Clinical results of coronary artery bypass grafting with use of the internal thoracic artery under low free flow conditions.

OBJECTIVE: Even when left internal thoracic artery flow is very low, we have used the artery for grafting without any further maneuvers. In this study, we investigated the clinical results of coronary bypass surgery using the left internal thoracic artery with low free flow. METHODS: A total of 163 patients were divided into 2 groups: group L (n = 43) had free flow of 20 mL/min or less and group H (n = 120) had free flow of more than 20 mL/min. We performed a comparative study on the basis of coronary angiography and pulsed Doppler echocardiography. Furthermore, 12 months' postoperative graft angiography was carried out in 11 patients from group L. RESULTS: No patient had low output syndrome or perioperative myocardial infarction. One month after the operation, 3 cases of graft occlusion and 9 cases of the "string sign" were identified in group H. However, group L had no graft occlusion and only 1 case of the "string sign." The 1-month postoperative Doppler echocardiographic study showed no significant differences in the diastolic fraction of velocity time integrals and the diastolic/systolic peak velocity ratio of the grafts. In the 11 patients undergoing angiography after 1 year, graft patency was excellent. Moreover, the graft diameter was significantly larger than it was 1 month after the operation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the left internal thoracic artery can be used for coronary artery bypass grafting even when the flow is less than 20 mL/min.

Clinical evaluation of the Gyro Pump C1E3 as a cardiopulmonary bypass pump.

The Gyro Pump C1E3 is a new centrifugal pump with numerous features, including a ceramic pivot bearing system, secondary vanes, and an eccentric inlet port. To evaluate its biocompatibility, antithrombogenicity, and produced hemolysis, we used the Gyro Pump during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) cases to compare it with the BioMedicus pump. From September 1998 to February 1999, 30 consecutive patients underwent CABG under conventional CPB. Fifteen patients were supported by the Gyro Pump C1E3 (Group G), and the remaining 15 patients, by a BioMedicus BP-80 pump (Group B). In both groups, flow rate was equivalent. Blood samples were taken as follows: preoperative, 60 minutes after the end of the procedure, and at postoperative days (POD) 0, 1, and 2. We evaluated the plasma free hemoglobin (free Hb) as an indication of hemolysis; beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) and platelet factor four (PF-4) as an indication of platelet deterioration; C3, C4, CH50 for complement activation; coagulation parameters, fibrinolytic factor, thrombomodulin, nitric oxide (NO), and endothelin as an indication of endothelial deterioration. This was the first clinical sized Gyro Pump CIE3. De-airing from the pump was easily accomplished via the eccentric oblique inlet port. The system, including its console, was easily and simply controlled. Perioperative laboratory data were not markedly changed in either group with demonstrated equivalence for biocompatibility and hemolysis. After pumping, no thrombus formation or pivot wear were observed inside the pump. This atraumatic, small centrifugal pump appears well suited not only for CPB but also for circulatory support.

Two cases of quadricuspid aortic valve: preoperative diagnosis and surgical treatment.

Two cases of severe aortic regurgitation were treated surgically. Both patients had a quadricuspid aortic valve, which was diagnosed preoperatively by aortography and/or transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). In the first patient, both aortic and mitral valve replacement were performed with an ATS prosthetic valve. In the second patient, only aortic valve replacement was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful in both cases. Quadricuspid aortic valve is relatively rare. We discuss the preoperative diagnosis of quadricuspid aortic valve, as well as reviewing the relevant literature.

Spontaneous recanalization of postoperative severe graft stenosis. What is the cause and prognosis of the "string sign" in the internal thoracic artery?

