Changes in stent-graft orientation after frozen elephant trunk treatment in aortic arch aneurysm.

Background: Changes in stent graft (SG) orientation after frozen elephant trunk (FET) treatment for aortic arch aneurysms are not well understood. This study investigated changes in SG orientation and their effects on aortic events after FET for aortic arch aneurysms.

Methods: This study included 57 patients with true aneurysms who underwent elective total arch replacement using FET between 2016 and 2023.

Modified Miniskirt Bentall with an Annular Pericardial Patch for Bentall's Endocarditis.

Surgery for Bentall's endocarditis poses challenges because the infection spreads to the aortic valve annulus, leading to an annular abscess that necessitates reconstruction. We present a straightforward miniskirt Bentall procedure using an annular pericardial patch to treat Bentall's endocarditis with an annular abscess. After removing the former composite graft and debriding the aortic root and annulus, we created a miniskirt-composite graft using a mechanical or bioprosthetic valve, a straight or Valsalva graft, and an annular bovine pericardial patch with a valve prosthetic sizer.

Totally endoscopic robotic repair of coronary sinus atrial septal defect with concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty.

Background: The coronary sinus type of atrial septal defect is rare. Standard treatment typically involves intracardiac repair using conventional sternotomy or thoracotomy incisions; however, robotic technology can offer a feasible alternative due to its ability to provide a high-quality surgical view of this anomaly.

Case Presentation: A 72-year-old man presented with asymptomatic atrial septal defect.

Additional left atrial plication improves postoperative cardiovascular events in atrial functional mitral regurgitation.

Background: Left atrial (LA) plication is a procedure used to correct an LA that expands posteriorly due to remodeling. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of additional LA plication in reducing postoperative cardiovascular events (CVEs) after mitral valve (MV) repair in atrial functional mitral regurgitation (MR) patients.

Methods: Between October 2008 and August 2023, MV repair with or without LA plication in 74 patients was studied.

Three-dimensional computed tomography analysis of the mitral annulus for mitral annuloplasty in 100 cases of robotic mitral valve repair.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative computed tomography in assessing mitral annulus anatomy and the posterior annular plication rate in mitral valve repair with annuloplasty.

Methods: From July 2018 to August 2023, we performed robotic mitral valve repair with ring annuloplasty using a semi-rigid ring in 100 patients. Preoperative anatomical assessment of the mitral annulus was conducted by three-dimensional computed tomography.

Surgical management of systemic right ventricular failure.

Severe systemic right ventricular failure with tricuspid regurgitation is associated with poor prognosis. Here, we report a case of 49-year-old patient who experienced severe systemic right ventricular failure following atrial switch. We chose the surgical strategy for this challenging case using comprehensive four-dimensional imaging.

[Outcomes of Modified Bentall Procedure with French Cuff Technique].

Background: We evaluated early and mid-term outcomes of modified Bentall procedure with French cuff technique for aortic root disease.

Methods: Between 2017 and 2024, 45 patients underwent modified Bentall procedure with French cuff technique. We excluded patients who had cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Successful launch of robot-assisted mitral valve repair in Japan under universal health coverage.

Objectives: We compared the clinical outcomes of mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation via the robot-assisted approach and small right thoracotomy approach 3 years after the reimbursement of the robot-assisted approach in Japan.

Methods: Patients who underwent isolated mitral valve repair by minimally invasive approach between 2018 and 2020 from the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database were included. Patients in the robot-assisted approach group were matched to the small right thoracotomy approach group based on propensity scores estimated from patient and surgical characteristics.

Enhanced expression of neopterin in valve tissue of bicuspid aortic stenosis.

Background: Aortic valve stenosis (AS) occurs in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients at a relatively young age compared to tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) patients. However, the underlying cause of this phenomenon remains unknown. Neopterin, which is a by-product of the guanosine triphosphate (GTP) pathway, enhances the oxidative potential of reactive oxygen species.

Staged therapeutic surgery for progressive pulmonary regurgitation and pacemaker induced cardiomyopathy after the tetralogy of fallot repair.

Background: Recently, improvements in the repair of tetralogy of Fallot have increased the need for reoperation in adulthood, and it's not rare that these reoperation candidates suffer from biventricular failure. However, there are no firm treatment guidelines, and each country, and even each facility, treats each case individually.

Case Presentation: We report the successful staged treatment of pulmonary regurgitation and pacemaker-induced cardiomyopathy with biventricular failure in adulthood in a case of complete atrioventricular block after tetralogy of Fallot repair in childhood.

Delayed traumatic aortic valve perforation after blunt chest trauma.

Background: Aortic valve perforation is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma. We report a case of delayed aortic insufficiency presenting several months after trauma.

