Intraoperative evaluation for endoleaks using the SCORPION procedure during endovascular aortic repair.

OBJECTIVES: Endoleaks are important complications of endovascular aortic repair. Usually, endoleaks are judged indirectly by aortography or postoperative computed tomography. However, findings from these modalities are difficult to distinguish because of the divergency of endoleaks. Few studies have reported direct visualization of endoleaks. Herein, we introduce a direct procedure for intraoperatively evaluating endoleaks using angioscopy. METHODS: From April 2023, consecutive patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm, except emergency cases and those of narrow access, seen at Sunagawa City Medical Center were enrolled in our study. Endoleaks were detected by intraoperative angioscopy using a novel endovascular procedure. RESULTS: Seven patients underwent endovascular aortic repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with intraoperative angioscopy. None of the enrolled patients experienced complications. The procedure revealed types 2, 3a, and 4 endoleaks. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate intraoperative visualization of endoleaks using angioscopy. Direct findings observed by this novel procedure might provide information on the velocity and volume of the endoleak, providing comprehensive insights into the intra-sac hemodynamics after the endovascular aortic repair.

Mid-term outcomes of physician-modified endograft therapy for complex aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to evaluate early and mid-term outcomes of physician-modified endografting for pararenal and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms from 10 Japanese aortic centres. METHODS: From January 2012 to March 2022, a total of 121 consecutive adult patients who underwent physician-modified endografting for pararenal and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms were enrolled. We analysed early and mid-term postoperative outcomes, including postoperative complications and mortality. RESULTS: The pararenal and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm groups included 62 (51.2%) and 59 (48.8%) patients, respectively. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 5.8% (n = 7), with mortality rates of 3.2% (n = 2) and 8.5% (n = 5) in pararenal and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm groups, respectively (P = 0.225). Type IIIc endoleaks occurred postoperatively in 18 patients (14.9%), with a significantly higher incidence (P = 0.033) in the thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm group (22.0%, n = 13) than in the other group (8.1%, n = 5). Major adverse events occurred in 7 (11.3%) and 14 (23.7%) patients in pararenal and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm groups (P = 0.074), respectively. The mean follow-up period was 24.2 months. At the 3-year mark, both groups differed significantly in freedom from all-cause mortality (83.3% and 54.1%, P = 0.004), target aneurysm-related mortality (96.8% and 82.7%, P = 0.013) and any reintervention (89.3% and 65.6%, P = 0.002). Univariate and multivariate regression analyses demonstrated that ruptures, thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms and postoperative type IIIc endoleaks were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The mid-term outcomes of physician-modified endografting for pararenal and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms were clinically acceptable and comparable with those in other recently published studies. Notably, pararenal and thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysms represent distinct pathological entities with different postoperative outcomes.

Iliofemoral Aneurysm in Patients with Type 1 Neurofibromatosis: A Case Report and a Literature Review.

Vascular involvement, especially in the iliofemoral segment, is rare in type 1 neurofibromatosis. We herein report a case involving a 49-year-old male diagnosed with type 1 neurofibromatosis who presented with right inguinal pain and swelling. CT angiography revealed a 50-mm aneurysm extending from the right external artery to the common femoral artery. Although surgical reconstruction was performed successfully, the patient required an additional operation 6 years later for aneurysm enlargement in the deep femoral artery. Histopathological examination confirmed the proliferation of neurofibromatosis cells in the aneurysm wall.

[Simultaneous Resection of Mediastinal and Liver Hydatid Disease].

Cystic echinococcosis is an uncommon zoonosis in Japan. Typical location of the cyst is the liver and the lung. Mediastinal hydatidosis is found in less than 0.1% of all hydatid disease patients. We report a rare case of 68 years old male with mediastinal and liver hydatid cysts. Serological test confirmed the diagnosis of hydatidosis. The patient underwent complete resection of mediastinal and liver cysts successfully. Postoperative follow-up for two years has not shown any signs of recurrence. Simultaneous resection of the cysts in different sites including mediastinum is rare and has not been reported in Japan. Hydatid disease is an important differential diagnosis for patient who has cryptogenic liver cyst and history of contact to wildlife or unsterile water.

Durability of Bioprosthetic Valves in Patients on Dialysis.

