Mid-Term Results of Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement in Patients With Expanded Indications.

Background: The mid-term results of valve-sparing aortic root reimplantation (VSRR) for various indications were investigated.

Methods: From 2000 to 2013, 183 consecutive patients undergoing VSRR were enrolled. Expanded indications, defined as a patient on the marginal operative indication, included age 65 years or older (n = 33), age 15 years or younger (n = 4), acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) (n = 21), aortitis (n = 8), reoperative root replacement (n = 11), cusp prolapse (n = 67), large aortoventricular junction of greater than 28 mm (AVJ) (n = 42), preoperative severe aortic regurgitation (AR) (n = 89), left ventricular ejection fraction 0.

Surgical strategy for aortic prosthetic graft infection with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography.

A 30-year-old man with Marfan syndrome who underwent Crawford type II extension aneurysm repair about 9 years ago was referred to our hospital with persistent fever. Computed tomography (CT) showed air around the mid-descending aortic prosthetic graft. Because the air did not disappear in spite of intravenous antibiotics, (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) was performed.

Rapid expansion of mycotic aneurysm of left coronary sinus of Valsalva causing myocardial ischemia: report of a case.

We described a 71-year-old female of aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva from mycotic origin. She underwent aortic valve replacement 11 years ago. Repeated CT scans showed rapidly growing aneurysm below the left coronary ostium.

Double-patch repair by a bilateral ventriculotomy for postinfarction ventricular septal defect.

Objectives: Repair of a postinfarction ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a challenging procedure with a high risk of postoperative residual shunt and subsequent mortality. This retrospective study aimed to assess a modified infarct exclusion technique with a biventricular approach.

Methods: Nineteen consecutive patients who underwent the infarct exclusion procedure for VSD between 2002 and 2011 were reviewed.

False aneurysm with an aorto-superior vena cava fistula after replacement of the ascending aorta: report of a case.

A 58-year-old female presenting with congestive heart failure due to a fistula between an aortic false aneurysm and the superior vena cava (SVC) is described. She had a history of Takayasu's arteritis (TA) and she had undergone aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting 6 years before. The false aneurysm had occurred 1 year after the surgery, and she had been conservatively managed.

Mid-term echocardiographic comparison of chordal preservation method of mitral valve replacement in patients with mitral stenosis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The efficacy of chordal-preserved mitral valve replacement (MVR) on left ventricular function was investigated in patients with mitral stenosis.

Methods: Eighty patients (25 males, 55 females; mean age 64.5 +/- 8.

The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) predicts early and late outcomes of cardiovascular operations in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the severity of cirrhosis as a predictor of early and late outcomes after cardiovascular operations.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent cardiovascular operations in our institute between October 1999 and April 2009. The severity of liver cirrhosis was assessed using the Child-Pugh classification and the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score.

Left ventricular restoration for cardiac sarcoidosis: report of two cases.

Although sarcoidosis may involve the myocardium, there is little available information on its treatment, especially in cases requiring surgery, such as left ventricular restoration or mitral valve repair. This report presents two surgical cases with cardiac sarcoidosis treated by left ventricular restoration and mitral valve repair for a ventricular aneurysm and dilated cardiomyopathy with mitral regurgitation.

Long-term results of bioprosthetic tricuspid valve replacement: an analysis of 25 years of experience.

Background: Current knowledge in long-term results of tricuspid valve replacement is limited. Present study reviews our experience from a consecutive series.

Methods: We retrospectively studied the early and late results of 32 consecutive patients (7 male and 25 female; mean age 60.

Results of cardiac surgery in advanced liver cirrhosis.

Purpose: Cardiac surgery for the patients with advanced liver cirrhosis is still challenging. High mortality has been reported in the literature. We evaluate the clinical outcome of cardiac surgery in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.

Aortic root reimplantation for isolated sinus of valsalva aneurysm in the patient with Marfan's syndrome.

