Simultaneous gastroepiploic artery to right coronary artery bypass and trans-catheter aortic valve implantation: case series.

Patients with coronary artery disease undergoing trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) often receive TAVI alone. However, in cases of severe coronary lesions or anticipated difficulty in coronary access post-TAVI, percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass grafting may be necessary. We performed simultaneous gastroepiploic artery to posterior descending artery bypass and TAVI in two patients with severe calcification of the right coronary artery ostium which is unsuitable for percutaneous intervention.

Can FDG-PET after neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus nivolumab predict residual disease in non-small cell lung cancer?

Neoadjuvant therapy with nivolumab improves event-free survival (EFS) in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer, and a pathological complete response is a predictor of longer EFS. We assessed metabolic responses using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) before and after neoadjuvant treatment to explore its surrogacy for pathological complete response (pCR). We describe three patients with squamous cell lung carcinoma who underwent neoadjuvant therapy with nivolumab plus chemotherapy, followed by surgery.

Risk factors for unsuccessful restoration of coronary flow reserve after coronary bypass surgery.

Objectives: Coronary flow reserve (CFR) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events and prognosis in patients with coronary artery disease. This study aimed to evaluate preoperative factors associated with the unsuccessful restoration of CFR after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: Included in this study were the 65 patients who presented with functionally significant left anterior descending artery (LAD) lesions confirmed by both fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), and who underwent successful CABG at our hospital within the study period.

Left ventricular reverse remodeling and reduction of interstitial fibrosis in patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) structural and functional changes have been reported in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) who have undergone transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI); however, the relationship between change in LV structure and systolic function and tissue characteristics assessed via cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) post-TAVI has been not fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate this relationship in patients with severe AS who underwent TAVI and CMRI.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 65 patients who underwent TAVI and CMRI at the 6-month follow-up were analyzed.

Bilateral Axillary Artery Perfusion in Total Arch Replacement.

Background: The site of arterial cannulation is an important consideration in the prevention of cerebral infarction after total arch replacement. We compared the outcomes of cannulation of the bilateral axillary artery, the femoral artery, and central cannulation in total arch replacement.

Methods: Enrolled were 242 patients, categorized into three groups according to the arterial cannulation site used: bilateral axillary artery group, 124 patients; femoral artery group, 88 patients; central cannulation group, 30 patients.

Neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy followed by resection for superior sulcus tumour with high PD-L1 expression: A case report.

The standard treatment for resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) located in the superior sulcus is neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by highly invasive resection. Based on the results of the CheckMate 816 trial, which showed a marked improvement in the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy, we report a case of minimally invasive resection after neoadjuvant nivolumab plus chemotherapy for superior sulcus NSCLC, resulting in a pathologic complete response. The patient was a 76-year-old man with a 65-mm right superior sulcus tumour diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma with 95% PD-L1.

Persistent neo-aortic root dilatation and aortic valve insufficiency after arterial switch operation following prior pulmonary artery banding.

Although there have been great improvements in the short- and medium-term outcomes of the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA), some complications including pulmonary artery stenosis, aortic valve insufficiency, and aortic root dilatation have also been reported. After ASO, the original pulmonary root and valve, which function in the systemic position as the neo-aortic root and valve respectively, are exposed to the systemic blood pressure, resulting in aortic root dilatation and valve insufficiency in some patients. One of the risk factors for these complications is a history of prior pulmonary artery banding (PAB).

Minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodule that was difficult to differentiate from lung adenocarcinoma due to specific computed tomography findings changes: A case report.

Minute pulmonary meningothelial-like nodules (MPMNs) are benign lesions characterized by the appearance of ground-glass nodules (GGN) on computed tomography (CT). In the present case, an MPMN gradually developed into a substantial component during chest CT follow-up, and the GGN gradually transformed into a part-solid nodule. The imaging course described in this case is quite unique.

HER2-Positive Metaplastic Breast Cancer with Resistance to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: Case Report.

Introduction: Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare histologic subtype of breast carcinoma, which is usually negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2. HER2-positive MBC is therefore extremely rare. Most MBCs have poor response to chemotherapy.

Postpartum spontaneous coronary artery dissection recovered by coronary artery bypass grafting supported with Impella device.

A 34-year-old female who had delivered a baby 9 days ago was transferred to our hospital due to sudden dyspnea and cardiogenic shock. Her electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevation in precordial leads, and left ventricular ejection fraction was 20%.

Simultaneous hybrid off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and transcatheter aortic valve implantation in elderly patients.

Purpose: Optimal strategy for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) is unresolved. We evaluated the surgical outcomes of hybrid coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and TAVI in elderly patients.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent simultaneous TAVI and CABG at Wakayama Medical University, Japan.

Efficacy of Continuous Saline Irrigation Therapy for Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis.

 Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a poor prognosis disease. This study aims to examine the patient background and treatment of DNM and to identify more effective treatments for DNM.  The patient background and treatment of 11 patients who underwent surgery for DNM between November 2010 and June 2021 were studied.

Impact of Graft Velocity on Saphenous Vein Graft Atherosclerosis after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.

Purpose: Saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) sometimes occur as vein graft stenosis or failure in coronary artery bypass grafting. The purpose of this study was to detect the factors affecting vein graft atherosclerosis.

Methods: We performed two analysis.

Hypercalcemia in metastatic parathyroid carcinoma followed by hypocalcemia after resection: A case report.

A 72-year-old man was diagnosed with hypercalcaemia 13 years ago. He was diagnosed with hyperparathyroidism associated with a parathyroid tumour and surgery was performed. Postoperatively, his serum calcium levels, which had once normalized, rose again.

The impact of a preoperative nurse-led orientation program on postoperative delirium after cardiovascular surgery: a retrospective single-center observational study.

Background: Postoperative delirium in intensive care is common and associated with mortality, cognitive impairment, prolonged hospital stays and high costs. We evaluate whether a nurse-led orientation program could reduce the incidence of delirium in the intensive care unit after cardiovascular surgery.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled patients admitted to the intensive care unit for planned cardiovascular surgery between January 2020 and December 2021.

Four-year outcome of the tricuspid valve leaflet augmentation and ring annuloplasty in dextrocardia.

Unlabelled: A 62-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with worsening dyspnea. Chest X-ray revealed dextrocardia, and echocardiography revealed decreased right ventricular function, a severely dilated tricuspid annulus, a massive tricuspid, and trivial mitral regurgitation. Patch augmentation of the tricuspid leaflet with auto-pericardium and ring annuloplasty with a flat-type upside-down artificial ring to fit the dextrocardia heart was performed.

Relationship between postoperative atrial fibrillation and its recurrence after lung resection.

Purpose: Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently occurs after pulmonary resection and is commonly referred to as postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). This study explored whether or not POAF is related to the recurrence of AF in the chronic phase.

Methods: A total of 1311 consecutive patients without a history of AF who underwent lung resection based on a diagnosis of lung tumor were retrospectively analyzed.

Pericardial Lipoma With Fat Necrosis.

A pericardial lipoma is a rare benign cardiac tumor, and fat necrosis is an uncommon clinical condition. This is the first reported case of pericardial lipoma with fat necrosis, which showed clinical presentations of a malignant tumor despite imaging findings consistent with benign lipoma. ().

Calcified thrombi of the Valsalva sinuses mimicking an aortic valve tumour.

Tumours or tumour-like lesions around the aortic valve are relatively rare and are difficult to diagnose. We report an interesting case of calcified thrombi in the Valsalva sinuses and coronary cusps that mimicked an aortic valve tumour. A 68-year-old man presented with a 20-mm calcified mass in the non-coronary and left-coronary cusps extending to their corresponding Valsalva sinuses, which was detected by echocardiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Serial changes of coronary flow reserve over one year after transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with severe aortic stenosis.

Background: Impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR) portends a poor prognosis in patients with aortic stenosis. The present study aims to investigate how CFR changes over one year after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe aortic stenosis, and to explore factors related to the changes.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing TAVI were registered.

Pulmonary vein thrombosis following a right upper lobectomy preceding acute arterial occlusion: a case report.

Our medical team observed a right upper lobe nodule in a 78-year-old man who was treated with warfarin for chronic atrial fibrillation. The nodule was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma via intraoperative frozen sectioning. We performed video-assisted right upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection.

Combination treatment by the cervical approach with mediastinal drainage and continuous saline irrigation for descending necrotizing mediastinitis type IIb: a three-case series.

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a severe, life-threatening disease and requires prompt treatment. The primary treatment for DNM is cervical and mediastinal drainage in addition to antibiotic treatment. However, the most appropriate drainage approach and the effectiveness of additional treatment remain unclear.

IgG4-associated fibrosing mediastinitis requiring differentiation from posterior mediastinal tumour: A case report.

A 71-year-old man, who was found to have a posterior mediastinal tumour, was referred to our hospital. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a 15-cm soft tissue shadow in the posterior mediastinum, with many affected areas and a gradually increasing pattern. We also detected oligemic areas with poor contrast-filling.

Intrathoracic lipoma of the chest wall that appeared relatively rapidly and could be resected and diagnosed by minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery: A case report.

The occurrence of lipoma in the thoracic cavity is relatively rare, and it is clinically difficult to distinguish it from liposarcoma. We report a case of intrathoracic lipoma that was pathologically diagnosed and differentiated from liposarcoma after minimally invasive thoracoscopic tumour resection. A 35-year-old male patient without any symptoms was referred to our hospital due to an abnormal shadow on chest x-ray.