PURPOSE: This study focused on clarifying the durability of bioprosthetic valves in current practice. METHODS: A total of 238 consecutive patients who underwent aortic valve replacement at a single institution from 2011 to 2020 were reviewed. We evaluated valve-related outcomes such as structural valve deterioration (SVD), especially in dialysis patients who received bioprosthetic valve. RESULTS: Among the tissue valves implanted in 212 patients, 5 SVDs were recorded and 3 valves were replaced. All early valve failures occurred in relatively young dialysis patients and were recorded 3 to 5 years after the initial operation. Freedom from SVD at 6 years was 49.9% in patients on dialysis, compared with 100% in non-dialysis patients. Predictors of better survival in dialysis patients were better preoperative functional class and larger prosthetic valve size. CONCLUSIONS: The durability of bioprosthetic valves in the aortic position was suboptimal in dialysis patients. Mechanical valves can be an option for young, healthy dialysis patients with a large aortic valve annulus.

Mural vegetation in left ventricular apex caused by Staphylococcus aureus.

A 77-year-old male on chronic haemodialysis was admitted for repeated episodes of stroke and a high fever. The patient's blood culture was positive for Staphylococcus aureus and echocardiogram results revealed moderate mitral valve regurgitation, small masses in the left atrial appendage and a 20-mm mobile, spherical structure attached to the apical cavity of the left ventricle. Surgery was conducted to successfully excise these masses and pathological investigation confirmed the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. The attachment of mobile, spherical vegetation to the apex of the left ventricle is a rare manifestation of infective endocarditis.

Early surgery with aggressive surgical approach to improve 6-month outcomes in patients with active infective endocarditis: contribution of cerebral preoperative magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the hypothesis that early surgery for infective endocarditis (IE) attenuates the rate of death or embolic events and does not increase the rate of relapse or postoperative valvular dysfunction (PVD) at 6 months. METHODS: 21 consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment of IE were prospectively included. We assessed 6-month postoperative clinical outcomes by comparing early surgery (Group E, surgery within 72 h) and conventional treatment (Group C). Nine patients (43%) were assigned to Group E based on a combination of preoperative evaluation parameters, including the findings of cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which was performed in all patients with left-sided IE. RESULTS: Six surgical plans (5 advancements and 1 postponement) were modified by routine MRI. Although preoperative echocardiography did not confirm all annular invasions, the rate of periannular infection, which was treated by pericardial annular patch plasty (56%) in patients with native-valve IE, was higher in Group E than C (P = 0.006). Early surgery based on MRI findings resulted in no postoperative embolic events or cerebral bleeding. The 6-month mortality rate was 0% in both groups, although the calculated 6-month IE mortality rate was 49.2 ± 25% and 28.8 ± 18%, respectively. No recurrence of IE or PVD occurred in Group E. The 6-month rate of freedom from composite events was 100% in Group E. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive treatment (periannular resection and disuse of a prosthetic annuloplasty ring) and optimal antibiotic therapy based on intraoperative microorganisms, even in patients who underwent early surgery, reduced the 6-month relapse and PVD rates.

Detection of patients at high risk for nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia after cardiovascular surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a rare but life-threatening complication after cardiovascular surgery. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential for a chance to cure. The aim of this study is to identify the independent risk factors for NOMI based on the evaluation of 12 cases of NOMI after cardiovascular surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 12 patients with NOMI and 674 other patients without NOMI who underwent cardiovascular surgery in our hospital. We reviewed the clinical data on NOMI patients, including their characteristics and the clinical course. In addition, we performed a statistical comparison of each factor from both NOMI and non-NOMI groups to identify the independent risk factors for NOMI. RESULTS: The median duration between the cardiac surgery and the diagnosis of NOMI was 14.0 (10.3-20.3) days. The in-hospital mortality of NOMI patients was 75.0%. Age (p < 0.05), peripheral arterial disease (p < 0.001), postoperative hemodialysis (p < 0.001), intraaortic balloon pump (p < 0.05), norepinephrine (NOE) > 0.10γ (p < 0.0001), percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (p < 0.001), sepsis (p < 0.05), loss of sinus rhythm (p < 0.05), prolonged ventilation (p < 0.0001), and resternotomy for bleeding (p < 0.05) showed significant differences between NOMI and non-NOMI groups. In the multivariate logistic regression model, prolonged ventilation [odds ratio (OR) = 18.1, p < 0.001] and NOE > 0.10 µg/kg/min (OR = 130.0, p < 0.0001) were detected as independent risk factors for NOMI. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified the risk factors for NOMI based on the evaluation of the 12 cases of NOMI after cardiovascular surgery. This result may be useful in predicting NOMI, which is considered difficult in clinical practice. For the patient with suspected of NOMI who has these risk factors, early CT scan and surgical exploration should be performed without delay.

