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A coronary artery fistula usually originates in the right coronary artery and often opens into the right ventricle. In approximately 50% of cases with a main pulmonary artery opening, aberrant blood vessels originate from both coronary arteries. Only a few cases of both coronary and bronchial artery-pulmonary artery fistulas have been reported. The patient was an 83-year-old man. Echocardiography showed severe aortic stenosis, while coronary angiography revealed aberrant vessels from both coronary arteries to the pulmonary artery. The right heart catheterization revealed a 26% left-to-right shunt ratio and a pulmonary/body blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) of 1.36. MDCT scan confirmed that the aberrant vascular plexus originating from both coronary arteries was connected to the bronchial artery. We performed surgery on the patient, replacing the aortic valve and resecting the coronary arteriovenous fistulas. On the 11th postoperative day, the shunt had disappeared, as evidenced by a 1.2% left-toright shunt ratio and a Qp/Qs of the right heart catheterization of 1.02. The patient progressed uneventfully and was discharged on the 25th postoperative day.

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality resulting from hemorrhagic or thromboembolic events and compromised host immunity due to steroid use. We reported a successful surgery for aortic valve regurgitation (AR) and dissecting aortic aneurysm (DAA) in the ascending aorta in a patient with APS. A 75-year-old woman with AR and primary APS was transferred to our institute because of fever and dyspnea. She was given a diagnosis of pneumonia and congestive heart failure (CHF). Enhanced computed tomography (CT) incidentally revealed chronic DAA. After medical treatment for CHF and pneumonia, elective surgery to replace the aortic valve and ascending aorta was performed. We paid special caution to intraoperative hemostasis and perioperative anticoagulation management. No adverse event was observed in this patient's postoperative clinical course, and she was discharged home.

A 75-year-old female had a history of prior ischemic stroke with aphasia and right hemiplegia. Magnetic resonance angiography showed left internal carotid artery occlusion. She was successfully treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV t-PA) and underwent endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). She was diagnosed with cardioembolic stroke due to the presence of atrial fibrillation and mitral valve stenosis, and warfarin was administered. However, she experienced large vessel occlusion twice within 2 years. Upon further analysis, transesophageal echocardiography revealed a mobile hyperechoic structure on the aortic valve, which was assumed to be an embolic source. Thus, we decided to perform mitral and aortic valve replacement. The excised aortic valve structure was suggested to be an example of Lambl's excrescence, histopathologically. After surgery, the patient had no recurrence for 3 years. Several cases of ischemic stroke associated with Lambl's excrescence have been reported, but definitive guidelines for managing patients with Lambl's excrescence do not currently exist. Surgical intervention for Lambl's excrescence with recurrent ischemic events may be important for preventing further recurrence.

A 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with dilatation of the pulmonary artery and pulmonary valve stenosis approximately 10 years ago. At the age of 63, she developed hemoptysis and was referred to our hospital. The pulmonary trunk was enlarged to 63 mm with moderate pulmonary valve insufficiency. The transpulmonary valve pressure gradient was 25 mmHg;thus, surgery was performed. A median sternotomy revealed a markedly dilated pulmonary trunk growing into the pericardial cavity. After opening the patient's pulmonary trunk to check the pulmonary valve, a thickened and shortened quadricuspid valve was observed. We replaced the pulmonary valve with a bioprosthetic valve and used a vascular prosthesis to reconstruct the pulmonary artery. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged 22 days after the surgery. Histopathological examination of the pulmonary artery aneurysm wall revealed cystic medial necrosis.

An 83-year-old woman was admitted because of dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe aortic valve stenosis with a systolic gradient of 105 mmHg. Coronary angiography showed 75% stenosis at segment 1. Computed tomography( CT) of the chest revealed a mass, of 15 mm in diameter, in the right segment 1 of the lung. She was diagnosed with severe aortic valve stenosis, right coronary artery stenosis, and a lung tumor suspected to be lung cancer. We performed right lobe partial resection, aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting through a median sternotomy. The tumor was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma by pathological examination. The postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged three weeks after the operation.

A 63-year-old man had ventricular septal defect (VSD) and had been followed up without heart failure. Recently, he had palpitation caused by atrial fibrillation and the echocardiography revealed moderate aortic valve regurgitation and stenosis with right coronary cusp prolapse due to subpulmonary ventricular septal defect. He underwent patch closure of VSD, aortic valve replacement with mechanical valve, and maze procedure. In recent years, advanced case like this patient is rare because most of patients with subpulmonary VSD and right coronary cusp prolapse are operated in childhood.

