Efficacy of a sutureless aortic valve-reoperative alternative to a composite graft replacement.

Findings in the present case underscore the potential of sutureless aortic valve utilization in patients with prior prosthetic root replacement, thereby obviating the need for high-risk procedures such as replacing a prosthetic root or reimplanting a coronary artery. A 75-year-old male who had undergone a Bio-Bentall operation with a bioprosthetic Trifecta valve for aortic regurgitation and annuloaortic ectasia eight years prior presented with symptoms of heart failure, notably dyspnoea, attributed to prosthetic valve dysfunction. Although a transcatheter aortic valve implant is often recommended, it was deemed unsuitable in this case due to a history of type B aortic dissection.

Totally thoracoscopic atrial fibrillation surgery following massive small bowel resection due to superior mesenteric artery embolization: report of two cases.

Background: Thromboembolic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is a grave complication in individuals diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF). This condition often necessitates extensive bowel resection, culminating in short bowel syndrome, which presents challenges for anticoagulant administration and/or antiarrhythmic therapy.

Case Presentation: Presented here are findings of two patients, aged 78 and 72 years, respectively, who underwent comprehensive thoracoscopic AF surgery subsequent to extensive small bowel resection following SMA embolization.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Versus Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Retrospective Observational Single-Center Study in Japan.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (MICS-AVR) versus transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF-TAVR) in Asian patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, observational, single-center study in Japan, including cases of MICS-AVR ( = 202) and TF-TAVR ( = 248) between 2014 and 2021. In a total of 450 cases, propensity score matching was performed at a ratio of 1:1, resulting in 96 pairs.

Invasive Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus) infection with toxic shock-like syndrome: A report of a fatal non-pregnant case and a review of the literature.

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus; GBS) is a Gram-positive coccus. It has emerged as a cause of significant infections in non-pregnant adults, particularly neonates and individuals aged 65 years or older, which can lead to fatal outcomes. Streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome (STSS) is an acute illness, which is mainly caused by exotoxin-producing strains of Streptococcus pyogenes and may result in death.

Bioprosthetic Valve Deterioration: Accumulation of Circulating Proteins and Macrophages in the Valve Interstitium.

Histologic evaluations revealed excessive accumulations of macrophages and absence of fibroblastic interstitial cells in explanted bioprosthetic valves. Comprehensive gene and protein expression analysis and histology unveiled an accumulation of fibrinogen and plasminogen, an activator of infiltrated macrophages, from degenerated valve surfaces in the interstitial spaces. These pathologies were completely reproduced in a goat model replaced with an autologous pericardium-derived aortic valve.

Leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein as a potential biomarker for large vessel vasculitides.

Objectives: Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) have been used as useful biomarkers for reflecting the activity of large vessel vasculitides (LVV). However, a novel biomarker that could have a complementary role to these markers is still required. In this retrospective observational study, we investigated whether leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein (LRG), a known biomarker in several inflammatory diseases, could be a novel biomarker for LVVs.

Macrophage activation syndrome triggered by methotrexate-related lymphoproliferative disease in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

A 56-year-old woman was treated for rheumatoid arthritis for 17 years with methotrexate (MTX). Night sweats, fever and weight loss made her visit our hospital. Although levofloxacin failed to resolve her fever, she was suspected of having sepsis because of pancytopenia, elevated procalcitonin and a nodular lesion in the lung.

An elderly case of aortic stenosis associated with double-chambered right ventricle.

Unlabelled: Double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) caused by right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, is a developmental cardiac anomaly in which the anomalous muscle bundles divide the right ventricular cavity into two chambers. Few cases with DCRV coexisting with severe aortic stenosis (AS) have been reported. Moreover, adult cases are extremely uncommon.

1-year outcomes of patients implanted with the Perceval sutureless valve: the Japanese post-marketing surveillance study.

