Search

Background Saphenous vein graft aneurysm (SVGA) is a rare complication after coronary artery bypass grafting; however, it may lead to fatal conditions. A redo sternotomy poses a high risk of injury to the patent graft. Case report A 59-year-old man with chest pain was diagnosed with a giant SVGA (67 mm) anastomosed to the right coronary artery (RCA) and compressing the right atrium. Considering the high risk of injury to a patent graft through the sternum, a surgical procedure was planned without redo sternotomy. Through an upper midline abdominal incision, redo bypass grafting was performed to the distal RCA using the right gastroepiploic artery, followed by resection of the aneurysm using the right anterior lateral thoracotomy approach. The postoperative course was uneventful. Conclusion In patients with an SVGA anastomosed to the right coronary system, our surgical strategy may be a useful alternative to redo sternotomy to avoid injury to the patent graft.

Background The right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) is a useful in-situ graft, and skeletonization is effective to prevent spasm and achieve good patency. To harvest the skeletonized RGEA easily, ultrasonic scalpel has been widely used, but the tip shape of conventional ultrasonic device was not optimal for this procedure. Recently, a novel hybrid ultrasonic/bipolar energy device (THUNDERBEAT Open Fine Jaw [TOFJ]) has been developed and is widely used in general surgery. Surgical technique The operator holds forceps in left hand and TOFJ in right hand, incises the anterior layer of the omentum, and extends the incision distally along the RGEA. The side branches and satellite veins were sealed and cut. Because the tip of the TOFJ is well-designed to easily grasp and peel off the tissue, there is no need to change instruments throughout the procedure. After the dissection was advanced distally, the proximal side was subsequently dissected. Conclusions This novel device is useful for harvesting skeletonized RGEA.

Introduction: Isolated internal iliac artery (IIA) aneurysms (IIIAAs) rarely occur. However, they may enlarge asymptomatically and rupture, causing fatality. Even after successful surgery of ruptured IIIAAs, there might be a potential risk of postoperative spinal cord ischemia (SCI)-related paraplegia, which is extremely rare. However, this paraplegia significantly impacts patients’ activities of daily living. Patient concerns: A 71-year-old man who had no remarkable medical history was referred to our hospital with sudden lower abdominal pain. Diagnosis: Computed tomography (CT) revealed right IIIAA with small volumes of contrast medium extravasation and hematoma. He presented with cyanosis in the bilateral lower limbs. Moreover, blood gas analysis showed lactic acidosis. Therefore, he was diagnosed with ruptured IIIAA complicated by peripheral circulatory failure. Interventions: Considering his pre-shock status, an emergency operation comprising ligation of the proximal neck and suture closure of the distal IIA orifice was successfully performed. Outcomes: Immediately after surgery, motor and sensory dysfunction in the bilateral lower limbs occurred. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the presence of SCI. The patient could not stand independently and had neurogenic bladder and rectal disorder. Conclusion: Postoperative SCI is a serious complication with no definitive predictors, preventive methods, or highly efficacious treatments. Therefore, vascular surgeons should preempt its occurrence and focus on preventing hemodynamic instability and maintain collateral extra-segmental arterial blood flow, especially in ruptured cases.

A 42-year-old woman had undergone aortic valve replacement with a 19 mm bioprosthetic valve for aortic stenosis due to a bicuspid valve 8 years before. She was admitted to our hospital for valve re-replacement owing to the prosthetic valve dysfunction. As the patient's valve annulus was markedly thickened owing to pannus formation, we were unable to pass a 19 mm valve sizer through the annulus even after removal of the prosthetic valve and the tissue surrounding the annulus. Valve re-replacement combined with patch enlargement of the aortic annulus was performed to obtain maximally effective orifice area. Her postoperative course was uneventful, and echocardiography revealed no perivalvular leak. In valve re-replacement, it is important to remove the prosthetic valve and the tissue surrounding the annulus to the greatest extent possible and consider patch enlargement of the aortic annulus to avoid patient-prosthesis mismatch in a patient with a small aortic annulus.

We report a case of patch closure of posterior type ventricular septal perforation (VSP) with posterior left ventricular aneurysm (PLVAN) through right ventricular incision. A 70-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of persistent epigastric pain. He was diagnosed with inferior acute myocardial infarction, and percutaneous coronary intervention was performed to the right coronary artery[ atrio-ventricular(AV)]. After 2 weeks, he developed congestive heart failure and was treated with inotropic support and intra-aortic balloon pumping. Echocardiography and computed tomography (CT)showed posterior type VSP between PLVAN and the right ventricle. The operation was performed via standard median sternotomy and under cardiopulmonary bypass. After right ventricle incision parallel to the left anterior descending artery, there was VSP (20×20 mm) behind the trabecular septmarginalis (TSM). We closed VSP with a 2-layer patch (40×40 mm) consisted of Dacron and bovine pericardial patches. Postoperative echocardiography showed no residual shunt, and postoperative CT showed no enlargement of PLVAN. He was discharged home on foot without right heart failure and has been well without major complications.

