Start and initial results of the Fukushima Prefecture acute myocardial infarction registration survey.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains one of the most serious heart diseases and elucidation of its pathogenesis and advances in treatment strategies have been desired. In 2009, to understand the status of AMI in Fukushima Prefecture for improving treatment outcomes, a new AMI registration survey system was conducted throughout the prefecture. A total of 1,556 cases were registered in the initial 2 years from 2009 to 2010.

Modified reduction aortoplasty with external reinforcement of the ascending aortic aneurysm caused by giant cell arteritis treated as polymyalgia rheumatica.

A 74-year-old Japanese woman was referred to our hospital for surgical repair of an ascending aortic aneurysm and severe aortic valve regurgitation. She had received low dose steroid treatment for 6 years due to a diagnosis of the polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), and no signs of inflammation were detected serologically. Modified reduction aortoplasty with external prosthetic support of the ascending aorta was performed following uneventful aortic valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Embolic attack in patients with atrial fibrillation and atrial thrombus depends on the character of the thrombus.

It is very important to prevent embolisms from left atrial thrombi (LAT). The present study was a trial for the management of patients with AT using 122 patients with atrial fibrillation and LAT who were followed for 1 year after transesophageal echocardiography. LAT were classified by their shape and mobility into the mobile ball type (MB, n=28), fixed ball type (FB, n=32) and mountain type (MO, n=42).