Acute endocarditis complicated by left ventricular pseudoaneurysm with acute bloody pericardial effusion: A case report.

RATIONALE: Delay in seeking medical attention for high fever and inadequate diagnosis can lead to rapid progression of inflammation and spread to surrounding tissues and organs. Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of systemic infections, and infectious endocarditis can swiftly become severe; therefore, careful management is required. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 54-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with high fever and progressive loss of consciousness. Meningitis was suspected, and antibiotic treatment was initiated. Blood culture revealed methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Subsequently, the patient developed hypotension, bradycardia, and cardiac arrest and underwent emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation. DIAGNOSES: Transesophageal echocardiography performed during the procedure revealed significant vegetation at the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, an abscess at the valve annulus, and a pseudoaneurysm of the left ventricular posterior wall. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent emergency small incision pericardiotomy drainage, and her blood pressure and heart rate stabilized. After pericardial drainage, acute renal failure, fulminant hepatitis, and disruption of coagulation function were observed, and she was treated with plasma exchange therapy and intravenous immunoglobulin. Resection of the huge vegetation, debridement, patch closure of the ventricular perforation, and mitral valve replacement were performed. OUTCOMES: Surgical findings showed massive vegetation in the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, an annular abscess in the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve connected to the left ventricular posterior wall, and a pseudoaneurysm. Postoperatively, her pseudoaneurysm resolved and her cardiac function stabilized, while circulatory failure due to bacteremia progressed, and she gradually developed acidosis and unstable blood pressure. Plasma exchange and continuous hemodiafiltration were continued; however, she died of progressive multiorgan failure. LESSON: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia can cause fatal complications. Even when symptoms of meningitis are suspected, it is essential to examine the patient for endocarditis. Delayed diagnosis can lead to fatal endocarditis-related complications.

Sternal closure with sandwiched three-piece bioresorbable mesh reduces postoperative hemorrhage: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Median sternotomy is the most performed procedure in cardiac surgery; however, sternal displacement and bleeding remains a problem. This study aimed to investigate whether sternal reconstruction using a sandwiched three-piece bioresorbable mesh plate can prevent postoperative sternal displacement and bleeding more than a bioresorbable pin. METHODS: Patients (n = 218) who underwent median sternotomy were classified according to whether a sandwiched three-piece bioresorbable mesh plate and wire cerclage (group M, n = 109) or a bioresorbable pin and wire cerclage (group P, n = 109) were used during sternal reconstruction. The causes of postoperative sternal displacement and bleeding with computed tomography data were analyzed and compared between the groups. RESULTS: The preoperative patient characteristics did not significantly differ between the groups. However, the evaluation of sternal and substernal hematoma on postoperative day 5 using computed tomography showed sternal displacement in 4 (4%) and 22 (20%) patients, and substernal hematoma in 17 (16%) and 41 (38%) patients in groups M and P, respectively; this difference was significant. Furthermore, the amount of bleeding at 6 h postoperatively was lower in group M than in group P (235 ± 147 vs. 284 ± 175 mL, p = 0.0275). Chest reopening, intubation time, and length of intensive care unit and hospital stays did not differ between the groups. The evaluation of substernal hematoma based on computed tomography yielded a significantly lower for group M than for group P, revealing that the mesh plate was an independent predictor of substernal hematoma prevention. CONCLUSION: Sternal fixation with a three-piece bioresorbable mesh plate could prevent postoperative sternal displacement, bleeding, and substernal hematoma more than sternal fixation with a pin.