A 68-year-old female with unstable angina was treated surgically. She was referred to the surgical ward by cardiologists because of a diagnosis of unstable angina with three vessel disease. On a coronary angiogram (CAG), 90% stenoses were found in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), circumflex (CX), and right coronary artery (RCA). She received elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), in which the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) was anastomosed to the LAD and reversed saphenous vein grafts (SVG) were made to segment 12 of the CX, and segment 4PD of the RCA, respectively. The postoperative course was uneventful, but postoperative early graftgraphy revealed distal narrowing of the LITA graft as the so-called "string sign". However, one year post surgery, the LITA string sign was not found and its patency had markedly improved on the second graftgram. It is reported that the LITA "string sign" might cause late graft occlusion. However, this LITA graft evidently enlarged the size and increased the flow of the artery in proportion to myocardial blood demand. To our knowledge, it has not been reported that an in situ LITA string sign on postoperative early graftgram has disappeared in the late phase. We hypothesize that the LITA string sign might be caused by several different factors such as flow competition, spasm, and/or technical problems. In any event, the LITA string sign does not cause graft occlusion in the late postoperative period in every case.

The efficacy and mid-term results with use of gelatin resorcin formalin (GRF) glue for aortic surgery.

Twenty-six patients were treated by surgical procedure for aortic diseases with use of Gelatin Resorcin Formalin (GRF) glue. They consisted of 25 cases of emergency surgery for type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) and one elective case of distal arch aneurysm. Fifteen patients had moderate to massive aortic regurgitation (AR). We applied GRF glue to adhere the false lumen. It was further applied to anastomosed stitches from the outer side of the aorta. We evaluated the intraoperative effects of it in terms of adhesion and hemostasis and postoperative aortic regurgitation. Furthermore, the mid-term survival rate was investigated. In all cases, the 2 layers were able to be adhered successfully. Furthermore, it was very easy for suturing to pass through the aortic wall, even though the aortic stump was very hard. However, in the distal arch aneurysm case, additional sutures were needed to control the bleeding from the anastomosis. In postoperative aortography, residual AR was found in only one case. Operative deaths were indicated in 3 cases (11.5%). One patient died of hepatic failure on the 9th postoperative day. The other patients died of multiple organ failure. There were 3 cases of late death. The actuarial survival rate at 35 months was 76. 9%. According to these results, we recommend that GRF glue is very effective to reinforce the diseased aortic wall and will improve long-term survival. However, it is considered that the hemostasis effect of GRF glue is not sufficient to be used on anastomosed stitches from the outer side of the aorta.

Pathological findings of tissue reactivity of gelatin resorcin formalin glue: an autopsy case report of the repair of ventricular septal perforation.

A seventy-three-year-old man was treated for ventricular septal perforation with Gelatin Resorcin Formalin (GRF) glue. The patient died of multiple organ failure 36 days after the surgery. In autopsy, macroscopically, the inferior wall was reconstructed successfully by the GRF glue. Furthermore, microscopic study revealed the excellent growth of collagen and elastic fiber where the GRF was glued. No infiltration of inflammatory cells was evident. There have been no reports that the safety and efficacy of GRF glue was pathologically proven in an autopsy case.

Mid-term results of ATS open pivot bileaflet mechanical prosthetic heart valve.

We investigated mid-term results of the patients with an ATS bileaflet valve in our institution. In the past 6 years, 69 patients received valve replacement with an ATS valve. We assessed the changes of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in the hospital, and the valve's closing sound. The serum LDH level had almost normalized one week postoperatively and they have maintained normal levels since then. According to the questionnaire about the valvular sound at a random period after surgery, it was unnoticeable in 61 (88.4%) of the patients with ATS valve. In the 8 patients (12.6%) who recognized the valve sound, 7 of them were reoperation cases. As to the frequency analysis for the valve's closing sound, the sound peak was indicated at around 1.2 kHz in the patients with ATS valves. In patients with St. Jude Medical (SJM) valves, it appeared not only around 1.2 kHz but also around 2 to 7 kHz. Postoperative cerebral infarction was complicated in one patient. Mortality occurred in 4 (5.7%) of the patients with ATS valves. The follow up periods were from one to 66 months. Thromboembolic event free and actuarial survival rate in the patients with ATS valves were 98.6% and 94.2%, respectively. These results indicated that the ATS valve is considered to be a safe valve and mid-term follow-up shows excellent results in terms of the patients quality of life.