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.

Rational: Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) intravesical instillation therapy is a widely used treatment for bladder cancer; however, an infectious aneurysm has been reported as a rare complication. Patient concerns: A 76-year-old man who underwent BCG intravesical instillation therapy for bladder cancer presented with prolonged dull back pain for 3 months. Diagnosis: Computed tomography (CT) revealed both thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Follow-up CT at 4 weeks after the initial examination showed rapid enlargement of both aneurysms and typical findings of inflammation. Therefore, he was diagnosed with an impending rupture of infectious aneurysms. Interventions: Although open surgical resection of both aneurysms and vascular reconstruction were ideal, these operations were considered highly invasive for the patient. Therefore, a hybrid operation consisting of simultaneous endovascular repair of the thoracic aneurysm and open surgery of the abdominal lesion was performed. Outcomes: BCG “Tokyo-172” strain was identified in the resected sample from the aneurysmal wall, and he continued to receive oral antituberculosis drugs for 6 months. No sign of recurrent infection was observed 1 year after the operation. Lessons: A hybrid operation might be justified as an alternative to the conventional open surgical procedure, especially for patients with infectious aneurysms caused by weak pathogenic bacteria such as, the BCG mycobacteria.

The HEARTSTRING III Proximal Seal System is a useful proximal anastomosis assist device, but it has a notable drawback in that the removal process is irreversible. If thread cutting occurs during the tying process, repair without side clamping is difficult. We have developed a simple modified technique for the safer removal of the HEARTSTRING device and we demonstrate it in this video tutorial.

The SOLO SMART valve is a bovine pericardial stentless bioprosthesis which shows superior hemodynamic performance compared to the stented valves. It is designed for supraannular and subcoronary implantation. We report our surgical experience and results in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement(AVR) with this new bioprosthesis.Since June 2016, 19 patients with various types of aortic valve disease (mean age:72±7 years, 58% males) have undergone AVR with a SOLO SMART stentless bioprosthesis. Fourteen patients(74%)showed aortic stenosis( AS) and 9 patients(47%)had concomitant procedures;coronary bypass grafting (n=4), mitral valve surgery (n=3), total arch replacement (n=1), and pulmonary venous isolation( n=1). There was 1 patient with active infective valve endocarditis( IE) complicated with annular abscess and 1 patient was a redo AVR case. Surgical results of these patients were evaluated retrospectively. The hemodynamic performance was investigated with transthoracic echocardiography in pre and postoperative period.There was no operative death and 1 hospital death (postoperative subdural hematoma;Heyde syndrome). One patient showed a mild trans-prosthetic valve leak. No patient required reoperation. Although postoperative transient thrombocytopenia was noted, it had cured at the time of discharge. At the last echocardiographic evaluation, the peak and mean gradients in the patients undergoing AVR for AS were 17±7 and 9±5 mmHg, respectively. No prosthesis-patient mismatch (PPM) occurred in any patient.AVR using a SOLO SMART stentless bioprosthesis was performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality. The SOLO SMART stentless bioprosthesis showed excellent hemodynamic performance and early results. Because of favorable effective orifice area, the valve is attractive for patients at risk for PPM. Furthermore, it is expected to contribute to more complex AVR with concomitant mitral valve surgery, active IE or redo situation.

In the mid-1990s, a novel saphenous vein harvesting technique, in which the vein is harvested with its surrounding tissue without manual distention, was introduced. This no-touch technique provides an excellent long-term patency; however, graft twisting and kinking can be a problem. In order to fully take advantage of the benefit of the no-touch method while reducing the risk of twisting and kinking we have modified the anastomosis strategy. Our simple modified strategy involves performing a proximal anastomosis prior to the distal anastomosis.

