve with Regurgitation].

Congenital quadricuspid aortic valve is a very rare malformation. In most cases it has been found incidentally at aortic valve surgery or at autopsy. It frequently causes aortic regurgitation, which may become manifest in adulthood and require surgical treatment. We reported 4 cases of aortic regurgitation with quadricuspid aortic valve. In all cases, aortic valve replacement was preformed with prosthetic valve, and their postoperative courses were uneventful. Two were Hurwitz's classification type b, one was type a and the last patient was type c. Although quadricuspid aortic valve is a rare anomaly, its potential for severe valve failure in adulthood should be kept in mind.

Predictors of early graft failure after coronary artery bypass grafting for chronic total occlusion.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known regarding the transit-time flow measurement (TTFM) variables in grafts anastomosed to chronically totally occluded vessels (CTOs). We aimed to establish the TTFM cut-off values for detecting graft failure in bypass grafts anastomosed to chronically totally occluded arteries and clarify the relationship between early graft failure and the grade of collateral circulation/regional wall motion of the CTO territory. METHODS: Among 491 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) from 2009 to 2015, 196 cases with CTOs underwent postoperative coronary angiography within 1 month after CABG. Two hundred and forty-one CTOs in all patients were examined. Thirty-two CTOs (13%) were not bypassed and 214 conduits were anastomosed to CTOs and underwent intraoperative TTFM. Arterial conduits and saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) were used in 102 and 112 cases, respectively. Among the arterial conduit procedures that were performed, 78 involved the left internal thoracic artery (LITA), 10 involved the right internal thoracic artery (RITA) and 14 involved the right gastroepiploic artery (rGEA). Any graft showing Fitzgibbon type B or O lesions on angiography was considered to be a failing graft. RESULTS: The insufficiency rates for LITA, RITA, rGEA and SVG procedures were 5.1, 10, 14.3 and 7.1%, respectively. The TTFM variables recorded in failing grafts had a significantly lower mean flow (Qmean) and higher pulsatility index (PI) compared with patent grafts. Furthermore, akinetic or dyskinetic wall motion in the territory of bypassed CTOs was observed at a significantly higher rate in failing grafts. A multivariable regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed good predictors of early graft failure as follows: a Qmean value of < 11.5 ml/min for arterial conduits, a PI value of >5.85 and akinetic/dyskinetic wall motion in the CTO territory for SVGs. The Rentrop collateral grade was not associated with early graft failure. CONCLUSIONS: The Qmean value and PI value by the TTFM are useful to detect early graft failure in conduits anastomosed to CTOs. The collateral grade is not associated with graft failure; however, bypass grafting to CTOs with akinetic/dyskinetic wall motion should be carefully considered.

Hybrid versus open repair of aortic arch aneurysms: comparison of postoperative and mid-term outcomes with a propensity score-matching analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Operative strategies for repairing aortic arch aneurysms should be re-evaluated following recent technical advances. METHODS: Of 364 patients who underwent aortic arch repair between 2002 and 2014, 58 were high-risk subjects who received isolated hybrid arch repair (HAR) via median sternotomy (type I n = 32, type II n = 1 and type III n = 25). During this period, excluding patients with type A dissection or extensive aneurysms, 124 patients received isolated open arch repair via median sternotomy. The patients in the HAR and open arch repair groups were compared. A propensity score-matching analysis was applied to adjust for baseline risk factors. RESULTS: The patients in the HAR group were older (77 years ± 6 vs 69 ± 9, P < 0.0001), exhibited a greater rate of malignancy (21 vs 4.8%, P = 0.0022) and had higher logistic EuroSCORE values (31 ± 18 vs 20 ± 15, P < 0.0001) than those in the open arch repair group. Following propensity score matching creating 38 matched pairs, the differences in preoperative risk diminished. Operative complications, including the mortality rate (2.6 vs 0%), were similar between the groups. Apart from the lower rates of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and circulatory arrest, there was no apparent superiority of HAR with respect to patient recovery. The mean follow-up duration was 52.5 months, during which the rate of freedom from aortic events in the HAR and open arch repair groups was 79 and 99% at 24 months, respectively (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: HAR achieves equivalent short-term results to standard open arch repair, with a decreased need for CPB. However, considering the inferior mid-term outcomes of this procedure, its indications should be limited to high-risk patients.

A 'through-and-through bowing technique' for antegrade thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair with total arch debranching: a technical note and the initial results.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the deployment accuracy of a new 'through-and-through bowing technique' that involves the deployment of the stent graft with total arch debranching via median sternotomy. METHODS: The migration distance, patients' demographic characteristics, operative values and the postoperative complications were examined retrospectively. From November 2012 to February 2013, 5 patients with an aortic arch aneurysm underwent total debranching and antegrade thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) (control group). Fifteen patients underwent placement using the 'through-and-through bowing technique' (bowing group) from March to November 2013. The device was deployed as follows. A stiff guide wire was passed through the debranching prosthesis via the femoral artery. By pushing the bilateral ends of the wire against the aortic arch, the device was located along the greater curvature and bent like a bow. The migration distance, defined as the distance between the pre- and post-deployment positions of the distal end of the stent graft, was measured using fluoroscopic images. RESULTS: There were no significant differences with respect to the patients' demographics or the operative variables between the two groups. The mean migration distance in the control group (9.4 ± 8.7 mm) was significantly longer than that in the bowing group (1.3 ± 1.5 mm). Although one major stroke occurred in the bowing group, there was no operative mortality in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The present paper demonstrated the precise positioning of a GORE TAG deployment using a 'through-and-through bowing technique' with total arch debranching.

An Epicardial Mesothelial Cyst Attached to the Ascending Aorta.

