[Open Stent Grafting for Aortic Arch Aneurysm in a Patient with Fuctional Coronary Bypass Grafts:Report of a Case].

Treating a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) after coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery requires an appropriate surgical procedure to preserve the bypass grafts. We present a case of open stent grafting. The patient was a 71-year-old man with a history of CABG. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed a saccular-shaped aortic aneurysm in the aortic arch with diameter of 56 mm. Coronary angiography revealed the LIMA and SVG grafts were patent. The chest was opened via re-midsternotomy. After a circulatory arrest was induced at 30 ℃ with cerebral perfusion, the anterior surface of the arch was incised in a hemi-circumferencial mannar between the left common carotid and left subclavian arteries. The stent graft was inserted into the aortic arch and was deployed. The proximal side of the graft was then trimmed, and the posterior aortic wall and the graft were continuously anastomosed, the aortic incision was continuously closed involving anterior side of the graft. Finally, the left axillary artery was reconstructed. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged on postoperative day 10. A open stent grafting via an aortotomy was useful in the surgery for TAA after CABG.

[Concomitant Cardiac and Pulmonary Operation on an Elderly Patient:Report of a Case].

An 83-year-old woman was admitted because of dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe aortic valve stenosis with a systolic gradient of 105 mmHg. Coronary angiography showed 75% stenosis at segment 1. Computed tomography( CT) of the chest revealed a mass, of 15 mm in diameter, in the right segment 1 of the lung. She was diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis, right coronary artery stenosis, and a lung tumor suspected to be lung cancer. We performed right lobe partial resection, aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting through a median sternotomy. The tumor was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma by pathological examination. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged three weeks after the operation.

Combination therapy of midodrine and droxidopa for refractory hypotension in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction per a pharmacist's proposal: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are often treated using many diuretics for symptom relief; however, diuretic use may have to continue despite hypotension development in these patients. Here, we present a case of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), which is defined as ejection fraction ≥50% in CHF, and refractory hypotension, which was treated with midodrine and droxidopa to normalize blood pressure. CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 62-year-old man with a history of HFpEF due to mitral regurgitation and complaints of dyspnea on exertion. He had been prescribed multiple medications at an outpatient clinic for CHF management, including azosemide 60 mg/day, bisoprolol 2.5 mg/day, enalapril 2.5 mg/day, spironolactone 50 mg/day, and tolvaptan 15 mg/day. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the patient remained at 70-80 mmHg because the use of the diuretic could not be reduced or discontinued owing to edema and weight gain. He was hospitalized for the exacerbation of CHF. Although midodrine 8 mg/day was administered to improve hypotension, the SBP of the patient increased only up to 90 mmHg. On the 35th day after hospitalization, the urine volume decreased significantly (< 100 mL/day) due to hypotension. When droxidopa 200 mg/day replaced intravenous noradrenaline on the 47th day, the SBP remained at 100-120 mmHg and the urine volume increased. CONCLUSIONS: Oral combination treatment with midodrine and droxidopa might contribute to the maintenance of blood pressure and diuretic activity in HFpEF patients with refractory hypotension. However, further long-term studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of this combination therapy for patients with HFpEF are needed.

[Infective Endocarditis with Pseudoaneurysms of the Sinus of Valsalva Ruptured into the Right Ventricle and the Left Atrium;Report of a Case].

A 65-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with fever and left hemiplegia. She was diagnosed with infective endocarditis with multiple brain abscess. At first, heart failure was not present, and she was given medical treatment with antibiotics. But on day 12 after admission, she progressively developed heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated pseudoaneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva, ruptured into the left atrium. At operation, another fistula to the right ventricular outflow tract was revealed. They were repaired with autologous pericardial patches, and the aortic valve was replaced with a bioprosthetic valve. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Late Sac Behavior after Endovascular Aneurysm Repair for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: Sac behavior after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) is considered as a surrogate for the risk of late rupture. The purpose of the study is to assess the sac behavior of AAAs after EVAR. METHODS AND RESULTS: Late sac enlargement (LSE) (≥5 mm) and late sac shrinkage (LSS) (≥5 mm) were analyzed in 589 consecutive patients who were registered at 14 national centers in Japan. The proportions of patients who had LSE at 1, 3 and 5 years were 2.6% ± 0.7%, 10.0% ± 1.6% and 19.0% ± 2.9%. The proportions of patients who had LSS at 1, 3 and 5 years were 50.1% ± 0.7%, 59.2% ± 2.3% and 61.7% ± 2.7%. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified two variables as a risk factor for LSE; persistent endoleak (Odds ratio 9.56 (4.84-19.49), P <0.001) and low platelet count (Odds ratio 0.92 (0.86-0.99), P = 0.0224). The leading cause of endoleak in patients with LSE was type II. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of LSE is not negligible over 5 year period. Patients with persistent endoleak and/or low platelet count should carefully be observed for LSE. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN-CTR (UMIN000008345).

Chronic contained rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm with vertebral erosion: report of a case.

A 73-year-old man had lumbago of unknown cause for several months prior to presentation. At examination prior to surgery for gastric cancer, an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) of 6 cm in maximum diameter, retroperitoneal hematoma and vertebral erosion were found on abdominal computed tomography (CT). Hematological examination revealed mild anemia and stable hemodynamics. A diagnosis of chronic contained rupture of an AAA was made and knitted Dacron bifurcated graft replacement was performed. When an intraluminal thrombosis at the posterior wall was removed, a punched-out defect (3 x 2 cm) was discovered. When the old hematoma was removed, a destroyed vertebral body was found. After surgery, the lumbago was alleviated. The patient was transferred to the Department of Surgery and a gastrectomy was performed. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful.