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Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the combined superior-transseptal approach for mitral valve surgery., Methods: We compared the preoperative status, operative factors, and postoperative outcomes among patients having mitral valve operations with three atrial incisions. The incisions were transseptal (n = 40), combined superior-transseptal (n = 33), and left atrial (n = 22)., Results: The cardiopulmonary bypass time and cross-clamp time were significantly higher in the superior-transseptal group compared with the transseptal group. No significant difference in blood loss was found among the three groups. The incidence of sinus node dysfunction in the early postoperative period was more common in the superior-transseptal group. The maintenance of sinus rhythm at the mid-term follow-up in patients with preoperative sinus rhythm was not significantly different among the three groups. On the other hand, a few patients in the superior-transseptal and transseptal groups with the preoperative sinus rhythm developed sick sinus syndrome requiring permanent pacemaker implantation., Conclusions: The use of the combined superior-transseptal approach was safe and effective, and was not associated with a higher incidence of rhythm disturbance. Because this approach provided an optimal exposure of the mitral valve and subvalvular apparatus, it has been positively adopted for use in patients undergoing complex and difficult mitral valve operation. To use this approach for patients undergoing mitral valve surgery through this approach, however, further follow-up study of the sinus node function is necessary.

An unexpected left atrial mass was found during postoperative echocardiography in a 17-years old man following aortic valve replacement, suggesting thrombus, vegetation and neoplasm. Reoperation showed that the mass to be an inverted left atrial appendage. Left ventricular venting may cause such inversion. To prevent this complication, we suggest the use of careful monitoring and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography.

A case is 40-year-old man. He presented anterior chest pain. Pericardial effusion was pointed out and a tuberculin skin test was positive. Tuberculous pericarditis was highly suspected, so INH and RFP were medicated. After 6-month medication pericardial effusion decreased, but right pleural effusion appeared on chest X-ray. Chest CT revealed a thickening of pericardium extend to anterior mediastinal mass. Echocardiogram revealed a pressure gradient in right ventricle, which was compressed by the thickened pericardium. We underwent median sternotomy in order to rule out neoplastic diseases. Intraoperative pathologic diagnosis was granulomatous mediastinitis and pericarditis, so we resected granuloma as much as possible to decompress the heart. Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not found in the resected granuloma, it was most probable pathogen. He received additional antituberculous chemotherapy for 6 months.

A 42-year-old woman underwent concomitant intra-descending aorta bypass grafting and brachiocephalic artery reconstruction successfully. She was diagnosed as aortitis syndrome with brachiocephalic artery obstruction, severe stenosis of descending aorta and stenosis of right upper renal artery. Chief complaint was chest oppressive feeling, but none of brain nor upper extremity ischemia. Catheterization showed 100 mmHg pressure gradient across stenosis of descending aorta and 100 mmHg pressure gradient between ascending aorta and right brachial artery. In order to relieve hypertension and prevent right head and upper extremity ischemia, concomitant vascular reconstruction was performed using woven Dacron prostheses. Hypertension had subsided postoperatively, and she was relieved from any symptom.