[Total Arch Replacement Using Bilateral Axillary Artery Perfusion].

OBJECTIVES: The selection of arterial cannulation site is an important decision to avoid cerebral complication for total arch replacement(TAR). We report the surgical outcome of TAR using bilateral axillary artery perfusion in our hospital. METHODS: Between January 2012 and June 2020, 97 patients who underwent elective TAR for atherosclerotic aneurysms were enrolled in this study. Among them, bilateral axillary artery perfusion was used for 81 patients, and frozen elephant trunk( FET) procedure were used for 34 patients. In the case of FET procedure, translocated TAR was performed with distal anastomosis between the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. The left subclavian artery was reconstructed by rerouting the graft used for the left axillary artery perfusion. RESULTS: There were no perioperative cerebral infarction and no hospital deaths. The mean operation time was 420 minutes. Compared to the conventional elephant trunk method, the FET method significantly reduced the operation time to 381 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral axillary artery perfusion could contribute to reduce the cerebral infarction in TAR and facilitate the FET procedure.

Serum Cystatin C Level as a Biomarker of Aortic Plaque in Patients with an Aortic Arch Aneurysm.

AIM: During surgery for an aortic arch aneurysm, aortic plaque in the descending aorta should be evaluated, but there are currently no suitable biomarkers for it. Surgeons should be especially aware of cerebral embolism from femoral perfusion and of peripheral embolism from stent graft deployment. Cystatin C is a known useful marker of renal dysfunction with a role as a biomarker for severity of coronary artery disease. In the absence of a suitable biomarker for aortic plaque in the descending aorta, we examine cystatin C as a candidate. METHODS: In all, 75 patients who underwent surgery for an aortic arch aneurysm were enrolled. They were divided into two groups, depending on whether they had chronic kidney disease or not. The serum cystatin C value and creatinine value were evaluated preoperatively. The aortic plaque volume ratio and components in the descending aorta were calculated from preoperative enhanced computed tomography. RESULTS: The soft plaque volume ratio was higher in patients with chronic kidney disease than in patients without it. Cystatin C positively correlated with the total aortic plaque volume ratio in all cases, and it positively correlated with the soft plaque volume ratio in both groups. Creatinine had no correlation with any type of plaque volume ratio in either group. In patients without chronic kidney disease, the soft plaque volume ratio was higher in patients with higher cystatin C levels than in patients with normal levels. CONCLUSION: The preoperative serum cystatin C level could be a biomarker of aortic plaque in the descending aorta in patients with an aortic arch aneurysm.

Usefulness of routine use of bilateral axillary artery perfusion in total arch replacement.

OBJECTIVES: To avoid cerebral infarction for aortic arch aneurysm and malperfusion for acute aortic dissection, the site of cannulation during total arch replacement remains important. Recently, we have used bilateral axillary artery perfusion in total arch replacement and in acute aortic dissection. Herein, we report the surgical outcomes. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with aortic arch aneurysm and 45 patients with acute aortic dissection were enrolled in this study. During surgery, translocation of the total arch was performed on 67 patients using a 'frozen elephant trunk technique'. RESULTS: In patients with aortic arch aneurysm, there was no postoperative cerebral infarction. New postoperative cerebral infarction was observed in only one patient who underwent acute aortic dissection. Two patients who had aortic arch aneurysm and 2 patients who had acute aortic dissection died at the hospital. Complications related to bilateral axillary perfusion were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: The routine use of bilateral axillary artery perfusion in total arch replacement for aortic arch aneurysm to avoid cerebral infarction has the potential to be a useful procedure. It can facilitate the frozen elephant trunk procedure in acute aortic dissection.

Long-term outcomes of Ross and Ross-Konno operations in patients under 15 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: The Ross operation is an excellent surgical option for young children, regardless of aortic pathology type. However, failure rates are concerning during the second postoperative decade. We sought to determine the predictors of long-term outcomes after Ross and Ross-Konno operation performed in childhood. METHODS: We performed 34 Ross and 9 Ross-Konno operations in pediatric patients (age < 15 years) from 1996 to 2016, and retrospectively evaluated the long-term results. RESULTS: The postoperative follow-up period was 13.5 ± 3.9 years. In the Ross group, there were one inpatient death and one death after discharge. There were no inpatient deaths in the Ross-Konno group. There were 6 reoperations in the Ross group and 1 in the Ross-Konno group for left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). Cumulative survival rates were 96.8% and 100% in the Ross and Ross-Konno groups, respectively. The reoperation free rate for LVOT /RVOT (right ventricular outflow tract) were 98.6/85.5% and 91.9/63.4% in the 5th and 10th years of follow-up, respectively. Patients who underwent the operations at age > 8.6 years had higher risks of reoperation for LVOT. Aortic annulus measurements > 24 mm or aorta/pulmonary artery diameter (Ao/PA) ratios > 1.2 conferred higher risks of reoperation for LVOT. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outcomes after Ross and Ross-Konno operations in children were satisfactory. However, new-onset aortic regurgitation was progressive and reoperation was needed in some children. Age, aortic annulus diameter, and Ao/PA ratio may be able to predict of long-term outcomes after Ross and Ross-Konno operations.

Long-term results of modified Fontan operation for single-ventricle patients associated with atrioventricular valve regurgitation.