Management of cardiovascular surgery in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus including thromboembolism and multiple organ failure prevention: A retrospective observational study.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects most tissues. Cardiovascular events are critical, life-threatening, long-term complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report our single-center experience of performing cardiovascular surgery in patients with SLE while avoiding postoperative complications. We also suggest a new approach for cardiopulmonary bypass and perioperative management. We applied the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) severity classification published by the Japan Intractable Disease Information Center to patients with SLE for perioperative management. Patients with Grade III or higher severity are treated with a slightly relaxed version of catastrophic APS therapy. This treatment modality includes glucocorticoids, anticoagulation, intravenous immunoglobulin, and plasma exchange. Between April 2010 and January 2021, 26 patients (2 males, 24 females) with SLE underwent cardiovascular surgery. The mean age was 74.2 ± 13.0 years (38-84 years). The primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and long-term results, and the secondary outcomes were related to bleeding/embolization and coagulation function/platelet count. A subset analysis was performed to examine treatment efficacy in the APS Grade III or higher group. Of the 26 patients, 17 underwent valve surgery, 4 underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting, and 5 underwent thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery. There were no in-hospital deaths or associated bleeding/embolic complications. Postoperative antithrombin III decreased in patients who underwent valvular and aortic surgery, and platelet counts recovered to preoperative levels within 7 to 10 days. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 80.5% and 53.7%, respectively. In addition, there were 10 patients with APS Grade III or higher, but there was no significant difference in the frequency of complications other than platelet recovery after treatment. The surgical outcome of open-heart surgery in patients with SLE was good. Surgical treatment of cardiovascular disease in these patients is difficult and complex. We focused on blood coagulation abnormalities and treated each patient by selecting the best individual treatment protocol according to the severity of the disease, taking into account the risk of bleeding and thrombosis. Management of blood coagulation function in these patients is essential, and careful therapeutic management should be considered during open-heart surgery.

Two-stage aortic surgery for distal aortic arch and descending aorta aneurysms: A case report.

RATIONALE: Although surgical treatment strategies for patients with extensive thoracic aortic disease involving the aortic arch have improved considerably, the impact of stent graft length and placement site on aortic remodeling at long-term follow-up is not fully understood, and the protection of the Adamkiewicz artery (AKA) using the frozen elephant trunk (FET) method is also unclear. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient was a 69-year-old man with diabetic nephropathy who became increasingly fatigued and started maintenance hemodialysis 6 months prior to admission. At 64 years, he underwent clipping of a right cerebellar artery aneurysm. In addition, a 1.8 cm aneurysm was found in the contralateral extracranial internal carotid artery. He also had an atrial septal defect and moderate aortic regurgitation and was receiving continuous positive airway pressure therapy for sleep apnoea syndrome. DIAGNOSIS: He had aneurysms in the aortic arch (4.8 cm in diameter) and descending aorta (6 cm in diameter), which was located at T6-9. Preoperative 3-dimensional computed tomography showed that the (AKA) bifurcated at T10-11. INTERVENTIONS: Considering the patient's several comorbidities and frailty, we planned to perform 1-stage extended aortic arch repair using the FET procedure. However, we performed 2-stage aortic surgery to prevent spinal ischemia, anticipating substantial cardiac enlargement and blood pressure instability due to dialysis treatment. Aortic valve replacement, atrial septal defect patch closure, and aortic arch surgery were performed. A 7-cm elephant trunk was inserted in the descending aorta. Postoperatively, the patient continued rehabilitation until his blood pressure stabilized during dialysis therapy. At postoperative week 4, he underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair for a descending aortic aneurysm. OUTCOMES: After surgery, his physical strength decreased; however, he recovered and was discharged 1 month later without any complications. One year after the second operation, he is living a healthy life. LESSONS: Extensive aortic arch surgery using the FET procedure is effective for distal aortic arch and descending aortic aneurysms. Nevertheless, in cases in which the position of the AKA is close to the aortic aneurysm and blood pressure control is difficult, a 2-stage procedure and accurate positioning of thoracic endovascular aortic repair are both desirable.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Chronic Kidney Disease Has an Independent Adverse Effect on the Long-Term Outcome of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