A 67-year-old woman was admitted with exertional dyspnea. She had undergone mitral valve replacement with Björk-Shiley prosthetic valve (convexo-concave type) 36 years previously for stenosis and regurgitation in another institute. An echocardiography showed a severe degree of aortic stenosis, and the implanted mitral valve function is normal. We performed aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthetic valve and no prophylactic reoperation for the implanted mitral valve. The postoperative courses were uneventful. The patient was discharged from the hospital in good clinical condition. Postoperative echocardiography showed the prosthetic valves were normal. The close follow-up should be needed to prevent fatal valve dysfunction.

Cardiovascular surgery for renal failure patients with dialysis is challenging. According to the nationwide cardiovascular surgery database in Japan(Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database;JCVSD), dialysis patients have occupied about 10% of whole surgery of coronary artery bypass grafting( CABG). In CABG, ratio of off-pump surgery did not change between non-dialysis (63%) and dialysis (64%) patients. Operative mortality of dialysis patients (7.8%) was 3 times higher than non-dialysis patients (2.1%). In aortic valve replacement (AVR) dialysis patients occupied about 9% of whole AVR in Japan. In dialysis patients the percentage of bioprostheses was 65% and the choice of bioprostheses steeply increased when the age was over 70, which was similar to the non-dialysis patients. For dialysis before cardiovascular surgery, it is important not to dehydrate too much in order to maintain stable hemodynamics during the surgery. It is also important not to dehydrate too much after surgery in order to prevent non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia(NOMI).

We report a case of pulmonary artery catheter (PAC)-induced massive intratracheal hemorrhage during aortic valve surgery. An 81-year-old woman underwent aortic valve replacement and pulmonary vein isolation. Operative procedures were uneventful, but active and massive intratracheal hemorrhage started just after cardiopulmonary bypass was discontinued. We immediately resumed cardiopulmonary bypass and replaced the endotracheal tube with a double-lumen one, keeping the airway pressure high (20 cmH2O). Those maneuvers reduced intratracheal hemorrhage and maintained oxygenation, and then cardiopulmonary bypass was disconnected without lung lobectomy. Mechanical ventilation with high positive end expiratory pressure for 6 days in the intensive care unit let her good recovery. A postoperative enhanced computed tomography revealed a thrombosed right pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm possibly induced by PAC. After close observation the patient left the hospital on foot.

We successfully performed the DKS+Rastelli procedure for Taussig-Bing anomaly (TBA) in an adult. A 22-year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to persistent lower leg edema and dyspnea. He had been diagnosed with TBA. On physical examination, his peripheral oxygen saturation (Spo2) was 73% in room air. Chest X-ray showed congestive heart failure. We decided to perform arterial switch operation (ASO) and VSD closure. Operation was performed via a re-median sternotomy. It seemed to be very difficult to dissect and mobilize great arteries and coronary arteries for ASO. Therefore, we decided to perform DKS, aortic valve closure, left ventricule to pulmonary artery rerouting, and right ventricular outflow reconstruction using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) valved conduit. Postoperative course was uneventful, an oxygen saturation was improved. At 5 years after surgery, his oxygen saturation is about 97% in room air and he is now doing well without any symptoms. Long-term follow-up is necessary to ensure maintenance of optimal function.

Unilateral pulmonary edema (UPE) has been reported as a re-expansion pulmonary edema that occurs following rapid re-expansion of a collapsed lung in a patient with pneumothorax or large volume of pleural fluid. Recently, UPE after minimally invasive cardiac surgery through right-sided thoracotomy has received considerable attention because of its increasing morbidity and mortality. However, development of UPE in patients undergoing cardiac surgery through median sternotomy has not generally been recognized. Herein, we present our experience of UPE of the right lung after aortic valve replacement through median sternotomy. UPE may reflect ventilation-induced lung injury in concomitant systemic inflammation by cardiopulmonary bypass. Heterogeneity of lung collapse and wide pleural opening, which induced lung overdistension during recruitement, were considered to be associated with the occurrence of UPE in this case. Preventive measures should be considered for patients with multiple risk factors, and a meticulous recruitment maneuver is required for lung re-expansion during cardiac surgery.