Case Presentation: A 17-year-old male presented to the emergency department with traumatic brain injuries and blunt chest trauma, but no evidence of cardiac injuries.

Vascular access site complications after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a comparison of open and percutaneous puncture approaches.

Background: In transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TF-TAVI), which approach has lower vascular access site complications between the open puncture (OP) and percutaneous puncture (PP) approaches is still controversial. Moreover, few studies have analyzed risk factors for vascular access site complications in TF-TAVI. This study aimed to compare vascular access site complications between the OP and PP approaches in patients undergoing TF-TAVI and access risk factors for vascular access site complications.

Aortic Annular Enlargement with Modified Y-Incision Technique Devised from Preoperative Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography.

The Y-incision technique introduced by Dr. Bo Yang in 2021 is a very innovative technique that can enlarge the aortic annulus by two or more sizes without violating the left atrium or mitral valve. However, we encountered a case in which the left coronary artery ostium was located close to the left-non commissure.

Midterm Results of Mitral Valve Repair Using Loop Technique With Simple Height Reduction of the Large Posterior Leaflet.

Objective: Systolic anterior motion (SAM) is one of the most serious problems in mitral valve repair. Height reduction is a key procedure to solve SAM, and there are limited data on the surgical results of height reduction procedure. This study is to assess the effectiveness and midterm results of simple height reduction procedure for SAM in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR).

Mental health complaints among healthcare workers engaged in the care of COVID-19 patients: A prospective cohort study from Japan.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) caring for patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) can experience physical and mental health burdens. It is imperative that hospitals reduce such burdens on frontline HCWs, protect them, and support their healthcare. This study aimed to investigate the association between occupation and the manifestation of physical or psychological symptoms among HCWs during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Tricuspid annular area and leaflets stretch are associated with functional tricuspid regurgitation - insights from three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.

Background: The presence of functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is associated with mortality and morbidity. Although uniform management with a tricuspid annuloplasty ring is currently considered as a standard surgical procedure, high rates of residual TR despite annuloplasty are reported. Therefore, the identification of the TR mechanisms would be necessary to provide personalized treatment for each TR patient.

Factors associated with the outcome of patients with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation: A single-center observational study in Japan.

Aim: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread worldwide, and was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. Despite numerous studies in the last few years, the factors associated with the outcomes of patients with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation remain unclear. The prediction of ventilator weaning and mortality using the data obtained at the time of intubation could be beneficial for establishing appropriate treatment strategies and obtaining informed consent.

Flexible Total Ring Annuloplasty With Continuous Wrapping Suture Considering the Anatomy and Histology of the Tricuspid Valve.

Objective: About half of tricuspid valves (TVs) have 2 posterior leaflets, and the fibrous tissue of the tricuspid annulus is poor. Considering the anatomy and histology of the TV, we devised a secure ring annuloplasty technique. We herein report the outcomes of our continuous wrapping suture annuloplasty technique using a flexible total ring.

Impact of cystatin C-derived glomerular filtration rate in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) impacts prognosis in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). While estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated from serum creatinine [eGFR (creatinine)] is affected by body muscle mass which reflects frailty, eGFR calculated from serum cystatin C [eGFR (cystatin C)] is independent of body composition, resulting in better renal function assessment.

Methods: This study included 390 consecutive patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent TAVI, and measured cystatin C-based eGFR at discharge.

Surgery for mitral annular caseous calcification-related calcified amorphous tumor: a case report.

Background: A calcified amorphous tumor (a non-neoplastic tumor) with caseous calcification of the mitral annulus is a rare pathology that causes severe embolic events. We present a rare case of mitral valve surgery for a mitral annular caseous calcification-related calcified amorphous tumor found in cerebral infarction.

Case Presentation: A 69-year-old man was diagnosed with a mitral valve calcified amorphous tumor with mitral annular caseous calcification found in cerebral infarction.

Patch augmentation valve replacement for patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation and long-standing atrial fibrillation.

Background: Long-standing atrial fibrillation is associated with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (AFMR) with atriogenic tethering. We compared the outcomes of patch augmentation (PA) and valve replacement (VR) for AFMR.

Methods: We retrospectively compared the data of 16 patients who underwent PA for AFMR with the data of 15 patients who underwent VR between 2008 and 2021.

Relationships Between Histopathological Findings in the Liver and Prognosis in Patients With Biliary Atresia.

Background: Biliary atresia (BA) is a progressive obstructive hepatic disease that requires early diagnosis and the prompt initiation of treatment. Although portoenterostomy (PES) is usually performed as the initial surgical procedure, the liver damage may subsequently progress, such that liver transplantation (LTx) may be required. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the histopathology of liver samples collected during PES and retrospectively evaluated its relationship with prognosis.