Development of severe string sign in internal thoracic arterial graft during first month.

In the present case, development of the string sign in an internal thoracic arterial graft was observed using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. Following surgery, the diameter of the internal thoracic graft decreased; however, the diameter of the left anterior descending coronary artery did not change from 1.9 mm.

New strategy for treatment of MRSA mediastinitis: one-stage procedure for omental transposition and closed irrigation.

Mediastinitis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a devastating potential complication of cardiac surgery. We treated 4 patients with this condition using a new technique. First we performed an early radical removal of infected tissue and omental transposition with direct primary closure of the sternum and closed continuous irrigation with saline/vancomycin hydrochloride; that was followed by an administration of intravenous antibiotics.

Noninvasive evaluation of internal thoracic artery and left anterior descending coronary artery anastomotic sites using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography: comparison with coronary arteriography.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate anastomotic sites located between the internal thoracic artery and left anterior descending coronary artery using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography, and then to clarify the accuracy of those results by comparison with coronary arteriographic findings.

Methods: We examined 35 consecutive patients who had undergone bypass surgery. The echocardiographic examinations were performed within approximately 1 week of follow-up coronary arteriography, which occurred at 4.

Advantage of earlier thoracoscopic clipping of thoracic duct for post-operation chylothorax following thoracic aneurysm surgery.

We report that an earlier thoracoscopic clipping of the thoracic duct was advantageous in a case of post-operation chylothorax that occurred following thoracic aneurysm surgery. A 61-year-old man developed chylothorax on postoperative day 2 following graft replacement of the descending thoracic aorta using a left-sided thoracotomy. Since a replaced graft infection is lethal, earlier thoracoscopic clipping of the thoracic duct through the right side chest wall was indicated.