[Thymoma from the Thymus Covering Bypass Grafts in Previous Coronary Surgery].

To prevent graft injury at the thoracic surgery after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), thymus is often used to cover the grafts. We report a thymoma that developed 12 years after CABG in a 65-year-old woman. The patient had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting of the left anterior descending( LAD) artery, 13 years ago, and a 4-vessel CABG, 12 years ago. Three-dimensional(3D) coronary computed tomography (CT) and angiography before surgery showed that all grafts were intact, but LAD artery occlusion was presented just distal to the stent. Since the thymoma was located in front of the ascending aorta and trunk of the pulmonary artery, abutting the left and right internal thoracic artery and radial artery graft, we performed PCI for LAD recanalization preoperatively, and complete resection of the thymoma with redo sternotomy was performed safely using an ultrasonic stethoscope without damage to the graft.

Modes of the bioprosthetic valve failure of the porcine and pericardial valves in the mitral position.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the incidence and modes of the bioprosthetic valve failure of the porcine valve in the mitral position and compare them with those of the pericardial valve. METHODS: This study included 240 patients (116 men [48.3%]; mean age, 74.87 ± 6.61 years) who underwent mitral valve replacement using the St. Jude Medical Epic bioprosthesis (Epic) (N = 125) or Carpentier-Edwards Perimount (CEP) pericardial valve (N = 115) from January 2000 to December 2020. RESULTS: The median clinical follow-up durations in the Epic and CEP groups were 54.5 months (range, 0-111 months) and 81.5 months (range, 0-194 months), respectively. Structural valve degeneration (SVD) was observed in 9 patients (7.2%) in the Epic group and 11 patients (9.6%) in the CEP group. The rates of freedom from SVD at 3, 5 and 7 years were 97.7%, 90.5% and 75.5% in the Epic group and 100.0%, 96.1% and 90.0% in the CEP group, respectively. SVD reoperation was performed for 7 patients (5.6%) in the Epic group and 6 patients (5.2%) in the CEP group. The rates of freedom from SVD reoperation at 3, 5 and 7 years were 97.7%, 90.5% and 75.5% in the Epic group and 100%, 96.1% and 90.0% in the CEP group, respectively. Epic SVD was predominantly due to leaflet tearing, whereas CEP SVD was predominantly due to leaflet calcification and adhesion to the subvalvular apparatus. CONCLUSIONS: SVD of the porcine valve was predominantly due to leaflet tearing. The rate of reoperation for SVD was slightly higher for the porcine valve in the mitral position than for the pericardial valve at adjusted survival analysis.

Very-long-term outcomes of mechanical valves in mitral position focusing on valve-related complications.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine very-long-term outcomes of a mechanical valve at the mitral position. METHODS: This study included all patients who underwent mitral valve replacement (MVR) using a mechanical valve including urgent operation at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hyogo Brain and Heart Center, Himeji, from January 1987 to December 2015. RESULTS: Five hundred and eighty-three patients (277 men [47.51%]; age, 61 [54-67] years) were included in this study. The implanted valve models were as follows: SJM, 221 (37.91%); ATS, 35 (6.00%); On-X, 68 (11.66%); and Carbomedics 194, (33.28%).The median clinical follow-up duration was 13.3 (7.4-19.6) years. The survival rates at 10, 15, 20 and 25 years were 81.42%, 69.27%, 56.34% and 45.03%, respectively. Thromboembolism was observed in 38 patients, and the linearized ratio for each event was 0.626%/patient-year [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.443-0.859%]. Intracranial haemorrhage and gastrointestinal bleeding were observed in 26 and 9 patients, and the linearized ratio for each event was 0.425%/patient-year (95% CI, 0.277-0.006%) and 0.145%/patient-year (95% CI, 0.067-0.276%), respectively. Major paravalvular leak was observed in 32 patients, and the linearized ratio was 0.532%/patient-year (95% CI, 0.364%-0.751%). The cumulative incidence rate of major paravalvular leak at 10, 15, 20 and 25 years was 3.7%, 5.6%, 6.4% and 10.4%, respectively. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that repeated MVR and male gender were associated with major paravalvular leak. CONCLUSIONS: Male gender and repeated MVR were risk factors for paravalvular leak after mechanical MVR. Paravalvular leak could have occurred regardless of postoperative period even at 25 years after implantation. Lifelong clinical follow-up is considered necessary.