The Bentall procedure is a reliable treatment of various types of aortic root pathology. Furthermore, the aortic valve-sparing aortic root replacement also has been accepted as an ideal procedure especially in young patients. Recently, we have developed a simple valve-sparing operation focused on standardization and reproducibility.From 2011 to 2017, 44 consecutive patients underwent aortic root replacement( Bentall 17, David 27)in our institution. Surgical results of these patients were evaluated retrospectively. Geometric parameters of reconstructed aortic root were analyzed to evaluate aortic valve function.There were 2 operative death( Bentall 2, David 0). Valve-sparing procedure was completed without conversion to valve replacement and no significant aortic insufficiency was noted soon after the operation. Patients underwent David operation were divided into 2 groups according to the annular diameter. There were 15 patients with large annulus and 12 with small annulus. The postoperative valve function was reproduced in both large and small annulus groups. From the results of geometric analysis of the aortic root, patients with large annulus and sino-tubular(ST) junction were anatomically more suitable and better treated with reimplantation technique. On the other hand, even in patients with small annulus, effective plication of ST junction and adequate suspension of commissure posts might be contribute to restore the valve competency with reimplantation technique. Two patients had aortic valve replacement 6 and 12 months after reimplantation, respectively.The acceptable outcome was demonstrated in patients underwent aortic root replacement. Aortic valve was reproduced well with our simple modification of valve-sparing operation. Although our modified technique is considered to be safe, reproducible and technically less demanding, close observation would be mandatory in this particular circumstance.

A 65-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with mitral regurgitation (MR). Transthoracic echocardiography showed severe mitral valve prolapse and subaortic septal hypertrophy with no pressure gradient. Mitral valve plasty consisted of artificial chorda implantation and ring annuloplasty was performed. During intensive care unit( ICU) stay after operation, systolic murmur and low cardiac output syndrome were noted and echocardiography revealed left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) without systolic anterior motion and MR. Cessation of catecholamine, volume administration, beta-blocker and negative inotropic drug like cibenzoline rapidly reduced LVOTO and the hemodynamic condition was improved. Even in a case of subaortic septal hypertrophy with no pressure gradient, emergence of LVOTO should be considered when new systolic murmur and low cardiac output syndrome appeared.

A 46-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. She had undergone atrial septal defect repair at the age of 7 years. Computed tomography( CT)scan revealed right upper pulmonary vein returned to superior vena cave and the left upper pulmonary vein returned to the innominate vein. Cardiac catheterization showed Qp/Qs of 2.6. Pulmonary venous drainage repair and right-sided maze procedure was planned. The right upper pulmonary vein was led to the left atrium using the modified Warden Procedure. The left upper pulmonary vein was divided and anastomosed to the left atrial appendage. Concomitantly right-sided maze procedure was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful and CT scan revealed no stenosis at anastomotic sites. Sinus rhythm was retained and she was discharged on postoperative day 30.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)has been accepted broadly as an alternative to medical treatment in managing severe heart failure patients. Despite advance in CRT, the presence of a significant valvular heart disease was currently specific exclusion criteria and a response to this therapy remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of CRT in heart failure patients undergoing valvular operation simultaneously.Between July 2010 and May 2012, 8 heart failure patients who underwent CRT in conjunction with valvular surgery were experienced. Right and left ventricular and atrial epicardial leads were implanted after completion of valvular procedures. In patients with chronic atrial fibrillation(Af),maze procedure was performed in order to eliminate Af. To evaluate the improvement of ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony, the echocardiographic assessment was repeated on admission and 1 month after the CRT implantation.There was no operative death. One patient of ischemic cardiomyopathy died of sustained ventricular tachycardia 2 months after the operation. Postoperative course of severe heart failure patients was uneventful and all patients except 1 discharged on foot with improved New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Echocardiographic parameters of dyssynchrony did not reach to statistical significance, but several parameters, left ventricular( LV)-pre-ejectionperiod( PEP) and interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD) showing time delay of cardiac contraction, tended to be improve, suggesting contribution to satisfactory postoperative course.The acceptable outcome was demonstrated with our concept to recover the intraventricular and atrioventricular synchrony. Although it might be difficult to establish the patient selection criteria for concomitant CRT and valvular surgery, our strategy is considered to be a feasible procedure to improve the morbidity and mortality in patients with severe heart failure due to valvular disease.

A 74-year-old female was admitted to our hospital due to hyperkinetic congestive heart failure. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, continuous hemodialysis and inotropic support were needed preoperatively. Computed tomography revealed saccular aortic arch aneurysm with aortopulmonary fistula toward the left pulmonary artery. Cardiac catheterization revealed severe left to right shunt with the pulmonary flow/systemic flow (Qp/Qs) ratio of 6.2.Emergency operation was performed under hypothermic circulatory arrest followed by selective cerebral perfusion and lower body perfusion. The aortopulmonary fistula was directly closed, reinforced with the aneurysmal wall, and total arch replacement was performed. Although the patient temporarily recovered by endoscopic suction of the blood from the lungs and continuous hemodialysis filtration, she died because of multiple organ failure due to mesenteric ischemia on postoperative day 34.