A technique avoiding cardioplegia delivery complications: a case using systemic hyperkalemia cardiopulmonary bypass combined with circulatory arrest.

We conducted a high-risk redo mitral valve replacement through a right mini-thoracotomy without rib spreading (redo-MICS MVR) under systemic hyperkalemia combined with circulatory arrest to circumvent complications associated with cardioplegia delivery. The patient, a 75-year-old man, had a predicted mortality rate of 20%. Initial antegrade cardioplegia successfully induced cardiac arrest, which was administered every 30 min.

A case of the effective inhalation of nitric oxide therapy for caused severe pulmonary hypertension with protamine neutralization of systemic heparinization during totally endoscopic minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Severe pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by protamine is a rare complication. We report a case of a 77-year-old male patient with a history of mitral valve plasty (MVP). He underwent redo MVP via right thoracotomy under the totally endoscopic procedure (MICS redo-MVP).

Fifth-time redo mitral valve replacement via right thoracotomy under systemic hyperkalemia cardiopulmonary bypass without aortic cross-clamp.

The surgical management of prosthetic valvular endocarditis (PVE) can be challenging. We report a case of a 46-year-old female patient who had a history of four cardiac operations. We chose a mitral valve replacement via right thoracotomy to enable optimal exposure of the mitral valve (MV).

Predictive Factors for Limb Salvage and Foot Ulcer Recurrence in Patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia After Multidisciplinary Team Treatment: A 6-Year Japanese Single-Center Study.

Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is associated with a short-term risk of limb loss. Multidisciplinary teams are often involved in CLTI treatment; however, in Asian countries, multidisciplinary teams that include podiatrists specializing in foot wounds and vascular surgeons who can perform distal bypass surgery are lacking. We investigated predictive factors for limb salvage and foot ulcer recurrence in patients with CLTI treated by a Japanese single-center intensive multidisciplinary team over 6 years.

Aortic Rupture due to Co-localization of Aortic Intimal Myofibroblastic Sarcoma and Urothelial Carcinoma: A Unique Case Report.

We herein report a unique case of aortic rupture due to co-localization of aortic intimal myofibroblastic sarcoma (IMFS) and urothelial carcinoma (UC). A 76-year-old man who was being followed up after surgery for UC 5 years earlier developed aortic rupture and underwent emergency surgery. Intraoperatively, a tumorous mass on the luminal side of the aortic arch was found near the rupture.

[Thymoma from the Thymus Covering Bypass Grafts in Previous Coronary Surgery].

To prevent graft injury at the thoracic surgery after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), thymus is often used to cover the grafts. We report a thymoma that developed 12 years after CABG in a 65-year-old woman. The patient had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting of the left anterior descending( LAD) artery, 13 years ago, and a 4-vessel CABG, 12 years ago.

Midterm outcomes of thoracic endovascular repair for uncomplicated type B aortic dissection with double-barrel type.

Objective: The midterm outcomes and aortic remodeling after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (TBAD) were evaluated.

Methods: Forty-seven patients (mean age 66 ± 12 years) who underwent TEVAR for uncomplicated TBAD with double-barrel type from January 2012 to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The indication for TEVAR for entry closure was a maximum aortic diameter > 40 mm with a patent false lumen.

Acute regeneration and chronic acellular transformation of rabbit cryopreserved aortic allografts.

An analysis of rabbit cryopreserved aortic allografts excised on postoperative days (POD) 2, 5, 11, 60, 210, 360, and 720, as well as controls that were untransplanted native aortas and cryopreserved aortas, was performed. On POD2, the number of medial smooth muscle cells in the allografts was reduced to approximately 50%. Ki-67 analysis revealed that medial smooth muscle cells in the allografts proliferated from the 2nd day.

Aortic regurgitation caused by rupture of the abnormal fibrous band between the aortic valve and aortic wall.

This report documents the sudden onset of aortic regurgitation (AR) by an exceptional cause. A 68-year-old woman suddenly experienced general fatigue, and AR was diagnosed. One year later, we performed aortic valve replacement.

Aortic valve replacement and graft replacement of the ascending aorta using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome.

A 73-year-old woman with a 10-year history of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) had severe aortic regurgitation (AR) and an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) with a maximum diameter of 55 mm. By retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) in the patient under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), we replaced the ascending aorta graft and aortic valve. After surgery, we periodically administered granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) with platelet aggregation.

Successful operation for mitral regurgitation in a patient with Gilbert's syndrome.

A 72-year-old woman complaining of dyspnea on effort was diagnosed as having mitral regurgitation (MR). Asymptomatic jaundice had initially been noticed during primary school, and an examination had shown hyperbilirubinemia. After the diagnosis of constitutional jaundice, she had remained well without further examination or medical treatment.

Surgical removal of an intravascular ultrasonography catheter captured in a stent after percutaneous coronary intervention.

A-79-year-old woman underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to the right coronary artery (RCA) for effort angina, followed by intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) to ascertain stent expansion. The IVUS catheter became entangled in the stent and could not be withdrawn from the outside. The patient was transferred to our hospital for its surgical removal.

Spontaneous dissection of the splanchnic arteries.

Three patients had severe abdominal pain of sudden onset. Computed tomography showed localized dissection in the superior mesenteric artery in two patients and in the celiac artery in one. With conservative therapy abdominal symptoms were self-remitted.

Brown-Sequard syndrome after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

A 76-year-old female had suffered from distal arch aortic aneurysm and chronic DeBakey IIIB type dissecting aneurysm. The patient underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). After TEVAR the patient had a motor and proprioceptive loss on the left side and a pain and body temperature loss on the right side below the level of T7.

Surgical repair of coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula with aneurysms.

A 58-year-old female was referred to our hospital with an abnormal shadow on her chest X-ray. Further examination revealed the left anterior descending coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula with aneurysms. The patient was successfully repaired with operation and had no residual fistulas and aneurysms.

Surgical repair of coronary sinus atrial septal defect and supraventricular tachycardia.

A 67-year-old female had suffered from fatigue and palpitation. Cardiac examination revealed coronary sinus atrial septal defect, moderate mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, coronary artery disease, and supraventricular tachycardia with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Surgical repair of the anomaly, regurgitant valves, and arrhythmia associated with coronary revascularization was successfully performed and the patient has been doing well in normal sinus rhythm.

Simple and reliable distal anastomosis for total aortic arch replacement.

In total aortic arch replacement, distal aortic anastomosis is often remarkably difficult because of the deep operative field. Once bleeding from the anastomotic area occurs, it is intractable not only because of technical problems but also decreased coagulability due to deep hypothermia and the fragility of the aortic wall. We describe a simple but reliable strategy for distal anastomosis, which is unique with regard to the approach to the anastomotic area and the anastomotic method.