[Pulmonary artery sling and single ventricle treated with a simultaneous operation of slide tracheoplasty, left pulmonary artery reimplantation, and bidirectional cavo-pulmonary shunt].

Pulmonary artery sling is frequently combined with tracheal stenosis, and occasionally combined with congenital heart defects. However, there are few reports of successfully treated cases that were combined with single ventricle. In this article, we report a successfully treated case of pulmonary artery sling combined with tracheal stenosis, single ventricle, pulmonary atresia, vascular ring, and bilateral superior vena cava.

[Experience of 3 successfully treated cases of tracheo-innominate artery fistula and significance of preventive surgery].

Tracheo-innominate artery fistula (TIF) is a rare but fatal complication after tracheostomy. Necessary lifesaving measures include proper ventilation, temporary hemostasis, and surgery. Recently, we successfully managed 3 cases of TIF.

Anatomically corrected malposition of the great arteries with tubular hypoplasia of the aortic arch: a case report of surgical correction.

Anatomically corrected malposition of the great arteries (ACMGA) is rare congenital cardiac anomaly. In a heart with ACMGA, both great arteries arise from the appropriate ventricle but they exit parallel to each other. The pulmonary trunk is located posterior and to the right of the aorta.

Aortoesophageal fistula due to esophageal ulcer.

Aortoesophageal fistula is a rare but fatal disease. Many such fistulas are caused by an aortic aneurysm, a previous operation, or esophageal disease. We report a case of aortoesophageal fistula due to an esophageal ulcer.

Migration of left ventricular thrombus causing abdominal aortic embolism during cardiac surgery in a child with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

A 1-year-old girl with severe left ventricular dysfunction presented with large floating thrombi in the left ventricle. Surgical thrombectomy was urgently required. During cannulation, transesophageal echocardiogram detected that the thrombus had vanished from the left ventricle.

Perioperative circulating blood volume and cardiac function in valve disease.

Circulating blood volume is important in managing fluid balance and cardiac function after surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass. Appropriate management differs among the valve disorders, but perioperative blood volume has not yet been considered. From February 2001 to March 2003, perioperative blood volume, fluid balance, cardiac index, and left ventricular stroke work index were measured in 31 patients: 10 with aortic stenosis, 9 with aortic regurgitation, 3 with mitral stenosis, and 9 with mitral regurgitation.

Impact of multi-detector row computed tomography on the tactics of cardiovascular surgery: from qualitative evaluation to quantitative assessment.

Objective: We assessed the role of multi-detector row computed tomography in cardiovascular surgery.

Methods: The efficacy of multi-detector row computed tomography was assessed concerning the graft patency of coronary artery bypass, arterial atheromatous degeneration, small vessel imaging, and left ventricular volume measurement. Images were reconstructed using both the volume-rendering and the maximum-intensity-profile methods.

A prospective randomized study of sternal closure: comparison of Mersilene tape versus standard wire closure.

Background: To compare in a prospective randomized study Mersilene tape and standard metal wire for complications and pain upon sternal wound closure.

Methods: Sixty-four patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were prospectively randomized to undergo sternal closure using either Mersilene tape (n=30) or standard metal wire (n=34). The intensity of postoperative pain from the chest wound was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) on the second and seventh postoperative days and one month after surgery.

Capillary leakage in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Cardiopulmonary bypass causes a systemic inflammatory response, which can lead to capillary leak syndrome. In 15 adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, we determined the volume and peak time of capillary leakage from the measurements of extracellular fluid volume and circulating blood volume taken preoperatively, at various intervals up to 24 hours after surgery, and on the 7th postoperative day. Extracellular fluid volume rose from 15.

The prevalence and severity of cerebrovascular disease in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery.

Objectives: The degree of preoperative cerebrovascular disease in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery has not been well studied. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of cerebrovascular disease in such patients.

Methods: The subjects were 91 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery.

Bacterial translocation secondary to small intestinal mucosal ischemia during cardiopulmonary bypass. Measurement by diamine oxidase and peptidoglycan.

Objectives: To demonstrate that small intestinal mucosal ischemia occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass by measuring serum diamine oxidase activity, an index of small intestinal mucosal ischemia, in perioerative patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery with and without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: Twelve successive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass (Group I) were compared to 10 patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (Group II). Serum diamine oxidase activity, blood lactate concentration, and serum peptidoglycan concentration were measured perioperatively.

Combined carotid endarterectomy and cardiac surgery for concomitant carotid and cardiac disease.

Objectives: Carotid artery disease is one of the important factors of neurological complications after cardiac surgery. In this study we present our surgical experience and discuss its implication for patients with carotid and cardiac disease.

Methods: Five patients underwent combined carotid endarterectomy (CEA)/cardiac surgery including thoracic aortic repair.