3D transesophageal echocardiographic visualization of the pulmonary artery catheter through the tricuspid valve and their position relative to the tricuspid valve leaflets.

Background: The tricuspid valve is an atrioventricular valve consisting of three lobes. We used the 3D transesophageal echocardiography to visualize position of the pulmonary artery catheter at the tricuspid valve annulus and examined where the catheter passed through at the level of the tricuspid annulus.

Methods: In this prospective and observational study, we monitored the pressure wave on patients undergoing cardiac surgery with the catheter placement by monitoring the pressure waveform for 8 months.

Two cases of hemodynamic improvement by modulation of atrioventricular delay in cardiac operations.

Background: Symptomatic sick sinus syndrome is one of the indications for pacemaker implantation, and we have to consider to program the pacemaker to an asynchronous pacing mode during an operation.

Case Presentation: We reported two cases with a pacemaker implanted for sick sinus syndrome undergoing cardiac operation. We changed programming of the pacemaker to an asynchronous pacing mode (DOO) and modulated the programmed atrioventricular delay to avoid ventricular pacing, resulting in better hemodynamic condition.

Anesthetic management of a patient with severe aortic regurgitation undergoing reoperation for ascending aorta false aneurysm using hypothermia: prevention of ventricular fibrillation by nifekalant.

Background: To prevent cardiac collapse and to protect cerebral function, hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass is established before resternotomy. However, ventricular fibrillation under hypothermia facilitates left ventricular distension, which causes irreversible myocardial damage when the patient has aortic regurgitation. We report a case of successful management in preventing ventricular fibrillation under hypothermia by using nifekalant.

Analysis of difficulty in placement of pulmonary artery catheter through the left internal jugular vein.

Purpose: The left internal jugular vein may be an alternative route for the placement of a pulmonary artery catheter when the right jugular vein is not available. Although the placement through the left internal jugular vein is expected to be more difficult, little has been written regarding difficulties in achieving proper placement of the catheter through the left internal jugular vein.

Methods: This prospective and observational study includes patients undergoing cardiac surgery with the catheter placement by monitoring the pressure waveform for 2 years.

An analysis of factors influencing pulmonary artery catheter passage through the tricuspid and pulmonary valves.

Purpose: A pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) has to pass the tricuspid and pulmonary valves for its proper placement. Although several factors were reported to hinder the placement, there have been no reports to identify the factors that prolong the individual time for passing through each valve.

Method: We individually measured the time required for a PAC to pass through the tricuspid and pulmonary valves.

Relationship between findings of mandibular cortical bone in inferior border and bone mineral densities of lumbar vertebrae in postmenopausal women.

It is important to assess the general bone condition in dental implant treatment. The relationships between the bone mineral densities (BMDs) of lumbar vertebrae and mandibular cortical bone condition in the inferior border using multi-slice computed tomography (CT) were assessed in postmenopausal women. If a strong correlation between them is obtained, the mandibular cortical bone condition may be useful to evaluate the general bone condition.