Distal Stent Graft-Induced New Entry after Total Arch Replacement with Frozen Elephant Trunk for Aortic Dissection.

Objectives: Distal stent graft-induced new entry (dSINE), defined as a new tear caused by a stent graft, has been increasingly observed following total arch replacement using frozen elephant trunk (FET) for aortic dissection. We aimed to investigate the incidence and treatment of dSINE after the use of FET. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 70 patients who underwent total arch replacement using FET for aortic dissection between August 2014 and March 2020. They were followed up for at least 6 months postoperatively. Between-group comparisons were performed between those who did and did not develop dSINE. The risk factors for the development of dSINE and the treatment of dSINE were analyzed. Results: dSINE occurred postoperatively in nine patients (12.9%) with a median time frame of 17.7±11.7 months. The incidence of dSINE did not differ significantly according to classification, phase of dissection, or oversizing. All patients in the dSINE group developed enlargement of the false lumen. dSINE closure was successfully achieved without complications via thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in all patients. Conclusion: No independent factors predicting the development of dSINE were noted in this study. Additional TEVAR for dSINE provides good results and achieves false lumen thrombosis in the thoracic aorta, with no complications.

Efficacy of left atrial plication for atrial functional mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVE: Atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) is caused by atrial fibrillation and left atrial enlargement. Our study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of left atrial plication (LAP) for AFMR. METHODS: Of 1164 mitral valve surgery patients at our hospital from January 2000 to May 2019, 22 patients underwent surgery for AFMR. Our retrospective analysis divided the patients with AFMR into two groups according to whether LAP was performed (LAP + group, n = 9; LAP - group, n = 13). Mitral valve angle (MV angle) (horizontal inclination of mitral valve) was measured by pre- and post-operative computed tomography scan. Individuals with type II mitral regurgitation, left ventricular ejection fraction of < 55%, males with left ventricular endo-diastolic dimension of > 60 mm and females with > 55 mm, aortic valve disease, mitral valve calcification, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, and both "redo" and emergency cases were excluded. RESULT: Mitral valve replacement was performed in 6 patients and mitral ring annuloplasty in 16 cases. No recurrence of mitral regurgitation or structural valve deterioration occurred during the follow-up period. There were no hospital deaths; 3 deaths occurred during the follow-up period. Compared to the LAP - group, the LAP + group demonstrated a significantly greater decrease of MV angle (16.6 ± 8.1° vs. 1.2 ± 6.9°, p < 0.01) and left atrial dimension (18.4 ± 7.0 mm vs. 6.9 ± 14.6 mm, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Surgical results of AFMR were satisfactory. LAP may be appropriate for correcting the angle of a mitral valve tilted horizontally. More cases need to be considered in the future.

Recurrent Pulmonary Embolism Caused by Superficial Femoral Vein Aneurysm.

Venous aneurysms (VA), particularly superficial femoral VAs (SFVAs), are rare vascular lesions. A 65-year-old woman with a history of pulmonary embolism (PE), treated with tissue plasminogen activator and oral anticoagulation, was admitted to hospital for dyspnea. Enhanced computed tomography showed recurrent PE and right SFVA with a mural thrombus. The SFVA was not identified during the first PE. The PE was not massive and was treated with direct oral anticoagulants. The thrombus in the SFVA caused the PE, and surgical repair was performed to prevent further embolic events. Under general anesthesia, the SFVA was excised, and direct anastomosis was performed. PE recurrence, venous aneurysmal changes, and thrombosis were not noted at the 1-year follow-up.