BACKGROUND: The long-term outcome of modified Fontan operation concomitant with a valve operation for atrioventricular valve (AVV) regurgitation is not well described. METHODS: Between 1977 and 2003, 500 children who underwent modified Fontan operation were subdivided into 192 with AVV plasty (group P) and 308 without AVV plasty (group N). Factors associated with patient outcome were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: Surgical techniques to correct valve incompetence included circular annuloplasty, partial annuloplasty with Kaye-Reed methods, edge-to-edge repair methods, and valvoplasty, which were combined according to the etiology of the valve lesion. The estimated actuarial survival rates at 10 and 20 years were, respectively, 82.0% and 76.6% in group P (p < 0.05) and 90.8% and 86.8% in group N (p = 0.001). The estimated actuarial survival rates at 10 years among patients with AVV plasty did not show a statistically significant difference (circular annuloplasty, 79.0%; partial annuloplasty, 81.6%; edge-to-edge, 83.3%; valvoplasty, 82.6%; p = 0.90). A Cox regression model revealed that a higher preoperative ventricular ejection fraction was associated with a significant reduction in long-term mortality in group P (hazard ratio, 0.921; 95% confidence interval, 0.873 to 0.972; p < 0.05). Each repair method showed acceptable durability at medium-term follow-up, without progression of lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Given worse results with poor ventricular function, early intervention against valve pathology before development of ventricular failure may improve long-term outcomes. Multiple methods are appropriate for a variety of valve lesions; however, circular annuloplasty remains a reliable repair option due to its technical simplicity.

Factors affecting systemic oxygen delivery after Norwood procedure with Sano modification.

BACKGROUND: The physiologic goal of management after a Norwood procedure is to optimize systemic oxygen delivery, as indicated by oxygen excess factor (OEF). Factors were examined that might affect systemic oxygen delivery after the Norwood procedure with right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit as the pulmonary blood supply. METHODS: Hemodynamic data of 9 patients (mean age, 25.0 days; mean weight, 2.9 kg) who underwent a modified Norwood operation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) between April 2003 and April 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Variables were obtained by manometry and oximetry from indwelling catheters in the systemic artery, pulmonary artery, and superior vena cava at 3- to 6-hour intervals for 72 hours postoperatively. Systemic (Qs) and pulmonary (Qp) blood flow, systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were calculated. RESULTS: A significant increase in SVR and decrease in PVR occurred during the first 6 hours, which might be inductive to sudden cardiovascular collapse. SVR and PVR significantly decreased over time through 24 hours, followed by a lower steady increase. OEF was closely correlated with SVR (p < 0.0001). No correlation of OEF with PVR (p = 0.65) was noted among the assumed variables. Mixed venous oxygen saturation (SVO(2)) and OEF were strongly correlated. Pulmonary arterial pressure and OEF were weakly correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative management strategies to maintain a low SVR, rather than manipulating PVR, appear to be rational to achieve adequate oxygen delivery after a Norwood procedure with Sano modification. The SVO(2) provides reliable prediction of OEF during postoperative hemodynamic recovery.

Staged approach for congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries associated with dextrocardia and nonconfluent pulmonary artery.

We completed double switch operation (Senning plus Rastelli procedure; SLL) after staged palliative operations for SLL, dextrocardia, congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, and nonconfluent pulmonary artery. The patient had undergone three preparatory operations including central pulmonary artery reconstruction with autologous pericardium and morphologic right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt and then double switch operation was performed. During the double switch operation, the previous conduit which was established as right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt in the third palliation was replaced by a larger conduit. This conduit was used as Rastelli external conduit to avoid coronary artery injury. When systemic venous chamber was reconstructed, suture line pouch technique was used, in which dog ears were made at the sites of superior and inferior vena cava orifices, respectively, to prevent systemic venous return obstruction. Pulmonary venous chamber was reconstructed without any augmentation, which reduced the possibility of postoperative arrhythmia. Systemic and pulmonary venous pathway obstructions were not observed after the operation. Postoperative arrhythmia was not detected.

Total cavo-pulmonary connection without foreign material for asplenic heart associated with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

The presented case was a 3-year-old boy diagnosed with asplenia (SLL), double outlet right ventricle, pulmonary stenosis, atrioventricular septal defect, hypoplastic left ventricle and partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the superior vena cava. Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection was repaired by translocation of pulmonary artery to avoid pulmonary venous obstruction when Glenn anastomosis was performed. Total cavo-pulmonary connection was established by re-routing the inferior vena cava to pulmonary artery using the atrial septal remnant and the left atrium free wall flap.

New anastomosis assist devices for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Two new graft holders and an anastomosis assist mirror, designed for coronary artery bypass grafting, are described. The graft holders are pinching devices with sponges inside to prevent graft injury. The anastomosis assist mirror is a small circular mirror designed to show a reflective view of the lateral or posterior wall of the heart. Together they can provide secure stabilization of the graft and an excellent view of the anastomotic site.

A new end graft holder for coronary artery bypass grafting.

This article describes the construction and use of a new end graft holder during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The instrument consists of a pinching device attached to a flexible arm and a fixation clamp. This device provides secure stabilization and enables excellent positioning of the graft without producing graft injury.

Solitary cardiac metastasis of rectal adenocarcinoma.

Solitary cardiac metastasis is rarely recognized. We report a case of solitary cardiac metastasis from a rectal adenocarcinoma that was manifested as superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. Invasion of the deep cardiac structures was so severe that only its palliative resection and right atrial reconstruction were performed using a cardiopulmonary bypass to release the SVC obstruction. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged home without any complications. Adjuvant chemotherapy could not be performed because of the renal dysfunction. Eleven months later, the patient died from multiple metastasis of adenocarcinoma. Even though the surgery was not curative, it might be effective for release from symptoms and for elongating life expectancy.