We examined short- and long-term outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with ischemic heart disease and the effect of renal function on these outcomes. We included 2783 patients who underwent primary elective CABG at a single institution between 2002 and 2020 (age: 67.6 ± 10.2 years; male: 2281 male). They were stratified based on their preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate and underwent off-pump CABG (completion rate, 98.1%); 57.6% cases used bilateral internal thoracic arteries (BITA). In-hospital mortality rate was 1.0%. Logistic regression analysis revealed that low left ventricular function (<40%), but not chronic kidney disease (CKD) severity, was an independent predictive risk factor for postoperative hospital mortality. Significant differences existed in respiratory complications, infections, and hospitalization duration according to CKD severity. Deep sternal wound infection rate was 0.5%. The mean follow-up period was 7.1 (0-18.5) years. Estimated 10-year survival rates were negatively correlated with CKD severity; in the Cox hazard model, severe CKD was an independent predictor of long-term survival. We examined the relationship between preoperative and intraoperative factors and their effects on long-term survival using propensity score matching by dividing the renal function severity into G1-2 and G3-5. Renal function severity, age, and operative time were independent risk factors. No prognostic improvement was observed with BITA grafts; graft patency was superior in the right internal thoracic artery (52/52; 100%) than in the great saphenous vein (48/59; 81.4%) in G5. Post-CABG in-hospital mortality was unrelated to renal function, but CKD severity strongly influenced long-term survival. Operation time was an important predictor of long-term prognosis in patients with impaired renal function. Treatment plans, including graft and anastomosis-site selections, should be designed to shorten the operation time. In conclusion, using the right internal thoracic artery in CABG is more beneficial in patients with CKD and cardiovascular comorbidities.

Surgical 5-year Outcomes of Extra-Anatomical Bypass for Middle Aortic Syndrome: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Middle aortic syndrome is a rare disease. Several surgical treatments are available; however, the optimal treatment strategy and long-term outcomes remain unelucidated. We herein report the 5-year outcomes of six patients treated with extra-anatomical bypass surgery for middle aortic syndrome. CASE PRESENTATIONS: Between 2013 and 2016, six patients underwent extra-anatomical bypass for middle aortic syndrome at our institute: three had Takayasu's arteritis, one had vessel vasculitis, and two had middle aortic hypoplastic syndrome of unknown origin. The patients included five women and one man, with a mean age of 59.7 years. Four patients had uncontrolled hypertension and were receiving antihypertensive medications. The mean ankle-brachial pressure index was .61. The three patients with Takayasu's arteritis were hospitalized for congestive heart failure. These patients underwent bypass surgery from the descending aorta to the infrarenal abdominal aorta, and one also underwent concomitant heart surgery. The patient with microscopic polyangiitis underwent Y-grafting with an aortic aneurysmectomy. Subsequently, bypass surgery was performed from the descending aorta to the graft via the diaphragm. The two patients with unknown causes underwent bypass surgery from the proximal descending aorta to the distal descending thoracic aorta. There were no early or late deaths at the 5-year follow-up. We did not observe any changes in anastomotic site stenosis or new aneurysmal changes during the follow-up period. The number of antihypertensive medications was reduced in all cases, and critical symptoms, including headache, severe abdominal pain, claudication, and heart failure, improved in all patients. The ankle-brachial pressure index increased to 1.11 and did not change for five years. Renal function remained stable, and the brain natriuretic peptide level decreased from 302.8 to 74.5 pg/mL at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Extra-anatomical bypass for middle aortic syndrome is safe and effective, and can help prevent renal failure, and relieve critical ischemic symptoms.