A 73-year-old female was referred to our department for surgical treatment of combined rheumatic valvular disease. She had undergone percutaneous transluminal mitral commissurotomy 29 years before. She underwent double valve replacement with bioprosthetic valves and tricuspid annuloplasty combined with left atrial appendectomy for chronic atrial fibrillation. Because of remarkable bleeding following surgery, rapid blood transfusion and re-thoracotomy were immediately performed. However, the bleeding persisted even after re-thoracotomy, and acquired von Willebrand syndrome due to valvular disease was suspected. Von Willebrand factor/factor Ⅷ preparation was administered, and bleeding promptly became under control. Recently, acquired von Willebrand syndrome due to valvular disease has attracted attention. We need to keep it in mind during perioperative management for patients with valvular disease.

An 81-year-old woman presented with progressive congestive heart failure. Seventeen years before, she had undergone mitral valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis. Echocardiography revealed severe aortic stenosis with a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction of 32%.At first, rescue balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) was performed. After transient improvement of symptoms, she was readmitted 2 months later with recurrence of severe congestive heart failure. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with an Edwards Sapien valve was performed. During the procedure, BAV was performed to confirm that the balloon did not interfere the movement of the mechanical valve. Moreover, supported by a veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, we could prevent myocardial ischemia during rapid pacing and slowly deploy the valve in a precise position. TAVI can be safely and successfully performed in patients with a preexisting mechanical mitral prosthesis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease, rarely complicated with cardiac valvular abnormality or aortic aneurysm. An asymptomatic 40-year-old woman with a 15-year history of SLE developed annuloaortic ectasia and aortic valve regurgitation. She had long been maintained on steroid therapy for the treatment of SLE. Her serum anti-phospholipid antibodies were positive. An enhanced computed tomography revealed a dilated aortic root and ascending aorta (57 mm in diameter). Cardiac ultrasonography demonstrated severe aortic regurgitation. We performed the Bentall procedure using a composite graft with the Carrel patch technique. Histopathological examination of the aortic wall showed cystic medial necrosis without any evidence of vascu-litis. Careful long-term follow-up is mandatory for assessing the risk of later anastomotic dehiscence and pseudoaneurysm formation.

The natural prognosis of patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) has proved to be poorer than one might expect, thus surgical intervention should be recommended earlier than before. The most of patients with AR are relatively younger and therefore may benefit from aortic valvuloplasty (AVP) to eliminate prosthesis-related late adverse events. However, AVP does not seem popular enough because long-term durability after AVP is still unclear. For this purpose, long-term outcomes after AVP should be improved by standardizing the procedure, especially using aortic root remodeling procedure combined with external suture annuloplasty. The detail of the standardization of these procedures is outlined in this review briefly. We hope more and more aortic valves of the patients with not only aortic root dilatation but also isolated AR will be preserved based on this review in the near future.

Long-term results of valve repair for aortic regurgitation is not still clear. We investigated retrospectively our results of aortic valve repair for 244 patients. There were 2 operative death and 7 late cardiac death. Ten-year late survival rate was 84% and 10-year reoperation free rate was 74%.That of congenital group was 57%.However, 10-year reoperation rate was 87% for Type 1 group and 79% for Type 2 group. Recent technical evolution such as introduction of 4-dimensional computed tomography (CT) and intraoperative measurement of effective height may contribute improvement of repair technique. Further accumulation of evidence will promote earlier surgery for patients with aortic regurgitation.

Pregnant women undergoing mechanical valve replacement are at a considerable risk of thromboembolic events, bleeding, and fetotoxicity associated with the administration of vitamin K antagonists and some other anticoagulants. We present our clinical experience of pregnancy and childbirth in a young woman who underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a mechanical valve. A young woman underwent AVR with a bioprosthetic valve for a diagnosis of aortic regurgitation and bicuspid aortic valve at age 23. Four years later, structural valve deterioration(SVD) of the prosthetic valve necessitated redo AVR with bioprosthesis. Three years after the redo AVR, she developed recurrent SVD of the bioprosthesis, and the 3rd AVR operation was performed using an On-X mechanical valve, which allows reduced anticoagulation. She conceived 5 months after AVR using the On-X valve. Anticoagulation therapy was administered with a low-dose vitamin K antagonist combined with heparin infusion during pregnancy. No anticoagulation-induced maternal and fetal complications occurred throughout the pregnancy. The On-X valve, which allows lower levels of anticoagulation is useful in women wishing to get pregnant.

