[Permanent Pacemaker Implantation for Sick Sinus Syndrome After Maze Procedure].

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate incidence and risk factors for permanent pacemaker implantation for sick sinus syndrome( SSS) after maze procedure.

Methods: Medical records of 59 patients who underwent maze procedure for atrial fibrillation at our hospital from 2018 to 2022 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Mean age was 70 years and 32 patients (54%) were male.

Initial thickness of the crescent may not be a reliable predictor of complications in type A intramural haematoma.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate changes in haematoma thickness during the early period and their association with disease progression in patients who received initial medical treatment for type A intramural haematoma (IMH).

Methods: Medical records and serial computed tomography angiography (CTA) images of patients who did not undergo emergency aortic repair for type A IMH upon presentation were retrospectively reviewed. The haematoma remodelling rate was determined using the following equation: thickness of the haematoma on the first CTA (mm) - thickness of the haematoma on the second CTA (mm)time between the first and second CTAs (h).

Recurrent left ventricular thrombus due to essential thrombocythemia complicated by COVID-19.

Unlabelled: Essential thrombocythemia is a risk factor for thrombosis and hemorrhage. During the perioperative period of cardiac surgery, the risk of thrombosis and hemorrhage increases. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is also associated with thrombosis.

Outcomes after Rivaroxaban Treatment of Extensive Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Background: Regression of thrombus in response to treatment with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with extensive deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has not been fully evaluated. This study aimed to determine the therapeutic efficacy of rivaroxaban in the treatment of extensive DVT.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 76 patients treated with rivaroxaban among 728 new DVT patients, at our hospital from January 2018 to March 2021.

[Extraction of a 36-year-old Pacemaker Lead Using Cardiopulmonary Bypass].

A 78-year-old man underwent pacemaker implantation via the left internal jugular vein 36 years ago. After 30 years, a new device was implanted via the right subclavian vein and the old lead was cut and buried underneath the skin due to infection. This time, the patient presented with persistent lead infection of the left side.

Gluteal Blood Flow Monitoring in Endovascular Aneurysm Repair With Internal Iliac Artery Embolization.

Background: When an internal iliac artery (IIA) has to be embolized during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), buttock claudication sometimes poses problems. However, there is no established method to evaluate intraoperative blood flow to the gluteal muscles.

Methods and results: Gluteal regional oxygen saturation (rSO) was monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during surgery, and changes in rSOwere compared with treatment results.

Regional thigh tissue oxygen saturation during cardiopulmonary bypass predicts acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery.

Cardiopulmonary bypass-associated acute kidney injury may appear postoperatively, but predictive factors are unclear. We investigated the potential of regional tissue oxygen saturation as a predictor of cardiopulmonary bypass-associated acute kidney injury. We analyzed the clinical data of 150 adult patients not on dialysis who underwent elective cardiac surgical procedures during January 2015-March 2017.

Watch-and-wait strategy for type A intramural haematoma and acute aortic dissection with thrombosed false lumen of the ascending aorta: a Japanese single-centre experience.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the early and midterm outcomes of initial watch-and-wait strategy for Stanford type A intramural haematoma and acute aortic dissection with thrombosed false lumen of the ascending aorta in patients with a maximum aortic diameter of ≤50 mm, pain score of ≤3/10 and no ulcer-like projection in the ascending aorta.

Methods: Inpatient and outpatient records were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Of the 81 patients with type A intramural haematoma and acute aortic dissection with the thrombosed false lumen of the ascending aorta between April 2011 and April 2019, a watch-and-wait strategy was selected in 46 patients.

Markers of peripheral perfusion during high-flow regional cerebral perfusion for aortic arch repair.

Objectives: High-flow regional cerebral perfusion (HFRCP) provides cerebral and somatic oxygen delivery through collateral vessels during aortic arch repair in small children; however, optimal flow conditions during HFRCP have not been established. We sought to identify markers of peripheral perfusion during HFRCP.

Methods: Between 2009 and 2016, in total 20 consecutive pediatric patients undergoing aortic arch repair with HFRCP were enrolled in this prospective, observational study.

[Omental Flap for the Device Infection of the HeartMate II].

Case 1:An 18-year-old male underwent emergent left extracorporeal ventricular assist device(eVAD) implantation for a cardiogenic shock because of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). After listing for heart transplant, he underwent a HeartMate II implantation as bridge-to-bridge(BTB) therapy. The omental flap was simultaneously used to prevent device infection that could have been induced by the infected malgranulation around the cannulas of the eVAD.