Simultaneous Estimation of Gender Male and Atrial Fibrillation as Risk Factors for Adverse Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Accurate outcome prediction following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has gained further importance along with expanding its indication to patients with a lower surgical risk. Although previous studies have evaluated the prognostic impacts of gender and atrial fibrillation (AF) in TAVI patients, these two factors have rarely been addressed simultaneously. This retrospective observational study based on a multicenter TAVI registry involved 1088 patients who underwent TAVI between May, 2010 and February, 2020 at 3 hospitals in Japan. Participants were divided into 4 groups by gender and pre-existing AF, such as Female AF(-) (n = 559), Male AF(-) (n = 266), Female AF(+) (n = 187) and Male AF(+) (n = 76). Primary and secondary endpoints were death due to any and cardiovascular cause, and the composite of all-cause death and heart failure hospitalization, respectively. The median follow-up period was 538 days. Cumulative incidences of primary and secondary endpoints were lower in the Female AF(-) group compared to the other 3 groups. Adjusted multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses showed an independent association of either or both of male gender and AF with adverse outcomes, when compared to the group with none of these (hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals vs. Female AF(-) (reference) for all-cause death of Male AF(-): 2.7, 1.6-4.6, p < 0.001, Female AF(+): 3.5, 2.1-6.0, p < 0.001, and Male AF(+): 3.9, 1.9-7.8, p < 0.001), while there was no evidence of their synergistic prognostic impact. Male gender and being complicated by AF independently, but not synergistically, predicted poor long-term outcomes in patients undergoing TAVI.

Changes in polysomnographic findings following transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a patient with aortic stenosis.

Patients with aortic stenosis (AS) are likely to have sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and improvements in AS by transcatheter or surgical aortic valve replacement alter the type and severity of SDB. However, limited data are available whether polysomnographic findings changed following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In this report, we describe the case of a patient with severe AS and SDB whose polysomnographic findings showed that after TAVI, sleep disturbances occurred in association with worsened periodic leg movements despite improvement in the SDB. .

Clinical indicators and coronary angiographic features of expansive arterial remodelling in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.

The co-existence of expansive arterial remodelling in both coronary arteries (CAs) and the abdominal aorta has already been reported, although the clinical indicators and quantitative analysis have not been well studied. We therefore aimed to clarify the clinical and anatomical characteristics of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). 123 AAA patients who underwent coronary angiography were compared to 123 control patients selected by propensity score matching. CA diameters of all 3 vessels were measured by quantitative coronary angiographic analysis. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) was defined as local or generalized aneurysmal change of the CAs. Excessive expansive CA remodelling was defined as the maximal diameter of the right or left circumflex artery in the upper 75th percentile (>4.8 mm). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine predictors of CAE and excessive expansive CA remodelling. The prevalences of CAE and excessive expansive CA remodelling were significantly higher in the AAA group than in the non-AAA group (28% vs. 8% and 31% vs. 19%; both p<0.05). On multivariable analysis, the presence of AAA (odds ratio (OR), 4.56; 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) 2.18-10.4) and body mass index (BMI) (OR, 1.11; 95%CI 1.03-1.21) were independently associated with CAE, and higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (OR, 2.19; 95%CI 1.08-4.52) and BMI (OR, 1.11; 95%CI 1.02-1.21) were independently associated with excessive expansive CA remodelling. In conclusions, this study showed a higher prevalence of ectatic CA disease in AAA patients and suggests that higher inflammation and obesity are associated with expansive arterial remodelling in coronary arteries.

Independent Effect of Low Flow on Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement for Severe Aortic Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Low flow (LF; i.e., reduced left ventricular stroke volume index <35 mL/m2) can occur with severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, few studies have investigated the effects of LF on early and late outcomes after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe AS.Methods and Results:In all, 285 severe AS patients undergoing isolated AVR at Juntendo University Hospital between August 2002 and August 2015 were enrolled in the study. In this cohort, 52 patients (18%) had LF. Compared with patients with normal flow (NF) severe AS, early postoperative mortality (9.6% vs. 1.2%; P=0.006), gastrointestinal complications (5.7% vs. 0.8%; P=0.04), and the duration of the intensive care unit (ICU) stay (81.7 vs. 35.3 h; P=0.02) were increased in LF patients with severe AS. LF was an independent predictor of early mortality (Model A, odds ratio [OR] 6.81, P=0.01; Model B, OR 6.69, P=0.01) and composite complications (Model A, OR 2.44, P=0.02). In propensity score-matched comparisons, early mortality (12.8% vs. 0%; P=0.02), composite complications (28.2% vs. 10.2%; P=0.04), and duration of ICU stay (97.4 vs. 22.1 h; P=0.006) were significantly increased in LF than NF patients. CONCLUSIONS: LF, as an important independent risk factor for postoperative mortality and morbidity, should be included in risk stratification and assessment in severe AS patients.

