[How to Consider the Heart Transplantation from the Donor after Circulatory Death in Japan].

The donation of the organs after brain death (DBD) has increased after the revision of the law in 2010 and the total number of heart transplantation( HTx) has reached to over 500 in Japan. However, donor shortage is critical as the annual number as remaining under 100 with unneglectable number of waiting deaths. Recently, HTx under donation after controlled circulatory death( cDCD) has been promoted in United Kingdom (UK) and Australia with promising outcomes. The cDCD appears to be an important option to expand the donor pool in Japan. Nation-wide and cross-cutting action among transplantation organs is warranted. Status of cDCD HTx in abroad and the domestic issues are reviewed.

Efficacy of simulation training for beating heart coronary anastomosis using BEAT + YOUCAN simulator.

BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate our distributed practice program developed for training for beating heart anastomosis by employing a novel beating heart simulator. METHODS: Eleven trainees watched and reviewed instructional video recordings of coronary anastomosis methods with a BEAT + YOUCAN training device, then performed coronary anastomosis procedures under a beating condition. Next, they participated in a four-hour training program developed by faculty surgeons. Ten different anastomosis components were assessed on a five-point rating scale (5, good; 3, average; 1, poor). After finishing the training program, each trainee again performed a coronary anastomosis procedure. Component scores were then compared before and after the training program. RESULTS: The mean time to completion of the procedure improved from 1033 ± 424 to 795 ± 201 s (p < 0.05). Assessment scores improved from 1.88 ± 0.41 to 2.57 ± 0.30 (p < 0.05). Improvements in some technical components related to handling of instruments were noted (p < 0.05), whereas no significant improvement was seen with arteriotomy, graft orientation, suture management, or knot tying after finishing the training program. CONCLUSION: Trainees who participated in our four-hour focused training program for coronary anastomosis with a novel beating heart simulator showed improved ability under the beating condition in regard to technical skills related to handling instruments.

The Jarvik 2000 left ventricular assist device as a bridge to transplantation: Japanese Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support.

BACKGROUND: The Jarvik 2000 ventricular assist device features a miniaturized intraventricular pump and an intermittent low-speed function that facilitates aortic valve opening. Despite its long history, little is known about the Jarvik device with regard to post-implantation outcomes. METHODS: Prospectively collected data from 13 participating hospitals were extracted from the Japanese Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support database to analyze mortality, morbidity and de-novo aortic regurgitation. Data on 83 patients who underwent implantation of the Jarvik 2000 were reviewed. Median support duration was 191 (maximum 758) days. All recipients underwent implantation as a bridge to transplantation. RESULTS: Overall survival proportions at 1 and 2 years were 85.0% and 79.3%, respectively. Nine patients were in INTERMACS Level 1, and 28 patients were on mechanical circulatory support at the time of implantation. Causes of death included stroke, infection and device malfunction. Three patients had their device removed: 2 at the time of heart transplantation and 1 after recovery of the left ventricle. Common adverse events included major bleeding (27.7%), new infection (31.3%), stroke (20.5%) and device malfunction (20.5%). De-novo aortic regurgitation was observed in 17 patients, 6 of whom developed at least moderate regurgitation during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Mid-term survival after Jarvik 2000 implantation was satisfactory and comparable to that reported by other national and international registries (INTERMACS and IMACS) for continuous-flow LVADs. De novo aortic regurgitation occurred despite the intermittent low-speed effect of this device, with some recipients experiencing progressive worsening of aortic regurgitation within 2 years post-implantation.

Heart transplantation for adults with congenital heart disease: current status and future prospects.

Increased survival rates after corrective or palliative surgery for complex congenital heart disease (CHD) in infancy and childhood are now being coupled with increased numbers of patients who survive to adulthood with various residual lesions or sequelae. These patients are likely to deteriorate in cardiac function or end-organ function, eventually requiring lifesaving treatment including heart transplantation. Although early and late outcomes of heart transplantation have been improving for adult survivors of CHD, outcomes and pretransplant management could still be improved. Survivors of Fontan procedures are a vulnerable cohort, particularly when single ventricle physiology fails, mostly with protein-losing enteropathy and hepatic dysfunction. Therefore, we reviewed single-institution and larger database analyses of adults who underwent heart transplantation for CHD, to enable risk stratification by identifying the indications and outcomes. As the results, despite relatively high early mortality, long-term results were encouraging after heart transplantation. However, further investigations are needed to improve the indication criteria for complex CHD, especially for failed Fontan. In addition, the current system of status criteria and donor heart allocation system in heart transplantation should be arranged as suitable for adults with complex CHD. Furthermore, there is a strong need to develop ventricular assist devices as a bridge to transplantation or destination therapy, especially where right-sided circulatory support is needed.

Orthotropic heart transplantation for adult congenital heart disease: a case with heterotaxy and dextrocardia.