Repeat surgical intervention after aortic repair for acute Stanford type A dissection.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of repeat interventions on the aorta and aortic valve after surgery for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection.

Methods: The hospital records of patients who underwent repeat surgical intervention between April 2011 and March 2017 for late complications after acute type A aortic dissection repair were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: We identified 17 patients with mean age of 62 ± 8 years; 13 were men.

Correction to: Cerebral oximetry for cardiac surgery: a preoperative comparison of device characteristics and pitfalls in interpretation.

In the original publication, the length unit of the SCD in Table 1 and Fig. 2 has been incorrectly published as cm. The correct length unit is mm.

Cerebral oximetry for cardiac surgery: a preoperative comparison of device characteristics and pitfalls in interpretation.

Regional cerebral oximetry using near-infrared spectroscopy devices is commonly used for detecting cerebral ischemia during cardiopulmonary bypass, and aim to avoid poor cerebral perfusion which may result in perioperative neurological impairment. Today, several devices that can detect cerebral ischemia are commercially available. Although these devices operate on the same measurement principles, their algorithms for detecting and calculating cerebral ischemia are different and no criteria for directly comparing values measured by such different devices exist.

Conventional repair of total anomalous venous drainage without primary sutureless technique: surgical tips to prevent pulmonary vein obstruction.

Objectives: Although primary sutureless technique for total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage has been introduced to reduce postoperative pulmonary vein obstruction (PVO), controversy still exists about superiority of the procedure between the conventional repair and primary sutureless technique at the initial repair. In our unit, the conventional repair has been consistently used based on four important surgical policies: (1) mark incision lines between 2 chambers to gain anatomically natural alignment, (2) place precise stitches by "intima-to-intima" using monofilament suture, (3) adequate orifice size should be guaranteed in greater than expected mitral valve size, (4) do not hesitate to undertake a redo additional anastomosis by a different approach when an echocardiography shows the velocity more than 1.5 m/s.

Samurai cannulation (direct true-lumen cannulation) for acute Stanford Type A aortic dissection.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated early outcomes of patients who underwent surgical aortic repair for acute Stanford Type A aortic dissection at the Kitasato University Hospital and compared the results of Samurai cannulation (direct true-lumen cannulation) with other cannulation options.

Methods: Inpatient and outpatient records were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Among the 100 patients who were operated on for acute Type A aortic dissection between April 2011 and April 2017, sole Samurai cannulation was used in 61 patients (Group S) and other cannulation options were used in the remaining 39 patients (Group O).

Transareolar Video-Assisted Approach to the Atrial Septal Defect and Tricuspid Valve.

Minimally invasive atrial septal defect closure and tricuspid annuloplasty in female patients are normally performed through a right submammary anterior minithoracotomy approach. However, when the aortic root is located higher, the direction of aortic cannulation becomes not ideal through the submammary incision. In such cases, transareolar approach is useful.

Daily transient discontinuation of extracorporeal LVAD to prevent thromboembolism of mechanical aortic valve prosthesis.

Patients with mechanical aortic valves are generally contraindicated for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) insertion because the prosthetic valve often becomes fixed in closed position. A 41-year-old woman with mechanical aortic valve prosthesis experienced sudden chest pain and developed cardiogenic shock. A paracorporeal pulsatile LVAD and a monopivot centrifugal pump as a right VAD (RVAD) were implanted.

Outcomes of patients who declined surgery for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection with patent false lumen of the ascending aorta.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients who did not undergo initial aortic surgery for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection with a patent false lumen of the ascending aorta.

Methods: Inpatient and outpatient records were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: We identified 195 patients with acute type A aortic dissection with a patent ascending false lumen between January 1998 and March 2016.

Epicardial Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator in a 2-Month-Old Infant.

We describe the implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in a 2-month-old infant with frequent sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) refractory to antiarrhythmic agents. An epicardial ICD shock coil lead and pacing leads were placed, as was a cumbersome device console that was stored in a pocket between the left external and internal oblique muscles. These methods were safe and feasible even for such a small infant, and possible adverse events were avoided.

Norwood Procedure Performed on a Patient With Trisomy 13.

Trisomy 13 is associated with a variety of congenital anomalies, some of which are life-threatening and related to poor prognosis. Therefore, cardiac surgery is rarely offered to these patients, especially to those with complex cardiac anomalies. We report the case of a neonate weighing 2324 g who was born with severe congenital heart defects.