We report a surgical case of a 58-year-old woman with aortitis syndrome is presented. The patient had undergone aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a mechanical prosthesis. Five months later, re-AVR was performed because of prosthetic valve detachment and severe regurgitation. Five years after the re-operation, valve detachment with severe perivalvular leakage was noted again. The 3rd AVR was performed with a biological prosthesis. This time, the prosthetic valve was fixed by 2-0 Ticron sutures buttressed with a felt strip from outside of the aorta at the site of detachment. Administration of prednisolone has been continued for 16 years since the 1st operation. No valve detachment has been noted for 8 years since the 3rd operation.

An 85-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and coronary artery disease (CAD) was admitted with heart failure 3 times. Direct aorta transcatheter aortic valve replacement( DA-TAVR) and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) were performed after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and she was discharged without postoperative complication. Surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) are recommended for a patient with AS and CAD. Recently, PCI or CABG with transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR) has been reported, although there is no standard treatment for concomitant CAD in patients who undergo TAVR. DA-TAVR and OPCAB after PCI is considered as a reasonable treatment for high-risk patients.

An 81-year-old man who had undergone aortic valve replacement was transferred to our hospital due to suspected prosthetic valve endocarditis(PVE) from the regional hospital. Transesophageal echocardiography findings showed severe aortic regurgitation with mobile vegetation on the right coronary cusp and annular abscess corresponding to left-none coronary cusps. Urgent operation was performed under the diagnosis of PVE with aortic root abscess. Intraoperative findings demonstrated tiny vegetation on one of the bio-prosthetic leaflets and abscess formation beneath the left sinus of valsalva( LSOV). Complete debridement of the infected tissue followed by patch closure of the cavity below the LSOV and reconstruction of the aortic root with Freestyle stentless aortic bioprosthesis was performed. His postoperative course was uneventful. Aortic root replacement using a stentless bioprosthesis seems to represent one of the useful options for PVE with aortic root abscess.

This is a 3-case report of mitral valve replacement (MVR) with an On-X mechanical valve followed up to 10 years. Case 1(64-year-old man) and case 2 (66-year-old woman) experienced traffic accident and traumatic event, respectively, in their chronic phase after MVR. Case 1 had multiple bone fractures of the bilateral lower limbs, which was followed by systemic infection and pyogenic spondylitis. He needed long-term antibiotics therapy for more than 4 years. Case 2 fell down at home and severely hit her head, which resulted in a traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. She was in a deep coma, and needed discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy for 4 weeks. Case1, 2, and 3(54-year-old man) are doing well in New York Heart Association functional class I without any valve-related thromboembolic or hemorrhagic events at 10, 9 and 8 years after MVR, respectively. On-X valve performance has also been found well maintained in all cases by echocardiography, even after traumatic accident or discontinuation of anticoagulation in Case 1 and 2. In this report, the On-X mechanical valve demonstrated good midterm result of its valve performance in the mitral position and its potential advantages in antithrombogenicity.

We report a case of a dialysis patient with severe aortic stenosis(AS) along with bilateral pheochromocytomas. A 52-year-old man presented with syncope and was diagnosed with severe AS. Although aortic valve replacement(AVR) was scheduled, bilateral pheochromocytomas were found during preoperative examination. There was a high possibility of developing hemodynamical crisis during AVR, and we planned to perform adrenalectomy prior to AVR. To avoid circulatory collapse just after adrenalectomy, balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) was performed beforehand. Two weeks after the adrenalectomy, AVR was performed in a stable condition.

An 89-year-old female was admitted with progressive dyspnea. She had history of old myocardial infarction. Echocardiography revealed severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Computed tomography (CT) detected an ascending aortic aneurysm and a left ventricular apex aneurysm. CT confirmed the BAV with severe calcification and tight horizontal angulation. We scheduled transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). While careful wire manipulation, the valve was successfully implanted. BAV is frequently associated with dilation of the ascending aorta. The coexistence of an ascending aortic aneurysm would indicate surgery in order to be able to treat both lesions simultaneously and to avoid catastrophic stent-related complications, such as prosthesis dislodgment and aneurysm rupture. In the present case, there was also risk of left ventricular rupture due to wire manipulation. The horizontal aorta also complicates accurate positioning of the prosthesis during TAVR. This case highlights TAVR for AS with complicated anatomy.

We surgeons have to achieve a good result for surgical valve replacement which is not inferior to trans-catheter heart valve treatments. This column aimed to learn fundamental skills for surgical valve implantation and to learn types of suturing techniques. For updated information, we mentioned about choice of valve and suturing technique for valve-in-valve procedure into surgical valve. We should take into consideration valve type, size, and how-to implantation of surgical valve which would affect the future valve-in-valve procedure.

