Graft for mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm: omental wrapping to prevent infection.

Nine cases of mycotic thoracic aortic aneurysm were treated surgically between July 1995 and March 2003. The aneurysms were located in the ascending aorta in 1 patient, the descending thoracic aorta in 5, and the thoracoabdominal aorta in 3. Preoperatively, 3 patients were in shock due to rupture of the aneurysm. All patients underwent aneurysmectomy and in-situ graft placement. In 5 patients, the graft was covered with a pedicled omental flap to prevent postoperative graft infection. There were 2 hospital deaths: one patient died of multi-organ failure, and the other died from intrathoracic bleeding. After discharge, one patient died from intrathoracic bleeding 3 months after surgery. These 3 patients had not received omental wrapping. Postoperative graft infection did not occur in the 6 surviving patients during a mean follow-up period of 4.0 +/- 3.1 years. It was concluded that covering the prosthetic graft with a pedicled omental flap may help prevent postoperative graft infection and improve the surgical results.

Improvement of liver function after surgery for Budd-Chiari syndrome.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the relationship between liver histology and postoperative improvement of liver function after surgery for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). METHODS: Over a period of 23 years, we operated on 46 patients with BCS by reconstructing the occluded inferior vena cava (IVC) and reopening as many occluded hepatic veins as possible. We divided the patients into a liver cirrhosis group (group I, n = 30) and a hepatic fibrosis or liver congestion group (group II, n = 16), and compared the ages, duration of illness, preoperative liver function, changes in liver function, and changes in esophageal varices (EV). RESULTS: There were no hospital deaths. In group I the patients were older, and the duration of illness was longer. The group I patients also had a lower thrombotest percentage and a higher serum ammonia. The indocyanine green clearance (ICG) test showed more remarkable improvement in liver function in group II. The rate of disappearance of EV was also higher in group II. CONCLUSION: Surgery during the early stage of BCS is important in improving postoperative liver function.

The prevention of nerve injury in aortic arch aneurysmal surgery.

In a case of aortic arch aneurysm associated with adhesion to the surrounding structures, we devised an operative technique to avoid nerve injury during the surgical procedure. By preserving the adventitial layer of the aortic arch aneurysm to which the phrenic and recurrent nerves were attached, injury to the nerves was avoided, and the aneurysmectomy was completed with the distal anastomosis being performed intraluminally.

Direct cannulation of the common carotid artery during the ascending aortic or aortic arch replacement.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cerebral perfusion using direct cannulation into the common carotid artery. A new technique is needed to protect brain ischemic injury during ascending aortic or aortic arch replacement. METHODS: This technique was evaluated for patients who would have difficulty maintaining adequate cerebral perfusion during surgery. The procedure was performed when patients had the following diagnoses: pseudoaneurysm formation in contact with the sternum with the risk of aneurysmal rupture (n = 5), acute aortic dissection with compression of the true lumen of the innominate artery by the pseudolumen (n = 3), or a large volume of thrombus in the lumen of the aneurysm with the risk of cerebral thromboembolism if standard extracorporeal circulation was used (n = 2). The perfusion catheter was cannulated into one side of the common carotid artery (right side: n = 6, left side: n = 4) and mean perfusion flow rate was found to be 175 mL/min. The operative procedures consisted of ascending aortic and aortic arch replacement with coronary artery bypass grafting in six patients, ascending aortic replacement in 2 patients, and innominate artery reconstruction/innominate artery and right subclavian artery reconstruction in one patient. RESULTS: No cerebral accidents or deaths occurred while patients were hospitalized. We have followed up patients for a mean of 2.1 years (maximum 3.6 years), with no complications noted from the surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Direct cannulation of the common carotid artery is a simple, safe, and acceptable cerebral protection for patients undergoing aortic or aortic arch replacement procedures in the patients with these specific conditions.

Selective visceral perfusion during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of selective visceral perfusion during repair of an thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA), we compared the postoperative renal and hepatic functions (blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, total bilirubin, glutamate pyruvate transaminase) between the two groups with and without perfusion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We operated on 52 patients with TAAA. Among them, the visceral vessels were reconstructed in 22 patients with selective visceral perfusion and in 12 patients without perfusion. The average selective perfusion time was 49.5+/-25.5 min. in the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries and 32.8+/-18.8 min. in the renal arteries. The average perfusion flow rate per each visceral vessel was 155.4+/-97.4 ml/min. RESULTS: There were five hospital deaths. There was no significant difference between the groups in the postoperative value of four factors. The selective perfusion time for vessel reconstruction in the selective visceral perfusion group was significantly longer than the arterial clamp time for vessel reconstruction in the non-perfusion group (49.5+/-25.5 min. vs. 25.6+/-13.4 min.). CONCLUSION: Our selective visceral perfusion method is not only beneficial for organ protection, but also provides us with the necessary time to reimplant the visceral as well as intercostal or lumbar arteries.

Pannus formation in aortic valve prostheses in the late postoperative period.