We describe an isolated extracardiac unruptured acquired aneurysm in the right coronary sinus of Valsalva, which was seen in a 55-year-old woman with Marfan's syndrome. The patient underwent aortic root replacement using a reimplantation technique. Pathologic examination revealed absence of the medial elastic fiber of the aortic wall of the normal sinus of Valsalva.

Free-radical scavenger edaravone inhibits both formation and development of abdominal aortic aneurysm in rats.

Objective: An ideal pharmaceutical treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is to prevent aneurysm formation and development (further dilatation of pre-existing aneurysm). Recent studies have reported that oxidative stress with reactive oxygen species (ROS) is crucial in aneurysm formation. We hypothesized that edaravone, a free-radical scavenger, would attenuate vascular oxidative stress and inhibit AAA formation and development.

Patch annulo-aortoplasty in an adult patient with congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis and a small aortic annulus.

A 39-year-old woman with familial homozygous hypercholesterolemia had supravalvular and valvular aortic stenosis. Modified Nick's procedure and aortic valve replacement was performed to relieve both the supravalvular and annular stenoses. At surgery, the ascending aorta was found to be narrowing at the level of the sinotubular junction, which was compatible with congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis.

Successful surgical management for aortic and mitral stenosis in homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: a case report.

A 72-year-old woman with a known history of homozygous familial hyperlipidemia (IIa) was referred to our hospital for an operation necessitated by aortic and mitral stenosis and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Computed tomography and cardiac catheterization revealed a heavily calcified aortic root and mitral annulus as well as a high-grade stenosis of the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries. Double aortic and mitral valve replacement concomitant with replacement of ascending aorta, maze III procedure, and coronary artery bypass were performed.

Lack of neurologic improvement after aortic repair for acute type A aortic dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion: predictors and association with survival.

Background: Surgical treatment of acute type A aortic dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion remains challenging. This study evaluated predictors of lack of neurologic improvement after aortic repair for acute type A dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion and assessed relationship with survival.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 41 consecutive patients operated on between 1999 and 2008 for acute type A dissection complicated by cerebral malperfusion.

A true aneurysm of posterior tibial artery.

True aneurysms of tibial artery are uncommon. We report a case of a 47-year-old woman who suffered from a distal embolism in the left toes. The surgical intervention involved an aneurysmectomy and the interposition of the posterior tibial artery using the saphenous vein graft.

Long-term follow-up of acute type B aortic dissection: ulcer-like projections in thrombosed false lumen play a role in late aortic events.

Objective: Patients with Stanford type B dissection treated medically during the acute phase have a risk of surgery and aortic rupture during the chronic phase. We investigated the predictors for late aortic events by focusing on the false lumen status with computed tomography.

Methods: A total of 160 patients were enrolled in the study, with a mean follow-up interval of 44.

Adjustment of sinotubular junction for aortic insufficiency secondary to ascending aortic aneurysm.

Background: Dilatation of the sinotubular junction (STJ) causes aortic regurgitation (AR) in patients with ascending aneurysm. These patients can regain valve competence by simple reduction of the diameter of STJ. Results of this technique were investigated clinically and echocardiographically.

Leukoaraiosis and hippocampal atrophy predict neurologic outcome in patients who undergo total aortic arch replacement.

Background: This retrospective study determined whether leukoaraiosis and hippocampal atrophy seen in preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) predict neurologic outcome after total aortic arch replacement.

Methods: From August 2001 to November 2007, 131 consecutive patients (22% women) who underwent elective total arch replacement with selective cerebral perfusion were enrolled. Mean patient age was 71 +/- 17 years (range, 27 to 88 years).

Sivelestat attenuates postoperative pulmonary dysfunction after total arch replacement under deep hypothermia.

Background: Total arch replacement necessitating deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest has a greater effect on pulmonary function than other cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Since April 2004, 100mg of sivelestat sodium hydrate was administrated by bolus injection into pulp circuit at the initiation of CPB in every case performed total arch replacement. We investigated the hypothesis that prophylactic use of the drug attenuates post-pump pulmonary dysfunction.