An epicardial mesothelial cyst, which can be defined as a mesothelial cyst attached to the epicardium surrounding the heart and the great vessels inside the pericardial sac, is a rare condition. We herein report a case of epicardial cyst, which was attached to the ascending aorta. The patient was a 76-year-old male who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery, and the cyst was found incidentally. It was approximately 5 cm in diameter, and histological examination confirmed mesothelial cell origin. The ascending aorta has not previously been reported as the origin of an epicardial mesothelial cyst. This case gives new insight into the embryology of these cysts.

The number of cardiovascular surgeries in Japan may decrease after 2020.

The expected future number of cardiovascular operations is estimated based on the predicted Japanese population and the rate of cardiovascular surgery performance calculated from 16845 cases treated by the Nagoya University group of hospitals between 2001 and 2013. The population of <20-year-old individuals has decreased since 1990, while that of 20-64-year-old individuals has also decreased since 2000. The population of 65-79-year-old individuals is expected to peak in 2020, with only the population of ≥80-year-old individuals expected to increase until 2040. The performance rate of cardiovascular surgery per 100,000 population is low in the 20-64-year-old group and increases to reach a peak in the elderly population of 70-74-year-old individuals in valvular heart disease (55.5), ischemic heart disease (54.5) and thoracic aortic aneurysm (31.9) and decreases to about half those values in the ≥80-year-old age group. The number of cardiovascular operations (all types) per 100,000 was 40.6 in 2002, 42.1 in 2006 and 46.6 in 2010. The total number of expected cardiovascular operations is increasing slightly and will reach a peak in 2020 with an estimated 61,506 operations. It then decreases gradually to reach 55966 in 2035, on the premise that the cardiovascular surgery performance rate does not change from the present time. In order to maintain and expand to meet the medical needs of cardiovascular surgery, it is crucial that an effort be made to increase the cardiovascular surgery performance rate, especially in octogenarian patients.

Movement of mitral fibrous components in an isolated porcine working heart model.

BACKGROUND: There is little research regarding the movement of mitral fibrous components. We analyzed changes in mitral fibrous components in normal and deteriorated isolated working swine hearts. METHODS: In 5 swine hearts, 6 sonomicrometry transducers were placed around the mitral annulus and 2 in the papillary muscle tip. During the working cycle, we evaluated the annular dimension and calculated the contraction range and contraction ratio during the cardiac cycle in normal and deteriorated modes. RESULTS: The transverse (24.5 ± 2.3 vs. 27.4 ± 2.4 mm) and posterior longitudinal diameter (18.3 ± 7.0 vs. 22.5 ± 5.5 mm) increased significantly in deteriorated mode. The contraction range in transverse (1.8 ± 0.6 vs. 0.8 ± 0.7 mm) and posterior longitudinal (1.6 ± 0.6 vs. 0.8 ± 0.3 mm) diameters decreased significantly in deteriorated mode. The contraction range of the strut chordae was less than 1.0 mm in both modes, with no significant differences. The contraction ratio of the anterior strut chordae was significantly reduced in deteriorated mode (3.2 ± 1.1% vs. 2.2 ± 1.1%). The contraction ratio of the annulus was significantly lower in deteriorated mode with respect to transverse (6.9 ± 2.1% vs. 2.9 ± 2.9%) and longitudinal (13.3 ± 4.5% vs. 8.6 ± 5.1%) diameters. CONCLUSIONS: In the deteriorated hearts, the mitral annulus was dilated and contractility decreased. The length of the strut chordae differed 1 mm between the deteriorated and normal modes; however, the contraction ratio of the anterior chordae during the cardiac cycle was reduced, indicating increased stretching.

[Traumatic Thoracic Aortic Injury].

Thoracic aortic injuries need emergency treatment, but have a high mortality rate. Prompt appropriate diagnosis is crucial to rescue the patient. Endovascular repair has been a useful approach for patients who suffer from hemodynamic instability due to massive bleeding and multiple traumatic injuries. However, open repair can be applied on patients who are inappropriate for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) or in hemodynamic stability. We present 3 cases of blunt aortic injury, who treated by TEVAR in 2 cases and open repair in 1 case.

Impact of Surgical Stroke on the Early and Late Outcomes After Thoracic Aortic Operations.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic aortic operations still remain associated with substantial risks of death and neurologic injury. This study investigated the impact of surgical stroke on the early and late outcomes, focusing on the physical status and quality of life (QOL). METHODS: From 1986 to 2008, 500 patients (aged 63 ± 13 years) underwent open thoracic aortic repair for root and ascending (31%), arch (39%), extended arch (10%), and descending and thoracoabdominal (19%) aneurysms. Brain protection consisted of retrograde cerebral perfusion (52%), antegrade cerebral perfusion (29%), and simple deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (19%). Surgical stroke was defined as a neurologic deficit persisting more than 72 hours after the operation. QOL was assessed with the Short-Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire 5.9 ± 4.2 years after the operation. RESULTS: Stroke occurred in 10.3% of patients. Hospital mortality was 21% in the stroke group and 2.7% in the nonstroke group (p < 0.001). At hospital discharge, 76% of survivors in the stroke group had permanent neurologic deficits (PNDs), with sustained tracheostomy in 39%, tube feeding in 46%, and gastrostomy in 14%, and 89% required transfer to other facilities. PND was an independent risk factor for late death (hazard ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 4.62; p = 0.041) in a multivariate analysis. The physical component of the QOL score was worse in the PND group (51% vs 100%; p = 0.039), whereas the mental component was similar in both groups (14% vs 14%). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical stroke is associated with high hospital mortality and PNDs that decrease late survival and the physical component score of the QOL survey.