Clinical use of Jostra Rota Flow centrifugal pump: the first case report in Japan.

A Jostra Rota Flow centrifugal blood pump was clinically applied for a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) of an ascending aortic replacement for type A aortic dissection. The patient was a 68-year-old female with Stanford type A, DeBakey type II thrombosed aortic dissection complicated by cardiac tamponade and moderate aortic regurgitation. The surgery was carried out on December 22, 1998. The air inside the pump was easily and quickly removed, and its mode of control was excellent. The pump flow during the operation was maintained at about 2.2 l/m2. Total CPB time was 179 minutes. Macroscopically and microscopically, there were no thrombi inside the pump, after usage. The postoperative course was uneventful. The clinical use of this pump was the first case in Japan. This pump is excellent in the ease by which it's controlled due to its compact size and low weight. Furthermore, the Rota Flow console can be fully integrated in the HL-20 heart-lung machine, and these systems have pulsatile flow mode possibility. This pump is suitable not only for the main pump of CPB but also circulatory support.

[A case of tuberculosis of the breast--review of the literature published during the last 10 years in Japan].

A 58-year-old woman, not having any history of pulmonary tuberculosis, was admitted to our hospital to examine a tender lump in her right breast. A breast echogram disclosed a well-defined hypoechoic mass lesion, indicating a pyogenic breast abscess. The patient underwent incision, drainage and resection of the tumor under local anesthesia. Histological findings of the resected tumor revealed epitheloid cell granulomas with caseous necrosis in mammary glands, suggesting tuberculosis of the breast. After operation, treatment with isoniazid, rifampisin and ethambutol hydrochloride was begun. After one year, she had complete healing without any indication of recurrence. During the last 10 years, 12 cases of tuberculosis of the breast have been reported. Their ages ranged from 28 to 84 years with an average of 42.8 years. Only one cases had a past history of tuberculosis and in the other cases tuberculosis of the breast was considered to be a primary disease. Axillary lymph-nodes involvement and formation of pyogenic breast abscess occurred in each 7 cases. Acid-fast bacilli were demonstrated in 25% of the reported cases. The histological findings of resected specimens and punch biopsy revealed epitheloid cell granulomas with caseous necrosis in 11 of 12 cases. Seven of 11 cases were treated with combination of surgery and antituberculous chemotherapy.

[Small cell lung cancer associated with nephrotic syndrome: remission after chemotherapy].

A 66 year-old man was found to have pointed out a 1-cm tumor shadow, on a chest X-ray film when he underwent a gastrectomy because of advanced gastric cancer. Five months after the operation, edema and proteinuria developed, and a chest X-ray film revealed enlargement of the tumor. There was no sign of recurrence of the gastric cancer. Nephrotic syndrome due to IgA-nephropathy and small cell lung cancer was diagnosed. Chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) was effective against both the lung tumor and the nephrotic syndrome. Small cell lung cancer may have been involved in the pathogenesis of the nephrotic syndrome in this patient.

[A case of adenoid cystic carcinoma presenting with stridor and which was treated by reversed gamma type stent placement].

A 66-year-old man was admitted to Saiseikai Suita Hospital with stridor and dyspnea. The flow-volume curve showed central airway obstruction pattern. Although a P-A chest roentogenogram was normal, chest tomogram demonstrated a tumor shadow in the lower portion of the trachea. Chest CT examination demonstrated a tumor arising from the posterior wall of the lower portion of the trachea and stenosis with wall thickening extending from the lower portion of the trachea to both main bronchi. Bronchofiberscopic examination revealed polypoid tumors obstructing the lower portion of the tracheal lumen, and biopsy was subsequently performed. On the night immediately after the bronchofiberscopic examination, the patent suddenly choked, and emergency intubation was performed. Adenoid cystic carcinoma was diagnosed on biopsy and we decided to place a spiral Z-stent. A reversed gamma-type stent placement was used. The first spiral Z-stent extended from the trachea to the right main bronchus and the second spiral Z-stent was placed in the left main bronchus through the first stent. Following the spiral Z-stent placement radiotherapy was performed. Spiral Z-stent placement resulted in dilation of the stenotic trachea and both main bronchi.