[Aortic Root Replacement for Patients with Aortic Root Aneurysms;Clinical Outcomes Compared Among Different Types of Abnormality and Operative Procedures].

Aortic root operations are established procedures for patients with aortic root aneurysms, however there is a little insight for comparative long-term outcomes among different types of anatomical abnormalities and procedures. In this study, we sought to compare the results of patients with aortic abnormalities undergoing different procedures. From January 2008 to March 2017, a total of 105 patients without aortic dissection were performed the elective aortic root surgery. Patients with bicuspid aortic valve had enlarged annulus, and those with Marfan syndrome had enlarged Valsalva without enlarged annulus. Bentall operation with mechanical valve or bioprothetic valve was performed for patients with enlarged annulus and/or abnormal aortic cusp, and David operations for patients with normal cusps. This comparative study showed that these different procedures according to our policy were associated with reduced cardiac mortality and valve-related complications. The results suggest David procedure is the treatment of choice for young patients with aortic root aneurysm and normal aortic cusps, however, careful patient selection is paramount.

Low Serum Levels of EPA are Associated with the Size and Growth Rate of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

AIM: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have been reported to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, whether omega-3 PUFAs are involved in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) remains unclear. METHODS: We analyzed 67 consecutive patients admitted for the elective surgical repair of AAA. We investigated the association of serum EPA and DHA levels as well as the EPA/AA ratio with the size of AAA assessed using three-dimensional reconstructed computed tomography images. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 70±9 years and 60 patients were male. Serum EPA and DHA levels were 75.2±35.7 µg/mL and 146.1±48.5 µg/mL, respectively. EPA/AA ratio was 0.44±0.22, which was lower than those in healthy Japanese subject and equivalent to those in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease as previously reported. Mean of the maximum AAA diameter was 56.4±8.9 mm, and serum EPA levels and EPA/AA ratio negatively correlated with it (r=-0.32 and r=-0.32, respectively). Multiple liner regression analysis showed that EPA levels were significant independent factor contributing to the maximum AAA diameter. Furthermore, low serum EPA levels and low EPA/AA ratio were significantly associated with the growth rate of AAA diameter (r=-0.43 and r=-0.33, respectively). CONCLUSION: EPA levels in patients with AAA were relatively low. Low serum EPA levels and EPA/AA ratio were associated with the size and growth rate of AAA.

Push-Up Technique and Anatomical Deployment With the Endurant Stent-Graft System for Severely Angulated Aneurysm Necks.

PURPOSE: To describe a technique suitable for treating severely angulated (>75°) necks during endovascular aneurysm repair using the Endurant stent-graft. TECHNIQUE: In the push-up technique, the suprarenal stent is released early to fix the proximal stent-graft in place so that each stent in the neck can be deployed individually without displacing the device upward. It is important to push the delivery system up after each stent deployment to allow the fabric between the stents to fold up circumferentially. By doing so, there is minimal upward force applied to the suprarenal stent. Because the stents expand along the angulated neck while catching blood flow, this anatomical deployment is feasible, with hardly any change to the proximal neck shape after stent-graft implantation. CONCLUSION: The push-up technique and anatomical deployment with the Endurant stent-graft system are effective and safe methods for treating aneurysms with severely angulated necks.

Preoperative hepatic dysfunction could predict postoperative mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: Utilization of the MELD scoring system.