A 79-year-old womam presented with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD). The distal end of her abdominal aorta was occluded with severe calcification. Simultaneous Y-grafting of the terminal abdominal aorta and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using the left limb of a Y-shaped artificial graft as an access route were planned. After proximal and distal anastomoses of the abdominal aorta and the right common iliac artery(CIA) using the Y-shaped artificial graft, TAVI was performed through the left limb of the artificial graft. The technique was similar to that used for transfemoral TAVI. Subsequently, the left limb of the graft was anastomosed to the left CIA. The patient's postoperative course was unremarkable, without heart failure or lower limb ischemia. This option serves as an effective access route for TAVI in patients with AIOD.

An 80-year-old woman was incidentally found to have a cardiac tumor on the aortic valve by echocardiography. Papillary fibroelastoma(PFE) was strongly suspected, and urgent operation was performed to prevent embolism. Two tumors were identified arising from the left and right cusps with wide stalks, and aortic valve replacement was performed. By pathological examination, the tumors were diagnosed as PFEs. A small tumor was also found on the non-coronary cusp, which was considered as possible PFE or Lambl's excrescence. In the case of multiple PFEs on one valve, valve replacement, instead of simple excision of tumors, should be considered.

A 45-year-old female was admitted to our hospital due to severe aortic stenosis. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography indicated the aortic valve was bicuspid, but we confirmed that the aortic valve was unicuspid by intraoperative finding. There was 1 open commissure between the left coronary cusp and the noncoronary cusp position. Aortic valve replacement was performed with a mechanical valve, and the postoperative course was uneventful. We report a very rare case of unicuspid aortic valve replacement.

Objective: Evaluation the activities of the dementia support care team (D-CAST)., Method: A total of 350 patients received intervention from the D-CAST from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2017. At the beginning and end of the team intervention, the following items were evaluated: changes in the degree of life independence, period (days) from hospitalization to team intervention, request for team intervention, and duration of hospitalization., Results: The average age of the 350 patients in this study was 81±9 years old. The major diseases causing hospitalization were heart failure in 94 patients (27%) and aortic valve disease for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in 45 patients (13%). The main reasons for requesting team intervention were cognitive impairment in 40% and delirium (prevention included) in 36%. Regarding the change in the degree of life independence, 29 people saw improvement (16%), 165 maintained their degree of independence (66%), and 46 experienced a decrease (18%). The team intervention was delayed as criteria for degree of independence of everyday life was lower for mild patients., Conclusion: We need to learn how to assess dementia patients with relatively mild life independence (potentially including mild cognitive impairment).

A severely calcified ascending aorta increases the risk of perioperative cerebral damage in cardiac surgery. Conventional aortic valve replacement using an external aortic cross clamp may be dangerous in patients with this morbidity. We used an intra-aortic balloon occlusion catheter(IABOC)to minimize risks of aortic valve replacement(AVR) in an 81-year-old man with severe aortic stenosis combined with a severely calcified aorta. IABOC was introduced to the ascending aorta via the right femoral artery by esophageal echocardiography. The precise site of the inflated balloon was confirmed by the pressure of the right radial artery and was secured by 2 tourniquets around the ascending aorta. The postoperative course was uneventful. Our technique can contribute to prevention of embolic complications in some patients with a severely calcified ascending aorta.

A 62-year-old female with Moyamoya disease (MMD) had cardiomegaly pointed out by chest X-ray and was admitted to our hospital. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan and echocardiography revealed a large dissecting ascending aortic aneurysm 78 mm in diameter combined with severe aortic regurgitation and mild mitral regurgitation. She had a history of intracranial hemorrhage related with MMD twice. Considering her relatively young age and risk of intracranial hemorrhage, valve-sparing aortic root replacement was planned to avoid anticoagulant therapy. Operation was performed keeping intra-operative blood pressure, perfusion pressure, Paco2 and activating clotting time in appropriate ranges. The postoperative course was uneventful without cerebral complication. No clinical symptom related with MMD was observed in 4 years after the operation.

Infective endocarditis (IE) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a rare complication, but has a high mortality. An 86-year-old female with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis underwent TAVR at our hospital and she was discharged without complication after 10 days. She was readmitted with high fever and acute heart failure 1 month later. Blood culture revealed Staphylococcus, and echocardiography showed vegetation on the septal cusp of the tricuspid valve and perforation at the membranous ventricular septum. We decided to perform emergency operation due to active infection and intracardiac complication despite appropriate antibiotic treatment. The infected valve was replaced with a bioprosthetic valve and the right ventricular (RV)-left ventricular (LV) communication was closed with a bovine pericardial patch. The patient received the antibiotics for 6 week and was transferred to the previous facility.