We present three patients who underwent repeat aortic valve replacement for prosthetic valve dysfunction caused by tissue ingrowth in the late postoperative period. These patients (three women aged 48-51 years, mean 49.3 +/- 1.53 years) underwent operations for restriction of prosthetic valve leaflet movement by pannus in the left ventricular outflow tract. The interval from the previous operation ranged from 8.0 to 9.6 years (mean 9.6 +/- 2.0 years). The symptoms of the patients were New York Heart Association functional class I, II, and IV in one patient each. Diagnosis was made by cinefluoroscopy in two patients and aortography in one patient. The operative procedures consisted of aortic valve replacement ( n = 1) and aortic valve replacement with mitral valve replacement ( n = 2). Pannus was found at the left ventricular aspect of the prosthetic valve in all patients. In two patients, the pannus directly restricted movement of the leaflet and also severely narrowed the inflow orifice of the prosthetic valve. In the other patient, the pannus had grown at a distance of 7 mm from the valve and narrowed the left ventricular outflow tract circularly. The postoperative course was uneventful and all three patients were discharged in a good condition. One patient died of pneumonia 8 months after surgery and the other two patients have remained well and have been followed up for one and a half years. In conclusion, there may be a discrepancy between the clinical symptoms and the grade of subvalvular stenosis caused by pannus. Therefore, it is essential for satisfactory operative results that early diagnosis be made by various means.

Prevention of postoperative paraplegia during thoracoabdominal aortic surgery.

BACKGROUND: We present data showing the impact of sequential multisegmental aortic clamping accompanied by reimplantation of as many segmental arteries as possible on the prevention of postoperative paraplegia or paraparesis during thoracoabdominal aortic graft replacement. METHODS: Since 1987 we have performed graft replacements in 51 individuals undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic surgery using the technique of normothermic partial bypass with sequential multisegmental aortic clamping. The procedure was performed emergently in 10 patients and electively in 41 patients. The patients ranged in age from 22 to 82 years (mean, 57.6 +/- 13.8 years). Indications for surgery included dissecting thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (n = 19) and nondissecting thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (n = 32). The extent of aneurysm was Crawford type I in 19 patients, type II in 7 patients, type III in 12 patients, and type IV in 13 patients. Along the entire extent of aneurysm to be replaced, we reimplanted as many of the patent segmental arteries as feasible. RESULTS: Five patients died during hospitalization, for an in-hospital mortality rate of 9.8%. The number of aortic clampings per patient ranged from one to five (median, three). A total of 124 segmental arteries were reimplanted in 44 (86.3%) of 51 patients. Of the 124 arteries, 90 (72.6%) were distributed between T9 and L2. Postoperative paraplegia or paraparesis did not develop in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that extensive reimplantation of segmental arteries using sequential multisegmental aortic clamping, accompanied by adequate intraoperative distal aortic perfusion, is effective in preventing spinal cord ischemia.

Myocardial protective effect of hypothermia during extracorporeal circulation -- by quantitative measurement of myocardial oxygen consumption -.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of systemic temperature on myocardial protection during extracorporeal circulation, we quantitatively evaluated the relationship between myocardial oxygen consumption and rectal temperature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Myocardial oxygen consumption during cardiac arrest was calculated via blood gas analysis of venous blood samples collected from the coronary sinus. The rectal temperatures of the patients during extracorporeal circulation ranged from 16.0 degrees C to 33.5 degrees C. The patients were classified into three groups according to their rectal temperature: group I (n=10; rectal temperature: 20.3+/-1.80 degrees C), group II (n=24; rectal temperature: 29.4+/-0.97 degrees C), and group III (n=29; rectal temperature: 31.7+/-0.72 degrees C). The myocardial oxygen consumption of each group was then compared. RESULTS: The average of the myocardial oxygen consumption of all cases was 62.5+/-64.0 O(2) ml/min/100 mm(3) left ventricle volume, and the averages of the individual groups were 26.9+/-28.8 in group I, 72.2+/-71.8 in group II, and 69.3+/-62.6 in group III. There was a significant difference in the oxygen consumption between group I and the other two groups. There was a positive correlation between the rectal temperature and myocardial oxygen consumption, as reflected in the following formula: Y=-0.3 x X +1.10 x X(2)-0.02 x X(3) (Y, myocardial oxygen consumption; X, rectal temperature; R(2)=0.533; P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that rectal temperature below 22.5 degrees C is advantageous due to the resultant myocardial protection such hypothermia affords.

Early diagnosis and radical surgical treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

We report a 26-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Budd-Chiari syndrome following consultation for a skin nodule in the lower extremity. Histopathological examination of a biopsy specimen showed features of erythema induratum. As part of the diagnostic work-up, chest roentgenography performed to rule out possible tuberculosis showed enlarged right lower mediastinum. Computed tomography identified a dilated azygos vein and obstruction of the inferior vena cava near the liver. Liver function tests and blood cell counts were all within normal limit and no sign of portal hypertension was noted except for mild splenomegaly. Although angioplasty by balloon catheter resulted in recanalization of the obstructed inferior vena cava, obstruction of the inferior vena cava appeared again 2 months later. One-stage surgical reconstruction of the vascular abnormalities affecting inferior vena cava and hepatic vein using autologous pericardial patch was performed 11 months after angioplasty, which resulted in normalization of blood flow. Examination of a liver biopsy obtained intraoperatively revealed hepatic fibrosis compatible with early-stage Budd-Chiari syndrome. No complications were noted postoperatively and the nodular lesion in the lower extremity disappeared after surgery.

