A Case of Floating Aortic Arch Thrombosis in a Patient without Thrombophilia.

Floating aortic arch thrombi-blood clots forming in an aorta without aneurysms or atherosclerosis-in a normal aorta are exceedingly rare. The etiology is unknown, and there are no guidelines for appropriate treatment strategies. We report a case of floating aortic arch thrombosis in a patient without coagulopathy that was treated surgically. As the mass could not be identified preoperatively as a tumor or thrombus, synthetic graft replacement was performed, allowing resection of the lesion site. Histopathological examination revealed erosion and fissures in the tunica intima of the aorta, which suggested vessel damage to the tunica intima as the cause.

Minimally Invasive Extraction of a Catheter From the Heart Without Thoracotomy.

Retrieval of an intracardiac catheter by using endovascular devices sometimes fails. That failure has conventionally required thoracotomy and cardiotomy, occasionally with cardiopulmonary bypass, to remove the catheter. These case reports describe a far less invasive way of extracting a foreign body from the heart, by introducing long-shaft forceps through the right internal jugular vein. In this way, one can grasp, manipulate, and remove the foreign body.

Mycotic Aortic Arch Aneurysm Caused by Clostridium perfringens.

We report a case of a 79-year-old man for a mycotic aortic arch aneurysm caused by Clostridium perfringens. The patient who had been hospitalized for cholangitis two months prior revisited the hospital for fever and left precordial pain. He was suspected of an infected aortic aneurysm in the distal arch due to emphysematous changes observed. After antibiotics treatment, the emphysematous changes disappeared. However, he underwent urgent total arch replacement due to a new ulcer-like projection and enlargement of the aortic aneurysm, which were observed at that time. Clostridium-infected infectious aneurysms require not only treatment for vascular lesions but also scrutiny of complications, such as cancer.

Cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) measured using the INVOS oximeter closely correlates with baseline rSO2.

Baseline cerebral regional saturation (rSO2) measured using the INVOS 5100C (Medtronic, MN, USA) varies widely among patients with cardiac and/or renal diseases. To identify significant correlates of baseline rSO2 and to investigate intraoperative rSO2 changes, we conducted a retrospective study in 494 patients undergoing on-pump cardiovascular surgery. Correlations between preoperative blood laboratory test variables and baseline rSO2 before anesthesia were examined. Intraoperative rSO2 changes were analyzed. Of all the variables examined, log-transformed B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) most significantly and negatively correlated with baseline rSO2 (r = - 0.652, p < 0.0001). Intraoperatively, rSO2 showed the lowest value during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (median rSO2: 56.2% during CPB vs. 63.9% at baseline, p < 0.0001). Although rSO2 during CPB correlated positively with hemoglobin concentration and oxygen delivery during CPB (r = 0.192, p < 0.0001; and r = 0.172, p = 0.0001, respectively), it correlated much more closely with baseline rSO2 (r = - 0.589, p < 0.0001). Thus, patients showing low baseline rSO2 primarily associated with preoperatively high BNP continued to show low rSO2 even during CPB independent of hemodynamics artificially controlled by CPB. Our findings suggest that low baseline rSO2 in patients with high BNP due to cardiac and/or renal diseases is more likely to result from tissue edema causing alterations in optical pathlength and thus in calculated rSO2 values, not readily modifiable with CPB, rather than actual cerebral hemodynamic alterations readily modifiable with CPB. These may partly explain why the INVOS oximeter is a trend monitor requiring baseline measures.

Surgical Treatment of Celiacomesenteric Trunk Aneurysm: Report of 2 Cases.

BACKGROUND Celiac artery aneurysm is very rare, and even is more uncommon in patients with celiacomesenteric trunks. With recent developments in diagnostic imaging, the detection of asymptomatic abdominal visceral aneurysms has increased. However, some abdominal visceral aneurysms are still first discovered after a rupture. An abdominal visceral aneurysm rupture can occur suddenly and lead to shock due to intraperitoneal hemorrhage. Two cases of celiac artery aneurysms that involved common celiacomesenteric trunks are presented. CASE REPORT Case 1 was a 63-year-old man who was referred to our facility for further study after a routine abdominal ultrasound identified an aneurysm in the superior mesenteric artery. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 39-mm aneurysm in the celiacomesenteric trunk and its branches. Case 2 was a 32-year-old man who was referred to our facility after an abdominal ultrasound performed during a physical examination revealed a celiac artery aneurysm. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a 31-mm aneurysm in the celiacomesenteric trunk and its branches. In both patients, the aneurysms were proximally located, and the distinctive anatomy of the celiacomesenteric trunk made endovascular treatment difficult. Open replacement and reconstructive surgery was performed to repair the aneurysms with grafts from the great saphenous vein. Both patients had uneventful postoperative courses. CONCLUSIONS The optimal treatment for the patients described was open surgical repair because the lower risk of occlusion of the visceral branch made it safer and more reliable than an endovascular approach.

Free triiodothyronine (fT3) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) predict in-hospital mortality after valve surgery.