Coronary artery disease(CAD) is often found concurrently in patients presenting with severe aortic stenosis(AS). Surgical aortic valve replacement(SAVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) were usually selected with such patients. Recently, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is considered as a less invasive and more feasible treatment option in high-risk AS patients. A 74-year-old woman admitted due to acute myocardial infarction and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention revealed severe AS. Because of her comorbidities, concomitant transapical TAVI and CABG were performed with an excellent clinical course.

Since reimbursements for transcatheter aortic valve implantation(TAVI) for severe aortic valve stenosis began in 2013, TAVI has spread rapidly in Japan. TAVI is currently performed in nearly 100,000 cases a year worldwide, and more than 4,000 procedures performed annually in Japan. The TAVI valves available in Japan are Edwards' "SAPIEN" and the Medtronic "Evolut R". The "SAPIEN" is a balloon-expanding valve and can be placed via a transfemoral or transapical approach. In contrast, the "Evolut R" is a self-expanding valve and can be placed via the transfemoral, transsubclavian or direct aortic approach. The surgical indications for TAVI are high-risk patients in whom surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) cannot be performed by conventional thoracotomy, and dialysis patients are excluded. With the evolution of the associated devices, the performance of TAVI has become comparable to that of SAVR. The outcomes of TAVI in Japan are particularly good compared with the results of the world. Globally, TAVI treatment is being adopted in intermediate- to low-risk patients as well as in high-risk patients. TAVI treatment is expected to continue to spread in the future.

Tranexamic acid (TA), an antifibrinolytic agent, is commonly used in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmo- nary bypass to reduce bleeding. We report two cases of convulsive seizures after cardiac surgery with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. The two patients underwent aortic valve replacement, one for aortic valve regurgitation and another for aortic valve stenosis, with cardiopulmonary bypass uneventfully. A total dose of 8 g of TA was administered intravenously; 4 g during and 4 g after cardiopulmonary bypass. Both patients developed two episodes of gener- alized convulsive seizures post-operative day 1, which were suppressed by administration of diazepam intra- venously. The blood test, brain CT and electroenceph- alogram revealed no significant abnormalities. They were discharged without any neurological complica- tions. The high dose of TA was considered to have caused the seizures, since in previous reports the use of TA during surgery was associated with increased risk for postoperative seizures. It was demonstrated that approximately 40 to 70% of TA is excreted in the urine following intravenous administration. We posit that this might have led to excessive serum concen- tration of TA in our patients. Therefore, the dosage of TA should be decreased judiciously in patients with chronic kidney disease especially on hemodialysis to prevent postoperative seizures.

The advent of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been rapidly evolving the treatment of the severe aortic stenosis in patients with comorbidities that lead to being high-risk for conventional aortic valve replacement. The patient selection for TAVI is carefully made by a multidisciplinary heart team. An accurate preoperative assessment of the computed tomography angiography and transesophageal echocardiography are necessary for procedural success. In Japan, SAPIEN XT and CoreValve are available, and Lotus Valve is under clinical trial. So far, TAVI is an attractive treatment because the early outcome and the intermediate-term durability are favorable. An answer to a question of whether the indication for TAVI is able to expand to low- or intermediate- risk patients depends on the long-term durability.

Here we demonstrate our surgical procedure of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement through right anterolateral mini-thoracotomy. Preoperative evaluation of the whole aorta by contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan is important to prevent cerebrovascular complications. The patient is set in a mild left lateral decubitus position. A skin incision is made along the anterior axillary line to the inframammary fold and the chest is opened at the 3rd or 4th intercostal space. Cardiopulmonary bypass is usually established by femoro-femoral bypass. The ascending aorta is clamped with a Chitwood clamp and antegrade or selective cardioplegia is administered. Four traction sutures placed at the aortotomy widely open the aortotomy and offer fine surgical view of the aortic valve. The annular calcifications are excised using a cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator. Double-needle braided sutures with pledgets are placed in a non-everting mattress manner. Then the prosthetic valve is sewn onto the aortic annulus. Finger knot tying through anterolateral mini-thoracotomy is usually challenging;therefore, all sutures are tied using a knot pusher. The aortotomy is closed and the aorta is de-clamped. The pericardium is loosely closed;chest tubes are placed;and the thoracotomy is closed in a usual manner.

Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) which requires cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is still the gold standard for treatment of aortic stenosis (AS). But for elderly patients with severe AS and coexisting conditions, invasive surgery with CPB may lead to organ dysfunction and life-threatening complications. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a novel treatment for AS. TAVR is performed by catheter techniques, which do not require sternotomy, CPB, and cardiac arrest, and are less invasive than SAVR. That is why TAVR is considered quite suitable for such patients at high risk. Anesthesiologists managing TAVR should aim at fast-track anesthesia in order to make the most of the minimal invasiveness of TAVR by stabilizing circulations and respiratory conditions, keeping body temperature, and controlling postoperative pain.

Background: The aortic valve-sparing operation has been accepted as an ideal procedure for the treatment of aortic root aneurysm, especially in young patients. However, this operation is thought to be technically difficult due to lack of conceptual understanding of the procedure for many surgeons. In order to overcome the surgical problem, we have developed a simple valve-sparing aortic root replacement focused on standardization and reproducibility., Methods: Seven consecutive patients underwent the aortic valve-sparing operation in our institution.Our surgical strategy to restore valvular competency is based on the concept of inserting a dilated aortic annulus into small sized graft. Regardless of annular diameter, the Valvalva graft of 26 mm was used in all patients. Proximal end of the graft is secured on the outside of the left ventricular outflow tract with 12 mattress sutures. The 3 commissures are suspended upward inside the graft as possible. The remnants of aortic sinuses are sutured to the graft in U-shaped manner using continuous suture line. If necessary, aortic cusp repair was performed. Coronary arteries are reconstructed by Piehler's method., Results: There was no operative death. Valve-sparing procedure was completed without conversion to valve replacement and no significant postoperative aortic insufficiency was noted., Conclusions: The excellent outcome was demonstrated with our simple modification. Although we recommend this technique of the aortic valve-sparing procedure which is reproducible and technically less demanding, close observation would be mandatory concerning with valvular durability in this particular circumstance.

Valve-sparing aortic root reimplantation with creation of pseudosinuses, so-called "David-V" procedure,is a promising surgical choice to treat annuloaortic ectasia (AAE). We have developed a simple modification of this procedure, which facilitates exposure and also enables good adjustment of the native aortic root anatomy and the graft. In this article we describe our original technique and its mid-term results.

A 63-year-old female, who had undergone aortic and mitral valve replacement 16 years ago, was admitted because of urinary tract infection. The patient developed cerebral hemorrhage. Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from her blood culture. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed paravalvular aortic and mitral abscesses, and the diagnosis of prosthetic valve endocarditis was established. A redo double valve replacement was performed. Both paravalvular abscess cavities were debrided and closed with fresh autologous pericardial patches, and mechanical valves were implanted. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she had no sign of recurrent infection 3 years postoperatively.

Cardiac reoperation via a median re-sternotomy is associated with a high risk of injury to cardiac structures and the great vessels, and may result in massive bleeding. We report a case of aortic valve re-replacement, and severe adhesion was suspected between the sternum and the left brachiocephalic vein by preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans. To avoid injury to the vein, the adhesive tissue was dissected under video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Then median re-sternotomy was performed safely, and the aortic valve was replaced again. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Since sternal adhesions are checked and dissected visually, concomitant VATS might be a very useful option after previous cardiac surgery.

We experienced a case of an endocarditis with persistent fever despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography showed bicuspid aortic valve with vegetations which caused a severe aortic regurgitation. Furthermore, a new abscess formation extending to the aortic annulus was detected by transesophageal echocardiography. A stentless valve was used to reconstruct the aortic valve with a subcoronary method. Patients with bicuspid valve infectious endocarditis incur high risk of abscess formation. It is important to have frequent observation of the infected valve preoperatively and careful observation during operation to detect further abnormalities which may cause alteration of the procedure.

A 49-year-old female suffered from dyspnea on exertion and jaundice from June, 2009. She had undergone aortic valve replacement with Carpentier-Edwards pericardial bioprosthesis due to active infectious endocarditis 23-years previously. The echocardiography showed severe aortic stenosis with moderate regurgitation. She was diagnosed as having prosthetic valve malfunction. Re-replacement of the aortic valve with mechanical valve was successfully performed. As far as we can see, this is one of the longest-term cases of implantation of pericardial bioprosthesis.