A 41-year-old male with heterotaxy (left isomerism) and dextrocardia composed by single ventricle, absent inferior vena cava, bilateral superior vena cava (SVC), common atrioventricular valve has received orthotopic heart transplantation (HTx) after long waiting period as Status-1. Reconstructions of bilateral SVC and hepatic vein route were successful without use of prosthetic material, and the donor heart was placed in the left mediastinum. In spite of satisfactory early recovery, the patient expired 4 months after transplantation mainly from fungal infection which developed following humoral rejection. HTx for adult patients with complex congenital heart disease is demanding in technical as well as pre- and post-transplant management, and indication should be critically determined.

Outcomes of limited proximal aortic replacement for type A aortic dissection in octogenarians.

OBJECTIVE: The number of older patients with acute aortic dissection type A (AAD [A]) is increasing as the population ages. We evaluated clinical outcomes for octogenarians with AAD (A) treated surgically at our hospital. Whenever possible, we limited the replacement site of the ascending aorta to the supracoronary and hemiarch. METHODS: Of 436 patients with AAD (A) seen in our hospital emergency room between April 2001 and August 2015, 90 were octogenarians. Surgery was performed using a simple cardiopulmonary bypass established through the right femoral artery and venous cannulation, and distal anastomosis was performed under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest at 20°C. RESULTS: Of the 90 octogenarians with AAD (A), 11 required cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 9 of whom died. Four patients with stable hemodynamics refused surgery. Thus, 77 were treated surgically. Of these 77 patients, isolated replacement of the ascending aorta or hemiarch was performed in 73 (94.8%), and total arch replacement in 4 (5.2%). Five patients (6.5%) died within 30 days, and 5 (6.5%) died in the hospital more than 30 days after surgery. Seven (9.1%) had a new stroke, 5 (6.5%) had pneumonia, and 4 (5.2%) had mediastinitis. Forty-four (57.1%) patients were discharged to their homes and 23 (30%) to rehabilitation hospitals. Three patients later required endovascular stent graft repair, which was successful in each case. The overall postoperative survival was 82%, 70%, and 62% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that our limited replacement protocol for emergency AAD (A) surgery has early and midterm survival benefits for octogenarians.

Open Surgical Repair Can Be One Option for the Treatment of Persistent Type II Endoleak after EVAR.

PURPOSES: Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is an increasingly used method of repairing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). However, the treatment of persistent type II endoleak is still a controversial issue. Five cases are reported here in which we performed open surgical repair of growing aneurysm due to persistent type II endoleak. METHOD: Totally 128 EVAR cases were retrospectively reviewed, which were operated in our hospital from April 2008 to October 2013. These cases were followed by periodical contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) after EVAR. When persistent type II endoleak caused aneurysm sac growth, we performed surgical repair method for the first line treatment. In the operation, we incised the aneurysm sac by abdominal small median incision approach and sutured lumber arteries from inside of aneurysm sac and tied inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) in addition to aneurysmorrhaphy. Contrast-enhanced CT scanning was performed in a week after open repair for the confirmation of complete treatment. RESULTS: Five of 128 cases (3.9%) were needed to be surgically repaired because of aneurysm sac growth (>5 mm), including two ruptured AAA cases. All patients recovered uneventfully. Contrast-enhanced CT scanning performed a week after these operations showed no endoleak and intact stent grafts and reduction of the aneurysm size. CONCLUSION: We believe open surgical repair method of persistent type II endoleak with aneurysm expansion is secure method, and can be one of the preferable options for this life threatening complication after EVAR.

In-patient step count predicts re-hospitalization after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Clinical significance of in-patient step count after cardiac surgery remains unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether the number of steps walked during the in-patient stay after cardiac surgery predicts the risk of cardiac re-hospitalization in the following year. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-three patients who underwent cardiac surgery were included in this study. The number of steps was assessed using a triaxial accelerometer. One year after surgery, patients completed a postal survey to determine their health condition and occurrence of cardiac re-hospitalization. RESULTS: The mean number of steps walked during the last three in-patient days was 2460 ± 1549 (mean ± standard deviation). Of the 133 patients, there were 16 cases (12.0%) of cardiac re-hospitalization during the 1-year follow-up period. The average step count before discharge was significantly lower in the 16 patients who were re-hospitalized for cardiac causes (1297 ± 1232 versus 2620 ± 1524, p<0.01). The cut-off value that predicted the occurrence of cardiac re-hospitalization on the receiver operating curve was 1308 steps (area under the curve: 0.783, p<0.001, sensitivity: 0.814, specificity: 0.733). Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that the strongest predictor of cardiac re-hospitalization was a low step count prior to discharge (≤1308 steps, hazard ratio: 7.58; 95% confidence interval: 2.04-28.22). CONCLUSIONS: In-patient step count appears to be a risk factor for cardiac re-hospitalization within the first year following cardiac surgery. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of step count both preoperatively and following discharge.

Emergency rescue endovascular stent grafting of ascending aorta to relieve life-threatening coronary obstruction in a case of acute aortic dissection.

Myocardial ischemia associated with acute aortic dissection is frequently a fatal complication, and the emergent management still remains a challenge. We report a patient with life-threatening myocardial ischemia due to acute aortic dissection managed by rescue stent grafting of the ascending aorta. Coronary blood flow improved immediately with this endovascular procedure, hemodynamic status was ameliorated dramatically, followed by uneventful open repair.

[Cardiac tamponade due to ruptured coronary artery aneurysm associated with coronary-pulmonary artery fistula; report of a case].

We report a successful operative treatment of ruptured coronary artery aneurysm associated with coronary-pulmonary artery fistula. A 67-year-old woman was diagnosed with coronary artery fistula previously but observed without any treatment. She had medical examination at a previous hospital because of sudden onset of dyspnea, and transported to our institution with a diagnosis of cardiac tamponade. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) showed massive pericardial effusion, coronary-pulmonary artery fistula and giant coronary artery aneurysm. We performed emergency operation. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, coronary artery fistula and aneurysm was resected. Postoperative MDCT showed almost complete exclusion of coronary artery fistula. Postoperative course was uneventful.

Nitric oxide-mediated injury of interstitial cells of Cajal and intestinal dysmotility under endotoxemia of mice.

Gastrointestinal dysmotility is frequently observed under septic conditions, yet its precise mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In this study, we have investigated the mechanisms of intestinal dysmotility by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and the role of the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in motility disorders using a mouse endotoxin model. The injection of LPS caused time- and dose-dependent decreases in the intestinal contractility, which was associated with similar time- and dose-dependent decreases in the number of KIT-positive fibroblast-like cells located in the intermuscular layer. iNOS inhibitors, L-NAME and aminoguanidine (AG), but not 7-nitroindazole (7NI), a specific nNOS inhibitor, inhibited the LPS-induced decreases in both the contractility and the number of KIT-positive cells. A spontaneous NO releaser, FK409, not only diminished spontaneous electrical potential and phasic contractions, but also decreased the number of KIT-positive cells. Pretreatment with gadolinium inhibited the activation of macrophages and the induction of iNOS in intestinal resident macrophages, and restored the number of KIT-positive cells and intestinal contractions. These results suggested that NO produced from intestinal macrophages via iNOS induced by LPS, may be involved in the ICCs injury and intestinal dysmotility under septic conditions.

Clinical results with Jarvik 2000 axial flow left ventricular assist device: Osaka University Experience.

The aim of this study was to evaluate our clinical experience with the Jarvik 2000 axial flow pump (Jarvik Heart, Inc, New York, NY, USA), a miniature axial flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The clinical results of eight patients, who underwent LVAD implantation with the Jarvik 2000 (median age 55.0 years; six men) between 2005 and 2010, including two who participated in a multicenter clinical trial in Japan, were reviewed. Two patients underwent LVAD implantation as destination therapy. Four patients underwent Jarvik 2000 implantation via median sternotomy, while the other four underwent implantation via left thoracotomy. There were no major complications during surgery. Four patients were supported for more than 2 years. The longest support duration was 1,618 days. Six patients successfully bridged to heart transplantation after a median 725 days of support. One patient on destination therapy died of a cerebral infarction. The other patient on destination therapy had had the LVAD for 1,618 days. The overall survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 100, 86, and 86%, respectively. The median postoperative serum lactate dehydrogenase level was 860.5 U/L at 1 month, 735 U/L at 6 months, and 692 U/L at 1 year. There were no fatal device-related infections. We found that the Jarvik 2000 with pin bearing could support patients with end-stage heart failure with acceptable mortality and morbidity rates. Further evaluations of the prevalence of thromboembolic and hemolytic events in patients with the new conical-bearing Jarvik 2000 are required.

Where does the new regime of medical specialty certification go?

The certification system of medical specialty is going to be changed to a new regime after the proposal of reorganization conducted by the Government in 2013. This review focuses on the issue of program-based accreditation of the training institution which is the core of the new regime. In particular, the strategy for surgical subspecialty such as thoracic surgery is discussed.

Outcomes of single-stage total arch replacement via clamshell incision.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of complex aortic pathologies involving the transverse arch with extensive involvement of the descending aorta remains a surgical challenge. Since clamshell incision provides superior exposure of the entire thoracic aorta, we evaluated the use of this technique for single-stage total arch replacement by arch vessel reconstruction. METHODS: The arch-first technique combined with clamshell incision was used in 38 cases of aneurysm and aortic disease in 2008 and 2009. Extensive total arch replacement was used with clamshell incision for reconstruction of arch vessels under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. RESULTS: Overall 30-day mortality was 13%. The mean operating time was approximately 8 hours. Deep hypothermia resulted in mean CPB time exceeding 4.5 hours and mean duration of circulatory arrest was 25 minutes. The overall postoperative temporary and permanent neurologic dysfunction rates were 3% and 3% for elective and 3% and 0% for emergency surgery, respectively. All patients except the five who died in hospital were discharged without nursing care after an average post-operative hospital stay of 35 days. CONCLUSIONS: The arch-first technique, combined with clamshell incision, provides expeditious replacement of the thoracic aorta with an acceptable duration of hypothermic circulatory arrest and minimizes the risk of retrograde atheroembolism by using antegrade perfusion.