Renal replacement lipomatosis: A rare type of renal pseudotumor.

Replacement lipomatosis of the kidney is the end result of severe atrophy of renal parenchyma with secondary marked proliferation of renal sinus and perirenal fatty tissue. Although ultrasonography may suggest the diagnosis, CT demonstrated the distinctive features most accurately. We report a case of renal replacement lipomatosis with coexistent xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis and multiple perinephric and parietal wall collections.

Application of one-dimensional nutation nuclear magnetic resonance to 51V in ferroelastic BiVO4.

The central line intensity of a spin I = 7/2, excited by a radio frequency (rf) pulse, is calculated by taking into account the first-order quadrupolar interaction during excitation. Thus, the result is valid for any ratio of quadrupolar coupling to pulse amplitude. The quadrupolar coupling of the nuclei vanadium 51V in a single crystal of ferroelastic BiVO4 is determined using this one-dimensional (1D) mutation method.

Sodium-23 MAS NMR study on nuclear quadrupole interaction in NA(1-x)Ag(x)NO2.

Ag-impurity effects on the first- and second-order quadrupole interaction (QI) at 23Na site in an isomorphic mixed system, Na(1-x)Ag(x)NO2 (x = 0, 0.0084, 0.026, 0.079, 0.094, 0.16), have been investigated by employing 23Na (I = 3/2) magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) technique. The central transition (CT) and satellite transition (ST) are simultaneously observed with this system. From the spectral analysis, the quadrupole parameter and its distribution width are obtained as a function of Ag concentration. From the intensity loss of CT MAS centerband and of the envelope function of ST MAS sidebands due to impurities, the range of their influence on the second- and first-order QI is estimated. The estimated ranges contain the second and first neighbouring Na sites from the resonating 23Na nucleus for the first- and second-order QI, respectively.

[Analysis of transmission of continuous adventitious lung sounds in asthmatic patients--a comparison with continuous sounds due to bronchial stenosis].

We studied the acoustic features of continuous adventitious lung sounds in asthmatic patients, and analyzed the characteristics of transmission by comparing the continuous sounds in asthmatic patients with those due to bronchial stenosis. The results were as follows. 1) Continuous adventitious lung sounds in patients with bronchial stenosis confirmed by bronchoscopy were well transmitted to the neck over the trachea. Therefore, it was demonstrated that continuous adventitious lung sounds generated in the lung are able to be transmitted to the tracheal region. 2) Continuous adventitious lung sounds in asthmatic patients were divided into monophonic tones and polyphonic tones, according to sound spectrographic findings. From the results of the coherence analysis, the monophonic tones were considered to be generated in the right or left lung, and were well transmitted to the neck over the trachea. The origin of the polyphonic tones was unknown, but they were also relatively well transmitted to the neck over the trachea. It was confirmed that the tracheal region is a very important location for auscultating and monitoring asthmatic patients.

[A simultaneous operation of aortic root, arch replacement, and sternal elevation for Marfan's syndrome--a case report].

A 42-year-old male was transferred to our institution by his family doctor because of suspected type A aortic dissection with cardiac tamponade. His physical constitution gave the appearance of Marfan's syndrome. Contrast CT revealed DeBaky type 1 aortic dissection. Angiography detected an Annulo-aortic ectasia complicated by an aortic regurgitation (AR) grade IV. He also suffered from a severe funnel chest. We performed simultaneous procedures of aortic root, arch replacement, and sternal elevation. Upon operation, a staged aortic clamp technique was employed to reduce the period of cardiac arrest. In the sternal elevation, the bilateral internal thoracic arteries were preserved. Post operative course was uneventful. We consider it effective to employ the staged aortic clamp technique in a reconstruction of the entire thoracic aorta in the case of poor cardiac function and to preserve the bilateral internal thoracic arteries in sternal elevation in order to prevent infection.