Background: Outcome of the patients who underwent aortic root replacement with valve sparing procedure concomitant with cusp repair was evaluated., Methods: Between October 1999 and April 2009, valve sparing aortic root replacement were performed in 62 patients. Isolated valve sparing procedure was performed in 38 patients (control) and concomitant cusp repair was performed in 24 patients (aortic valve plasty: AVP). Cusp prolapse was corrected by plication of Arantius body (n = 13), cusp perforations were closed by pericardial patch (n = 6) or reinforcement of free margin (n = 6)., Results: No patient died during the hospital stay and no thromboembolic events occurred in the follow up. Pre-operative grade of aortic insufficiency was 3.0 +/- 0.9 in AVP group vs. 2.5 +/- 1.3 in control (NS). There was no significant difference between both groups regarding age, cardiac function and preoperative aortic root diameter. However, eccentric jet by preoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was more often in group AVP than in control (p<0.01). Five patients underwent reoperation because of recurrent aortic regurgitation (AR) or hemolysis. Postoperative AR grade were similar in both groups (0.9 +/- 0.5 vs 0.5 +/- 0.6). During follow up, the 5 year freedom from re-operation (aortic valve replacement: AVR) was 85.1+/- 8.2% in AVP and 94.0 +/- 4.1% in control (NS). 5-year-survival was 100% and 95.0 +/- 4.9% (NS), respectively., Conclusions: Valve sparing aortic root replacement with concomitant cusp repair provided satisfactory midterm result.

Annuloaortic ectasia is frequently related with Marfan syndrome, and Bentall procedure or aortic root replacement with valved conduit has been the conventional standard operation for this disease. Recently, some institutes have adopted valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSARR) instead of Bentall procedure. Young female patients with Marfan syndrome who wishes for childbearing seem to be a group of good candidates of this type of operation, because it let them free from morbidities after artificial valve implantation. Valve-sparing operation should be taken into consideration when the size of Valsalva sinus reaches 45 mm for patients with Marfan syndrome and when it reaches 40 mm for patients with past histories or family histories of aortic dissection or aortic rupture. Since pregnancy is one of the most serious risk factors for aortic events, Valsalva sinus of 40 mm or larger could be the new standard for surgical indication if VSARR is applicable.

Bentall operation has been a gold-standard procedure for the aortic root reconstruction in the patients with aortic root aneurysms and aortic valve insufficiency (AI). Recently, native aortic valve preserving operation has been widely spread. In this study, we described the results of aortic root reconstruction in our institution and evaluated our operative methods. We selected Bentall operation for severely damaged or cardiac redo cases, and David operation for simple annuloaortic ectasia and AI. Recently, we have utilized Valsalva graft which provides the advantage of capability of larger prosthetic valve implantation and better hemodynamic performance.

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and other types of tachyarrhythmia are common, but might be potentially fatal complications in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement due to aortic stenosis. We report the effects of ultra-short-acting beta-blocker (landiolol) in treating 2 patients with postoperative tachycardia. The heart rate was controlled adequately without subsequent hypotension and postoperative course was uneventful. This strategy seems to be safe and beneficial in this particular circumstance.

In general, aortic stenosis and regurgitation are the 2 main aortic valve diseases which require surgical treatment. Surgical indication for each has been described in detail in the guidelines established by the Japanese Circulation Society and American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC). Most of the cases we daily encounter in clinical practice can be managed within the guideline, although the patient's many other factors are needed to be taken into consideration. On the contrary, in those cases with the conditions which are not mentioned in the guidelines, diagnosis and decisions are always difficult to make. In this article, we are to discuss how to manage cases within and without the guidelines.

In 1982, a 63-year-old woman underwent open mitral commissurotomy for rheumatic mitral stenosis. She was referred to our hospital for surgical treatment of mitral restenosis in 2003. Preoperative echocardiography showed rheumatic mitral valve restenosis and demonstrated a mobile mass of the aortic valve. During the operation, a mitral valve replacement was performed using prosthetic valve (SJM 29 mm) and a tricuspid valve was repaired by annuroplasty (De Vega). Through the aortotomy, a multiple frond-like tumor, measuring 5 mm, was found attached to the free-edge of the left-coronary cusp of the aortic valve. The resection of the tumor was performed without valve replacement. The histopathologic diagnosis was papillary fibroelastoma. The postoperative course was uneventful. In the pathogenesis of this case, the iatrogenic factor may have played a role in tumor development.