Idiopathic bronchial hemorrhage: a rare but catastrophic complication in cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Hemoptysis is a common complication in all kinds of surgery. However, it is rarely critical because it resolves with or without intervention. CASE PRESENTATION: Here the authors present what is believed to be an unprecedented report of a case involving a fatal idiopathic bronchial hemorrhage complication during cardiac surgery. Eighty-five-year-old female with severe aorticvalve stenosis had elective aortic valve replacement. Subsequently, she developed diffuse bilateral severe idiopathic bronchial hemorrhage which required maximum intervention such as external bronchial ligation, V-A ECMO, coil embolization of bronchial artery and internal airway blockage by spigot. CONCLUSIONS: Airway bleeding is not a rare complication in cardiac surgery, but this case should increase awareness of this potentially life threatening perioperative complication.

The use of an anti-fibrinolytic agent to reduce endoleak following endovascular repair of multiple aortic aneurysms.

This paper reports on the therapeutic use of tranexamic acid in an elderly patient with severe comorbidities that precluded even endovascular reintervention. Orally administered tranexamic acid mitigated and partially reversed two and a half years of progressive aneurysmal expansion and closed a persistent endoleak after thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair and endovascular aneurysm repair for coexisting lesions. Reappearance of the endoleak when tranexamic acid was accidentally stopped and its re-closure after the resumption of tranexamic acid treatment confirmed causality. This singular experience extends prior published observations that administration of prophylactic tranexamic acid before thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair and endovascular aneurysm repair resulted in significantly greater shrinkage, particularly if an endoleak or coagulopathy was present.

Infradiaphragmatic malperfusion of acute aortic dissection associated with previous abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association of previous abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) graft replacement with infradiaphragmatic malperfusion in patients with acute aortic dissection. METHODS: Between November 2006 and June 2011, 133 patients were referred to our hospital for management of acute aortic dissection. Eight (6.0 %) of these patients had undergone AAA graft replacement prior to the acute aortic dissection. We compared the computed tomography (CT) images of these 8 patients with those of the remaining 125 patients without previous AAA graft replacement, in terms of organ ischemia as a complication induced by acute aortic dissection. RESULTS: Infradiaphragmatic malperfusion from acute aortic dissection was confirmed in four of the eight patients who had undergone AAA graft replacement. Contrasted CT scan images indicated that the main cause of infradiaphragmatic malperfusion was collapse of the true lumen from compression by the false lumen into the suprarenal aorta. Although there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of cerebral ischemia and myocardial ischemia, bilateral leg ischemia and visceral ischemia occurred more frequently in the patients who had undergone AAA graft replacement. CONCLUSION: Previous AAA graft replacement is a risk factor for infradiaphragmatic malperfusion in patients with acute aortic dissection.

A treatment strategy for early thrombosed Stanford type A acute aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE: Early thrombosed aortic dissection is a form of aortic dissection and includes the condition called aortic intramural hematoma. It was generally considered as surgical emergency. However, the optimal treatment strategy for acute type A intramural hematoma is becoming controversial after recent studies indicated more benign clinical course for this disease. We evaluated our strategy that integrated medical therapy, serial imaging, and timed surgery. METHODS: We reviewed 34 consecutive patients who were admitted to our hospital for early thrombosed Stanford type A acute aortic dissection from 2006 to 2011. Medical therapy or timed surgery was offered on the basis of radiological findings. Emergency or urgent surgery was not considered for a hemodynamically stable patient unless the ascending aortic diameter was ≧50 mm or the thickness of the thrombosed false lumen was ≧10 mm. Follow-up computed tomography was performed to detect a potential progression to aortic dissection. RESULTS: During the average follow-up period of 24.3 months, there was no aortic dissection-related mortality. And aortic dissection-related event was not recorded in patients who had surgical repair; however, in patients who did not have surgery, 3 (8.8 %) surgical conversions were recorded due to aortic dissection progression during the follow-up period. Twenty-one patients (61.8 %) ultimately had surgical repair, and 13 patients (38.2 %) had complete medical therapy. The overall survival rate at 3 years was 86.5 %. CONCLUSIONS: Our strategy for the treatment of early thrombosed Stanford type A acute aortic dissection is reasonable, and the mid-term results were acceptable.

Repeat conduit replacement in the pulmonary position without sternal resplitting for the patient with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot and the absent inferior caval vein.

