Staged repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm with mesenteric ischemia using the reversed elephant trunk technique.

Improvements in surgical techniques, and adjuncts for spinal cord protection and perioperative care have resulted in decreased morbidity and mortality in repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). However the surgical treatment of TAAA of extent II is still associated with high mortality, especially in patients with preoperative co-morbidities. We report a successful staged repair of extent II TAAA using the reversed elephant trunk technique for a patient with ischemic colitis.

[Cardiac rehabilitation after cardiovascular surgery in elderly patients].

We assessed whether cardiac rehabilitation after acquired cardiovascular surgery in octogenarians was helpful to return daily life or not. Among overall 3,050 patients in these 10 years, 130 patients (4.3%) aged 80 years or older underwent cardiovascular surgery in our institute.

Impact of collagen-coated and gelatine-impregnated woven Dacron branched grafts on the early postoperative period.

To investigate the impact of two different sealed Dacron vascular branched prostheses on the early postoperative period, 30 patients whose aortic arch was replaced by either a collagen-coated (n=18) or a gelatine-impregnated (n=12) branched prosthesis were retrospectively studied. The patients who received a collagen-coated branched prosthesis required longer chest drainage (11.9+/-5.

Late aortic root redissection following surgical treatment for acute type A aortic dissection using Gelatin-Resorcin-Formalin glue.

Objectives: Although Gelatin-Resorcin-Formalin (GRF) glue is widely used in surgery for acute aortic dissection, late complications possibly due to the glue, such as late aortic root redissection, have also been reported. We have experienced similar complications, some of which required redo surgeries, and these cases are reviewed.

Methods: Twenty-six consecutive patients who underwent surgery for acute type A aortic dissection using GRF glue, from December 1996 to February 2001, were retrospectively studied, with a special focus on any late complications and any reoperation.

Minimally invasive vascular surgery for repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with iliac involvement.

Purpose: A minimally invasive vascular surgery (MIVS) technique for repair of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) with iliac involvement was evaluated, and its outcome was compared with conventional open repair.

Methods: Twenty patients with AAA with iliac involvement underwent treatment with bifurcated graft replacement with the MIVS technique. The procedure was performed via minilaparotomy, with the incision length determined according to the extent of the AAA obtained with ultrasound scanning and with the small intestine confined completely within the abdominal cavity.