BACKGROUND: According to recent advances in operative techniques, an increasing number of patients with liver dysfunction have been subjected to cardiac surgery. Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD and MELD-XI) scores allow risk stratification of patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac surgeries. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 1856 consecutive patients (69.3% male, mean 66.8 ± 12.2 years) undergoing cardiac surgery between 2008 and 2013 at our institution. RESULTS: The mean values of MELD/MELD-XI scores obtained from the total cohort were 9.7 ± 4.6/11.9 ± 4.8. Patients with high MELD/MELD-XI scores (>12) were older, more anemic, and had lower left ventricular ejection fraction than those with low scores (all p<0.0001). High scores were associated with longer hospitalization (36.8 ± 33.0 vs. 23.6 ± 21.5 days for MELD, 36.7 ± 34.0 vs. 23.5 ± 21.0 days for MELD-XI, both p<0.0001) and higher in-hospital all-cause mortality (6.6% vs. 1.0% for MELD, 7.7% vs. 0.7% for MELD-XI). Atrial fibrillation occurred more frequently in the high MELD group, but this difference was not found for MELD-XI. MELD/MELD-XI could predict mortality with a sensitivity of 64.3%/60.0% and specificity of 79.1%/85.3%. Comparison of AUC values among MELD scores, individual MELD components, and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) classification showed that the predictive strength of MELD scores for mortality was stronger than individual parameters or CTP classification (AUC: 0.7702 for MELD, 0.7655 for MELD-XI, 0.5799 for CTP classification with pairwise p<0.0001 and p=0.0002 vs. MELD and MELD-XI, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of liver dysfunction using the MELD scores can be useful for predicting postoperative morbidity and mortality, which may allow additional risk stratification in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Comparison of modern risk scores in predicting operative mortality for patients undergoing aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to examine and compare the predictive value of operative mortality of the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) II, the Society of Thoracic surgeons (STS) score, the Ambler score, and the Japan score in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS: A total of 406 patients undergoing AVR with or without coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, n=139) at our institution from August 2002 to December 2013 were enrolled in this cohort study. Accuracy of calibration and discrimination performance of four risk scores was assessed in the overall patient population and quartiles of each risk score. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 3.4% (n=14). The mean EuroSCORE II, STS score, Ambler score, and the Japan score were 3.1%, 4.9%, 5.7%, and 3.2%, respectively, giving observed-to-expected (O/E) ratio of 1.09, 0.69, 0.59, and 1.06. The C-statistics for operative mortality were 0.704 (EuroSCORE II), 0.781 (STS score), 0.709 (Ambler score), and 0.771 (Japan score). In the last quartile, the EuroSCORE II demonstrated excellent calibration (O/E ratio=0.97) and discrimination (C-statistic=0.904), and the STS score (O/E ratio=0.86, C-statistic=0.779) and the Japan score (O/E ratio=1.14, C-statistic=0.80) showed reasonable correlation. However, the risk calibration by the Ambler score in the last quartile was unacceptable (O/E ratio=0.60). CONCLUSIONS: The EuroSCORE II and the Japan score showed superior ability of calibration, but the STS score and the Ambler score overestimated the risk. However, the discrimination power was similar among the four risk scores. In the last quartile of risk, the EuroSCORE II gave an excellent predictive performance.

Factors for sac size change of abdominal aortic aneurysm after endovascular repair.

OBJECTIVES: Factor(s) affecting the sac size of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) remain unclear. We compared the diameter of the aneurysm sac at one year after surgery with the preoperative diameter using CT images. METHODS: Patients who underwent EVAR at Juntendo University Hospital were involved. According to the size change in treated lesions of the aorta, patients were categorized into the following 3 groups: shrink (<5 mm of reduction), enlarge (>5 mm of expansion), and no change (size change within 5 mm). The patients' background, laboratory data, devices used, medications, anatomical characteristics, and presence/absence of postoperative endoleaks were examined. RESULTS: Of the 68 consecutive patients, 23 were excluded. Seventeen patients were classified into the shrink group, 28 patients into the no change group, and no patients into the enlarge group. Patients with higher thrombotic area rate on the preoperative AAA tended to present AAA sac shrinkage (p = 0.05). No other variables affected the size change in this study. In addition, the existence of an endoleak suggested the interference of sac shrinkage. CONCLUSIONS: The higher AAA thrombotic area rate tended to associate with AAA sac shrinkage.

