Safety and Applicability of Continuous Retrograde Cardioplegia in Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement: New Approaches.

PURPOSE: To discuss minimally invasive cardiac surgery aortic valve replacement (MICS-AVR) approach via anterior thoracotomy using continuous retrograde cardioplegia. Continuous retrograde cardioplegia facilitates excellent continuous homogeneous cooling of the heart during cardiac arrest. METHODS: We performed AVR using the proposed method in nine patients between June 2018 and September 2019. The median age of the patients was 73 (range: 43-84) years. The pleural space was entered via anterior thoracotomy. After opening of the right atrium, a retrograde cardioplegic cannula was inserted into the coronary sinus with a purse-string suture. Continuous cold blood retrograde cardioplegia was initiated at 700 mL/h. RESULTS: Extubation in the operating room was performed in five (56%) patients. No new decreased function of the left and right ventricles was observed in intraoperative transesophageal echography or transthoracic echocardiogram. CONCLUSION: MICA-AVR through continuous retrograde cardioplegia is a safe technique.

Long-Term Results of Crossover Bypass for Iliac Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Era of Endovascular Treatment: The Re-ACTION Study (Retrospective Assessment of Crossover Bypass as a Treatment for Iliac LesiONs).

Objective: The aim of this study was to elucidate the long-term results of crossover bypass (CB) for iliac atherosclerotic lesions in the era of endovascular treatment (EVT). Methods: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was performed. CB was performed in 242 patients between 2003 and 2014 by vascular surgeons at multiple medical centers in Japan. Results: Perioperative mortality was 1.7%. Primary patency rates were 86% at 5 years and 82% at 8 years. Univariate analysis showed that critical limb ischemia (Rutherford class 4-6), vein graft, and superficial femoral artery occlusion were significantly associated with low primary patency. In multivariate analysis, only critical limb ischemia influenced primary patency. The secondary patency rate was 87% at both 5 and 8 years. The limb salvage rate was 98% at both 5 and 8 years. The overall survival rates were 71% at 5 years and 49% at 8 years. Conclusion: The long-term results of CB were good in our study, compared with previous reports. Our results suggest that CB remains an option for the arterial reconstruction in unilateral iliac occlusive disease after EVT failed.

[Isolated infective endocarditis located in the tricuspid valve; report of a case].

We report surgically treated case of tricuspid valve endocarditis in a non-drug addict. A 74-year-old man with no history of cardiac disease was admitted to our hospital for persistent pyrexia. The blood culture was negative. Echocardiography showed vegetations attached to the tricuspid valve with mild tricuspid regurgitation. Intravenous antibiotics therapy was unable to control the infection. So we performed tricuspid valve repair and annuloplasty using an artificial ring. The postoperative course was uneventful. After prophylactic antibiotic administration for 15 weeks, he was afebrile for 1 week without any medication. Thereafter he was discharged and has been free from any complication for over 16 months.