[Isolated Pulmonary Valve Endocarditis Accompanying Multiple Pulmonary Embolisms:Report of a Case].

Isolated pulmonary valve infective endocarditis is rare and accounts for only 1.5% to 2.0% of all cases of infective endocarditis. We present a case of isolated pulmonary valve endocarditis, which was successfully treated by pulmonary valve replacement. A 69-year-old man presented with fever and was diagnosed with active pulmonary valve infective endocarditis. He had no apparent predisposing factors. Blood cultures were positive for Streptococcus viridans, and transesophageal echocardiography showed mobile vegetation. His condition improved transiently with intravenous antibiotic therapy;however, high fever and reduced oxygen saturation recurred. Computed tomography showed multiple infiltrative shadows suggesting septic pulmonary embolisms. Urgent surgery was indicated because antibiotic treatment was ineffective. During the operation, we found that vegetation had destroyed all pulmonary leaflets. We performed pulmonary valve replacement with a stented bioprosthetic valve as well as enlargement of the right ventricular outflow tract with a bovine pericardial patch. The postoperative course was uneventful. Antibiotic therapy was continued for six weeks after surgery. For two years since surgery, the patient has experienced no recurrence of infection.

[Bronchial Occlusion with Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot for Massive Pulmonary Hemorrhage during Heart Surgery;Report of a Case].

Massive pulmonary hemorrhage, although rare, is a potentially life-threatening complications during heart surgery. We herein present 1 such case successfully treated by selective bronchial occlusion using an Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot (EWS). The 82-year-old female underwent mitral valve replacement, tricuspid annuloplasty, and maze procedure. An hour and a half after cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass, the patient suffered a massive pulmonary hemorrhage. A subsequent bronchoscopy identified the hemorrhage site at the right middle lobe bronchus (B5b), and an EWS was then selectively deployed into this bronchus to block the hemorrhage. The following day, bronchial arterial embolization was performed, enabling the removal of the spigot on the next day. The patient's respiratory condition gradually improved, allowing for extubation on the 21st postoperative day. By preventing bleeding into neighboring bronchi, which, in turn, avoids the risk of exacerbating hypoxia, bronchial occlusion with EWSs is highly effective in managing massive pulmonary hemorrhage during heart surgery.

[Total Arch Replacement for Distal Arch Aneurysm with Isolated Left Vertebral Artery;Report of a Case].

We herein present a case of distal aortic arch aneurysm with an isolated left vertebral artery(LVA). In surgery, after establishing cardiopulmonary bypass, the LVA was anastomosed to the left common carotid artery (LCCA) while under moderate hypothermia. Selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) was then initiated by inserting catheters into the brachiocephalic artery( BCA), the LCCA and the left subclavian artery (LSA). The aorta was transected between the BCA and the LCCA, and an open stent graft was deployed into the descending aorta during circulatory arrest. After reconstructing the LSA, LCCA and BCA, the ascending aorta was replaced with a graft. The patient recovered well without any cerebral complications, and computed tomography confirmed the patency of the reconstructed LVA. Regarding the surgical treatment of an aortic arch aneurysm with an isolated LVA, reconstructing the isolated LVA before SCP makes the establishment of SCP straightforward, thereby helping protect the brain from ischemia.

Late outcomes of the frozen elephant trunk technique for acute and chronic aortic dissection: the angle change of the FROZENIX by "spring-back" force.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcomes of total arch replacement using the frozen elephant trunk technique with a FROZENIX® J Graft for patients with either acute or chronic aortic dissection, and to evaluate the late-phase outcomes. METHODS: Between January 2015 and December 2020, we used the frozen elephant trunk technique in 47 patients with acute aortic dissection and 12 patients with chronic aortic dissection. The primary endpoints were 30-day mortality, late aorta-related death and late aortic events. The secondary endpoints included early surgical complications and any aortic events (e.g. stent graft-induced new entry, frozen elephant trunk angle change). RESULTS: In the acute group, there were no aorta-related deaths, although 13 patients (27.7%) experienced an aortic event; stent graft-induced new entry occurred in 6 patients (12.8%). In the chronic group, 1 patient (9.1%) experienced aorta-related death, and 9 (81.8%) experienced an aortic event; stent graft-induced new entry occurred in 4 patients (36.4%). During the late phase after surgery, there was a significant increase in the frozen elephant trunk angle in both groups. In the AAD group, both the FET angle and spring-back angle were significantly enlarged in the late phase. There were no significant differences between groups in the degree of angle change, the overall survival, or aortic event-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Total arch replacement using the frozen elephant trunk technique affords good early-stage results for both acute and chronic aortic dissection. During follow-up, careful monitoring for aortic events and appropriate therapeutic interventions are required. If surgeons are to use this device, they must have a thorough understanding of its spring back force and other features.

How to select the optimal size of frozen elephant trunk in total arch replacement for type A acute aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Total arch replacement (TAR) with a frozen elephant trunk (FET) is a common technique for acute aortic dissection, but there is no consensus on the optimal size of the FET. METHODS: Forty-four patients who underwent TAR with FET for acute aortic dissection at our hospital since 2014 were included. The aortic diameter obtained from FET was measured on postoperative computed tomography (CT) and the estimated oversizing ratio was calculated. We investigated the relationship between the estimated oversizing ratio and postoperative outcomes. We also measured the maximum true lumen diameter, circumference of the true lumen, and total aortic diameter at the same level as the FET end on preoperative CT and examined the correlation with the aortic diameter obtained from FET. RESULTS: The average estimated oversizing ratio was 109%. Early postoperative CT showed complete thrombosis of the false lumen in 41 (93.2%) patients. No distal stent graft-induced new entry occurred during follow-up. The correlation coefficients between the three measurements and aortic diameter obtained from FET were 0.64 (maximum true lumen diameter), 0.76 (true lumen diameter calculated from circumference), and 0.72 (total aortic diameter), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The aortic diameter obtained from FET on postoperative CT was strongly correlated with the true lumen diameter calculated from the circumference and total aortic diameter on preoperative CT. It is reasonable to select a size of approximately 130% of the true lumen diameter calculated from the circumference or 80% to 85% of the total aortic diameter.