Sutureless offers an alternative to standard valves in surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). We sought to confirm the efficacy and safety of the Perceval sutureless valve in Japanese patients. Prospective observational study of 204 patients who underwent SAVR with Perceval at 19 sites in Japan between March and December 2019.

Delayed paraplegia after endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm after lumboperitoneal shunting.

Spinal cord ischemia is a rare but catastrophic complication of elective endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. We report a case of delayed spinal cord ischemia after the elective endovascular repair of an infrarenal aortic aneurysm in a patient who previously underwent lumboperitoneal shunting. This case demonstrates that spinal cord ischemia could cause the inability to control spinal cord pressure and that patients who undergo endovascular aortic repair with lumboperitoneal shunting may be more vulnerable to spinal cord ischemia.

Thrombocytopenia Following Perceval Sutureless Aortic Valve Replacement in Asian Patients.

Background: This study analyzed the safety and performance of the Perceval valve for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients at 1 year after undergoing aortic stenosis (AS) treatment, and its effect on significant declines in the platelet count during the immediate postoperative period.

Methods and results: Data were collected retrospectively for the initial 121 patients (median age 77 years; 47.1% females) who underwent Perceval sutureless AVR between May 2019 and July 2022.

A case of pancreatic duct stones treated with electrohydraulic lithotripsy through a duodenal ulcer.

Video 1Crush the large-sized stones directly using an electrohydraulic lithotripsy device.

Chronic expanding intrapericardial hematoma associated with blunt chest trauma 50 years earlier.

Unlabelled: Chronic expanding intrapericardial hematoma can be treated surgically; however, a correct diagnosis is not always established, thus the condition remains untreated. A 76-year-old man was referred to us with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. The patient had experienced blunt trauma to the chest 50 years earlier (during bar practice).

Electrosurgical knife with the water-jet function of tip-type during endoscopic treatment injection.

Objectives: This study aimed to objectively evaluate the water-jet-functioned electrosurgical knife injection performances in a desktop experiment.

Methods: Five types of water-jet-functioned electrosurgical knives, including two injection styles of sheath-type (A: DualKnife J, KD-655L; B: FlushKnife, DK2620-J-B20S; C: Splash M-Knife, DN-D2718B; D: ISSEN, SN1650-20) and tip-type (E: ORISE ProKnife, M00519361) were evaluated. These knives were compared with an injection needle (Control: SuperGrip 25G) as a control.

Efficacy of SubcutAneous implantable cardioVErter-defibrillators in ≤18 year-old CHILDREN: SAVE-CHILDREN registry.

Background: In adult patients, subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs) have been reported to be non-inferior to transvenous ICDs with respect to the incidence of device-related complications and inappropriate shocks. Only a few reports have investigated the efficacy of S-ICDs in the pediatric field. This study aimed to investigate the utility and safety of S-ICDs in patients ≤18 years old.

Collapse of Najuta endograft (aortic arch graft) in patient with intermittent paraparesis.

A 50-year-old male underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for distal arch traumatic aortic dissection. Following placement of a Najuta endograft (Kawasumi Laboratories, Inc., Tokyo, Japan) from zone 0 to zone 4, patency of the three vessels was confirmed.

Gauze extension method for specimens resected by endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Video 1The gauze extension method for resected specimens.

Single direct right axillary artery cannulation using a modified Seldinger technique in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Single direct right axillary artery cannulation is uncommon in minimally invasive cardiac surgery; however, the risk of cerebral infarction due to retrograde perfusion using the femoral artery remains high in patients with thoracoabdominal aortic atheroma. In our institution, we perform right axillary artery cannulation using a modified Seldinger technique in patients with atherosclerotic disease. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this technique in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

Snare devices with thinner loop wire may provide higher performance for cold snare polypectomy in an experimental model.

Snare devices play an important role in treatment of intestinal polyps. However, there are no objective measurements for the characteristics of the various types of snare devices. Seven types of snare devices from four manufacturers were evaluated based on original measurements.