BACKGROUND: Increased B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and decreased free triiodothyronine (fT3) are associated with increased mortality after cardiac surgery. However, previous studies have addressed mortality primarily in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft, and not in those undergoing valve surgery. We assessed abilities of BNP and fT3 to predict mortality after valve surgery. METHODS: This retrospective study included 1050 consecutive patients who underwent valve surgery with normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Predictors of in-hospital mortality were identified with logistic regression analyses. Cutoff values were determined with receiver operating curve analyses. RESULTS: There were 23 deaths (2.2%). By univariate analyses, fT3, log-transformed BNP (log BNP), cholinesterase, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and albumin were profoundly associated with in-hospital mortality (p < 0.0001 for each). By a multivariate analysis, however, only fT3 and log BNP remained significant (p = 0.0053 and p = 0.0449, respectively). fT3 and log BNP remained significant after adjustment for CPB time, and also after adjustment for the EuroSCORE II or JapanSCORE (p < 0.05 for each). Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval from univariate binary analysis for in-hospital mortality were 7.22 (3.12-17.58) for fT3 ≤ 2.21 pg/mL, 6.01 (2.54-15.77) for BNP ≥ 219 pg/mL, and 9.79 (4.21-22.74) for both combined (p < 0.0001 for each). CONCLUSIONS: fT3 and BNP predict in-hospital mortality after valve surgery, independent of each other, independent of CPB time, and independent of established mortality risk SCOREs. Additions of fT3 and BNP may enhance predictive utilities of established mortality risk SCOREs.

The impact of surgical left atrial appendage amputation/ligation on stroke prevention in patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Stroke is a major adverse event in patients developing atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery. Surgical left atrial appendage amputation/ligation (LAA-A/L) during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) is routinely performed in our institution. We analyzed 578 consecutive patients (mean age 69 years, male 82%) undergoing OPCAB with or without concomitant LAA-A/L from 2011 to 2014 at our institution in a prospective observational manner. The safety and efficacy of the concomitant LAA-A/L on preventing early (<30 days) and overall postoperative stroke were examined. A total of 193 patients (33.4%) underwent LAA-A/L, consisting of amputation in 154 and ligation in 39 patients (80 and 20% of the cases, respectively). Preoperative characteristics, operative time, requirement of blood transfusion, and 30-day mortality were not significantly different between those with and without LAA-A/L. The incidences of postoperative AF and early and overall stroke were not significantly different between the groups in the analysis based on a total cohort. In a subanalysis of patients without LAA-A/L, early and overall stroke occurred more frequently in those developing postoperative AF than those without AF (2.8 vs. 0%; p = 0.005, 6.2 vs. 1.5%; p = 0.017, respectively), while in patients receiving LAA-A/L, stroke incidences did not differ between those with and without AF. Multivariate logistic regression showed postoperative AF without LAA-A/L as the only independent positive predictor of overall stroke (OR 3.69, p = 0.03). Concomitant LAA-A/L with OPCAB can safely prevent postoperative stroke occurrence in case patients develop AF, the most common arrhythmia associated with stroke.

Left Atrial Appendage Closure Reduces the Incidence of Postoperative Cerebrovascular Accident in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) are a major adverse event following cardiac surgery, for which atrial fibrillation (AF) is considered as a risk factor. We have recently performed left atrial appendage (LAA) surgical closure or amputation (LAAC/A), which is the main source of emboli, during open-heart surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospective observational study of 1,831 consecutive patients (69.2% male, aged 66.8±12.2 years) undergoing cardiac surgery between 2009 and 2013 was performed. The incidence of postoperative CVA within 6 months in patients with and without LAAC/A was compared. We further stratified patients according to their risk of CVA using CHA2DS2-VASc score; dichotomizing low-risk (score <2) and high-risk groups (≥2). A total of 369 patients (20.2%) underwent LAAC/A. Although these patients had larger left atrial diameter preoperatively and developed postoperative AF more frequently than those without LAAC/A (45.4 vs. 41.1 mm, 49.3 vs. 39.1%, respectively, both P<0.001), the CVA incidence was not different between the groups (3.5 vs. 3.0%, P=0.612). Multivariate analysis revealed no association between LAAC/A and CVA in patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2, whereas in patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score <2, LAAC/A was the only and independent factor negatively associated with CVA development (odds ratio <10(-6); P=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Additional LAA procedure at the time of cardiac surgery reduces the incidence of early postoperative CVA in patients with low CHA2DS2-VASc score.

Preoperative factors associated with postoperative requirements of renal replacement therapy following cardiac surgery.

Renal dysfunction is a major adverse event after cardiovascular surgery. Therefore, the preoperative prediction of which patients will require renal replacement therapy (RRT) after cardiac surgery is an important issue. In the present study, 1,822 consecutive patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery from 2008 and 2013 at a single institution were reviewed. Patients who were already receiving long-term hemodialysis before surgery (n = 134) were excluded. The remaining 1,688 patients were separated into 2 groups: those requiring postoperative RRT and those without RRT requirement. A total of 128 patients (7.6%) required RRT. Patients requiring RRT had greater perioperative blood loss, longer intubation time, and longer hospital stays (p <0.0001 for all). Multivariate analysis revealed that cardiopulmonary bypass use, preoperative body surface area, the left ventricular ejection fraction, serum albumin, and creatinine were independent risk factors for postoperative RRT (odds ratios 2.435, 0.204, 0.976, 0.556, and 5.394, 95% confidence intervals 1.471 to 4.140, 0.054 to 0.841, 0.962 to 1.025, 0.363 to 0.860, and 3.671 to 8.223, respectively, p <0.05 for all). A subgroup of patients with relatively preserved renal function before surgery (creatinine <1.12 mg/dl, a cut-off value for RRT requirement obtained from receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis [area under the curve 0.74748, sensitivity 60.2%, specificity 85.0%]) showed that preoperative serum albumin concentration was most significantly associated with postoperative RRT requirement (odds ratio 0.048, 95% confidence interval 0.023 to 0.095, p <0.0001). In conclusion, cardiopulmonary bypass use, preoperative renal impairment as reflected by elevated creatinine level, small body size, a low left ventricular ejection fraction, and hypoalbuminemia were associated with a requirement for postoperative RRT. In patients with preserved renal function, hypoalbuminemia was most significantly related to requirement for RRT.