Embedded Left Anterior Descending Artery During Coronary Bypass Operations: A 15-year Experience.

Background: Revascularisation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) is the most important part of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations. We analysed the results of CABG in patients with embedded LADs compared to age and gender-matched controls.

Methods: Among 4,102 patients undergoing primary on-pump CABG from January, 1999, through April, 2014, 92 had embedded LADs.

Mitral valve surgery using video-assisted right minithoracotomy and deep hypothermic perfusion in patients with previous cardiac operations.

Background: Redo-sternotomy for mitral valve (MV) surgery may be complex and attendant complications can be avoided using anterolateral right thoracotomy, deep hypothermia (20°C, nasopharyngeal) with low flow cardiopulmonary perfusion. Video-assisted minithoracotomy technique is a further improvement.

Methods: We performed 20 consecutive MV operations in patients with previous cardiac surgery using video-assisted right minithoracotomy, femoro-femoral bypass, deep hypothermia, low flow cardiopulmonary bypass without aortic cross-clamping.

Intimal intussusception in aortic dissection and coexisting coronary artery disease.

Intimal tear is rarely circumferential in aortic dissection. In such an instance, intimal intussusception may occur. This exposes the patient to the additional risk of severe aortic regurgitation, blockage of the left main coronary artery ostium, or both in proximal intimal intussusception in ascending aortic dissection.