Recently, sternal reentry has been performed with low perioperative mortality and morbidity. In some patients, however, there are specific problems leading to life-threatening events during sternal reentry. A 27-year-old woman with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot and the absent inferior caval vein was referred to our department for pulmonary conduit replacement. Preoperative computed tomography disclosed the dominant right coronary artery and the ascending aorta longitudinally running just beneath the midline of the sternum. Therefore, we selected bilateral antero-lateral thoracotomy as the alternative approach to avoid the injury of these vital organs. The left axillar and right femoral artery were used for arterial perfusion sites. Venous drainage could be obtained from the left superior caval vein and the isolated hepatic vein via the left antero-lateral thoracotomy, and the right superior caval vein via the right antero-lateral thoracotomy. We successfully performed the repeat conduit replacement via the right antero-lateral thoracotomy.

Giant intercostal aneurysm complicated by Stanford type B acute aortic dissection in patients with type 1 neurofibromatosis.

Vascular involvement is rare in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). It is often missed because it is usually asymptomatic. We report a case of a 42 years old male with neurofibromatosis type 1 who presented with left back discomfort. CT angiography revealed a massive 42 mm aneurysm of left 11th intercostal artery. After a discussion between radiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons, endovascular coil embolization was chosen to treat this patient. Percutaneous aneurysm embolization was successfully performed. However, the procedure was complicated by Stanford type B acute aortic dissection. Stanford type B acute aortic dissection was medically managed and patient remained well after discharge. Fragile vascular nature was thought to be one of the causes of this unreported complication.

Conversion to Open Repair from Emergency EVAR in a Patient with Ruptured AAA: Report of a Case.

A 77-year-old woman with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was transferred to our hospital. Due to a severe comorbidity, endovascular aortic repair of the ruptured AAA was proposed. During the operation, although a Zenith(®) AAA endovascular graft was deployed, digital subtracted angiography revealed an enhancement of the endoleak, and the patient became hemodynamically unstable. Therefore, we decided to convert to graft replacement of the abdominal aorta through a median laparotomy. During the postoperative period, the patient suffered from ischemic colitis, which resolved with conservative therapy. She was discharged after 33 postoperative days.

Bcl-xL gene transfer inhibits Bax translocation and prolongs cardiac cold preservation time in rats.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis is an important cause of early graft loss after heart transplantation. Bcl-xL was reported to protect the heart against normothermic ischemia and reperfusion injury. In this study, we determined whether overexpression of Bcl-xL could inhibit tissue injury resulting from prolonged cold preservation followed by warm reperfusion of heart transplants. METHODS AND RESULTS: Lewis rat hearts were transduced with an adenovirus vector harboring Bcl-xL cDNA (AxCAhBclxL) 4 days before collection of tissue. After preservation in University of Wisconsin solution at 4 degrees C for 24 hours, the heart was either perfused with a Langendorff device ex vivo or used for heterotopic heart transplantation in vivo. Bcl-xL gene transfer significantly reduced the infarct size (23.0+/-2.6% versus 47.7+/-7.0% in saline control and 48.6+/-6.1% in vector control, P<0.01) after 2-hour reperfusion at 37 degrees C with the Langendorff device and significantly decreased creatine kinase release (0.82+/-0.27 IU, versus 1.57+/-0.33 and 1.50+/-0.37 IU in saline and vector controls, respectively; P<0.05). In heart transplantation, overexpression of Bcl-xL inhibited Bax translocation from the cytosol to the mitochondria, resulting in decreased cytochrome c release from the mitochondria; it also significantly decreased cardiac cell apoptosis and improved graft survival rate after long cold preservation, followed by warm reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Bcl-xL gene transfer inhibited the translocation of Bax and prolonged the cold preservation time of cardiac transplants. This may be a potential therapeutic method in clinical practice.

Medical students' views on thoracic surgery residency programs in a Japanese medical school.

There has been a decline in the number of medical students applying for thoracic surgery training programs. We obtained knowledge of medical students' views on thoracic surgery residency programs. After completion of thoracic surgery clerkship, 17 students were asked to fill out questionnaires on first-year thoracic surgery residency programs. The majority of students considered thoracic surgery to be held in high regard by the general public, and felt that the salary was sufficient. However, only one student chose a thoracic surgery training program. The main reason for not applying for thoracic surgery residency was lifestyle issues. The factors in determining career choice included quality of education and work hours. Medical students are likely to select specialties other than thoracic surgery. Since the main factor influencing medical students' career is the quality of education in a residency program, efforts should be made to improve the quality of education.