Predictors of early and mid-term results in contemporary aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical risk factors and assess the impact of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) scores on outcomes after contemporary aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 209 consecutive patients with AS (mean 69 ± 9 years) who underwent AVR. The outcomes measured included operative mortality, postoperative complications, postoperative prolonged length of stay (PLOS), discharge to nonhome location, and mid-term mortality. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 3.8%, and five-year survival was 88.6 ± 2.8%. Multivariable analysis revealed preoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) class as a significant predictor of both operative mortality (p = 0.03; odds ratio [OR]: 8.5) and mid-term mortality (p = 0.02; OR: 10.5). NYHA class also emerged as an independent predictor for postoperative complications (p = 0.002; OR: 5.8) and PLOS (p = 0.01; OR: 2.5). Other preoperative independent predictors included dialysis for PLOS (p = 0.04; OR: 2.9), age (p = 0.03; OR: 1.1), and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF; p = 0.03; OR: 0.9) for nonhome discharge, and EF for mid-term mortality (p = 0.01; OR: 0.9). The mean STS-PROM (predicted risk of mortality) was 4.6% ± 6.1%, and thus, the observed-to-expected (O/E) ratio of operative mortality in our series was 0.82. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced NYHA class, older age, dialysis, and lower EF are significant independent preoperative risk factors for early and mid-term results of AVR for AS. Consideration of these predictors should be used to identify high-risk patients requiring AVR for AS.

Comparing outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass versus drug-eluting stent in diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery and sirolimus-eluting stent placement have been widely used for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The goal of this study was to compare long-term outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery or sirolimus-eluting stent placement in diabetic patients with multivessel disease. METHODS: This observational study enrolled 350 off-pump coronary artery bypass patients and 143 sirolimus-eluting stent patients receiving care at our institution between 2000 and 2007. All patients had diabetes and multivessel disease including proximal left anterior descending or left main coronary artery. The choice of revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass surgery) was left to the physician's discretion rather than randomization. Cox proportional-hazard analyses, adjusting baseline risk factors and propensity score, which predicted the probability of receiving off-pump coronary artery bypass, were conducted to evaluate outcomes, including all-cause mortality, cardiac death, target vessel revascularization, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. RESULTS: During the follow-up (2.6±1.6 years) period, there was no difference between off-pump coronary artery bypass and sirolimus-eluting stent placement in all-cause mortality or cardiac death. However, the incidences of acute coronary syndrome, target vessel revascularization, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events were markedly lower in the patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass than in those receiving sirolimus-eluting stent placement. CONCLUSION: Off-pump coronary artery bypass is superior to sirolimus-eluting stent placement in terms of acute coronary syndrome, target vessel revascularization, and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in diabetic patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

Effect of preoperative hemoglobin A1c levels on long-term outcomes for diabetic patients after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is the most convenient marker for monitoring glycemic control among diabetic patients. However, few studies have reported the impact of baseline HbA1c levels on outcomes for diabetic patients after CABG. This study therefore aimed to investigate whether preoperative HbA1c levels in diabetic patients are predictive of long-term outcomes after off-pump CABG (OPCAB). METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 893 patients undergoing primary isolated OPCAB at Juntendo University Hospital from July 2002 to December 2007, subjects comprised 306 diabetic patients <80 years old. We divided these patients into 3 groups according to the preoperative HbA1c levels. No significant differences in baseline characteristics, angiographic findings, or operative parameters were apparent among the 3 groups. No operative or in-hospital mortality occurred. All-cause mortality and cardiac mortality rates were 6.2% (19 cases) and 1.3% (4 cases), respectively. Kaplan-Meier's survival showed no significant differences in all-cause or cardiac mortality (log-rank test, p=0.26, p=0.17, respectively). Multivariate analysis by Cox's proportional hazards model also demonstrated that no covariates predicted mortality except for age. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative HbA1c levels might not predict long-term outcomes for diabetic patients undergoing OPCAB. Careful evaluation for diabetes should be needed in preoperative management of CABG.