[A reconstruction of the left ventricle for post infarction left ventricular aneurysm complicated by ventricular septal perforation--a case report].

A 68-year-old male with post myocardial infarction left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) complicated by ventricular septal perforation (VSP) was treated surgically. At first, he was admitted with acute myocardial infarction by a physician. Coronary angiography (CAG) revealed a total occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. It was improved to 99% of stenosis by PTCR. Echo cardiography revealed the VSP. However, the patient was approached conservatively because of complications of severe pneuminitis and acute hepatitis. Cardiac catheterization was performed three months after admission. The data on the catheterization are as follows: Left ventricular (LV) wall dyskinesis is presented at segment 1-5. Global ejection fraction (EF) = 26%, Corrected EF = 40%, LVEDP = 36 mmHg, Qp/Qs = 1.8. Elective surgery was then performed with IABP, LVA was resected 90 x 50 mm in size under ventricular fibrillation. VSP, which was 9 mm in size, was closed directly with Teflon felt strips. LV plication was then made with 3.0 polypropylene under cardiac arrest. Reconstruction of the LV was then performed with a double patch, of which a cow pericardium was laid on top of a Gore-Tex patch. Post operative cardiac function was improved remarkably. We consider this procedure excellent because of the avoidance of thrombus and the maintenance of the LV form.

Strategy of circulatory support with percutaneous cardiopulmonary support.

We evaluated the efficacy and problems of circulatory support with percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) for severe cardiogenic shock and discussed our strategy of mechanical circulatory assist for severe cardiopulmonary failure. We also described the effects of an alternative way of PCPS as venoarterial (VA) bypass from the right atrium (RA) to the ascending aorta (Ao), which was used recently in 3 patients. Over the past 9 years, 30 patients (20 men and 10 women; mean age: 61 years) received perioperative PCPS at our institution. Indications of PCPS were cardiopulmonary bypass weaning in 13 patients, postoperative low output syndrome (LOS) in 14 patients, and preoperative cardiogenic shock in 3 patients. Approaches of the PCPS system were the femoral artery to the femoral vein (F-F) in 21 patients, the RA to the femoral artery (RA-FA) in 5 patients, the RA to the Ao (RA-Ao) in 3 patients, and the right and left atrium to the Ao in 1 patient. Seventeen (56.7%) patients were weaned from mechanical circulatory support (Group 1) and the remaining 13 patients were not (Group 2). In Group 1, PCPS running time was 33.1 +/- 13.6 h, which was significantly shorter than that of Group 2 (70.6 +/- 44.4 h). Left ventricular ejection fraction was improved from 34.8 +/- 12.0% at the pump to 42.5 +/- 4.6% after 24 h support in Group 1, which was significantly better than that of Group 2 (21.6 +/- 3.5%). In particular, it was 48.6 +/- 5.7% in the patients with RA-Ao, which was further improved. Two of 3 patients with RA-Ao were discharged. Thrombectomy was carried out for ischemic complication of the lower extremity in 5 patients with F-F and 1 patient with RA-FA. One patient with F-F needed amputation of the leg due to necrosis. Thirteen patients (43.3%) were discharged. Hospital mortality indicated 17 patients (56.7%). Fifteen patients died with multiple organ failure. In conclusion, our alternate strategy of assisted circulation for severe cardiac failure is as follows. In patients with postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock or LOS, PCPS should be applied first under intraaortic balloon pumping (IABP) assist for a maximum of 2 or 3 days. In older aged patients particularly, the RA-Ao approach of PCPS is superior to control flow rate easily, with less of the left ventricular afterload and ischemic complications of the lower extremity. If native cardiac function does not recover and longer support is necessary, several types of ventricular assist devices should be introduced, according to end-organ function and the expected support period.