Cooling device for bradycardia based on Peltier element for accurate anastomosis of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Upon introducing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the indications for CABG were expanded to include patients who previously had no operative indications. For accurate anastomosis, various devices and methods have been developed. Bradycardia is easily induced by drug administration. However, this method of achieving bradycardia also has adverse effects on cardiac function. We have developed a new device to decrease the heart rate by regional cooling of the sino-atrial node. The new device is incorporated with Peltier's element, which uses an electric charge to create a temperature gradient on both of its surfaces. In terms of the cooling ability of this device, its cooling surface is chilled from 25 degrees C to 0 degrees C within 30 s. During in vivo animal experiments, this device has been shown to decrease the myocardial temperature around the sino-atrial node to 15 degrees C and suppress sino-atrial node activity, resulting in bradycardia to 60 beats/min level. In summary, the simple and easily applicable device for local cooling in combination with the application of diltiazem for effective heart rate reduction may be very helpful for the surgeon and may avoid disadvantages for critically ill patients.

Surgical treatment of aortic arch aneurysm combined with coronary artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: We present operative results of aortic arch aneurysm associated with coronary artery stenosis, and evaluate the operative risk of graft replacement of the aortic arch and concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 1991 to December 2001, we treated 16 patients with aortic arch aneurysm and coronary artery stenosis. The patients, 3 women and 13 men (study group) ranged from 58 to 79 years of age, average 68.1 5.3 years. With the aid of deep hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, we performed graft replacement of the aortic arch aneurysm and concomitant CABG. We bypassed 31 coronary arteries. The bypass grafts included saphenous vein (n=16), left internal thoracic artery (n=4), right internal thoracic artery (n=1), right gastroepiploic artery (n=5) and inferior epigastric artery (n=2). The number of bypassed coronary arteries per patient ranged from 1 to 3, average 2.1 0.8/patient. A comparative study was performed between the study group and a control group of patients (n=39) who had undergone only graft replacement of the aortic arch. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding: operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, cardiac arrest time, intraoperative bleeding volume, and early mortality rate. However, in the patients (n=4) of the study group who had undergone total arch graft replacement with three vessel CABG, the cardiopulmonary bypass time was significantly longer than that of the patients in the control group who underwent total arch graft replacement (n=19, P<0.05). Two of the 16 study group patients died in the early postoperative period, resulting in 12.5% early mortality rate. In the control group, four of 39 patients (10.3%) died in the early postoperative period. CONCLUSIONS: CABG combined with graft replacement of the aortic arch does not increase operative risk when the number of bypassed vessels is within two vessels, but may increase risk when three or more vessels are bypassed.

Surgical treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome induced by Behcet's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Although Budd-Chiari syndrome in Japanese is usually chronic, and of unknown etiology and idiopathic, Behcet's disease is rare as an underlying disorder of Budd-Chiari syndrome in Japanese. To clarify the Behcet-induced Budd-Chiari syndrome, the clinical course and pathologic findings of patients with Behcet-induced Budd-Chiari syndrome were compared with those of patients with idiopathic Budd-Chiari syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We treated 45 patients (15 women and 30 men) with our devised surgical procedure. With normothermic partial bypass, the occluded vena cava and hepatic veins were reopened. The age of the patients ranged from 24 to 76 years (mean, 48.9 13.0 years). In two patients, Budd-Chiari syndrome was induced by Behcet's disease (Behcet group). The other 43 patients (control group) had no distinct underlying disorder. The Behcet group was compared to the control group with regards to (1) onset of symptoms and duration of illness prior to medical treatment, (2) preoperative laboratory data including liver function, (3) intraoperative findings, (4) microscopic findings of liver tissue, and (5) postoperative course. RESULTS: (1) In the Behcet group, duration of illness from diagnosis to surgical treatment was markedly shorter (P=0.027, 8.5 months vs. 10.1 10.6 years). (2) The preoperative laboratory data of liver function were similar in both groups with moderately impaired hepatic function. (3) The Behcet group had no patent hepatic vein (P=0.025 vs. 1.22 0.57). (4) Microscopic examination of the liver tissue showed liver cirrhosis or liver fibrosis in the control group, and centrilobular marked congestion only in the Behcet group. (5) During hospitalization, one patient of the control group died due to preoperative severe hepatic failure. One patient with Behcet's disease underwent reoperation due to reocclusion by Behcet-induced vasculitis, and the other died of peritonitis by intestinal Behcet's disease. CONCLUSION: In Budd-Chiari syndrome in Japanese, the Behcet-induced Budd-Chiari syndrome had an acute clinical course, and its postoperative prognosis depends on the prognosis of the Behcet's disease.