Association between J-CTO score and long-term target lesion revascularization rate after successful chronic total coronary occlusion angioplasty (from the J-CTO Registry).

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the J-CTO score on long-term target lesion revascularization (TLR) after successful native chronic total occlusion (CTO)-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: We previously reported that the J-CTO score could be used to stratify the lesion complexity and procedural success rate in CTO lesions.

Methods: We evaluated the prognostic significance of a high J-CTO score for long-term TLR rate in the J-CTO Registry.

Comparison of the Long-Term Outcomes of Mechanical and Bioprosthetic Aortic Valves - A Propensity Score Analysis.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR) with either mechanical or bioprosthetic valves according to age at operation.

Methods and results: A total of 1,002 patients (527 mechanical valves and 475 bioprosthetic valves) undergoing first-time AVR were categorized according to age at operation: group Y, age <60 years; group M, age 60-69 years; and group O, age ≥70 years). Outcomes were compared on propensity score analysis (adjusted for 28 variables).

A multicenter observational study of the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic agents in ventricular arrhythmias: A propensity-score adjusted analysis.

Background: Ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTs) are life-threatening events that result in hemodynamic compromise. Recurrence is common and may worsen a patient׳s clinical course despite appropriate treatment. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic drugs for suppression of VTs.

Pitfalls in the management of isolated pulmonary Takayasu's arteritis after surgery: a case report of an experience during 34 months after a pulmonary artery graft replacement.

Background: Several controversial matters still remain unresolved in the management of Takayasu's arteritis, especially after vascular intervention. First, a definitive diagnostic tool has not been established to assess disease activity correctly. Second, the optimal medical regimen has not been established to prevent restenosis of the vascular lesion.

The significance of the analysis on scalographic pattern for detecting malfunctioning bileaflet valve with the wavelet analysis.

The authors developed the wavelet analysis system which can detect the splitting of bileaflet mechanical heart valve (BLV) into two spikes on the scalogram, and reported that either consecutive single spike or the split behavior can detect malfunctioning BLV (MBV). The latest study on 12 BLVs suggested that the comparison between two spike areas showed higher potential to detect MBV than the split behavior. The aim of the current study is to review 226 files of BLV sound and to select the suitable scalographic property to differentiate the function of BLV with the split.

Renal artery stenting crucial to the recovery from acute worsening of chronic renal failure.

Recent randomized studies have failed to note any benefits to adding renal artery stenting to optimal medical therapy in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS). We herein present the case of a 75-year-old woman with acute worsening of chronic renal failure in whom renal stenting was essential to saving the patient's life and avoiding dialysis. Although the long-term usefulness of renal artery stenting for ARAS remains controversial, this procedure should be kept in mind as a viable option for treating acute critical cases such as this.

In situ coronary-coronary bypass grafting for a huge left coronary aneurysm.

Surgical treatment for an atherosclerotic huge coronary aneurysm is very rare. We have reported 58 years old male who had a huge growing aneurysm in left circumflex coronary artery and underwent aneurysmectomy and coronary-coronary bypass grafting with saphenous vein.

Total arch replacement with separated graft technique and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion.

It is essential to select the optimum method of cerebral protection and operative technique for arch repair to improve the surgical outcome of arch aneurysm or dissection. Selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) is our current method of choice if required cerebral protection time exceeds 30 minutes. Moderate hypothermic two-arch vessel perfusion (innominate artery or right axillary artery and left common carotid artery) is safe and effective for brain protection in a majority of patients.

A novel technique for renal stenting in the setting of type-B aortic dissection.

A type-B acute aortic dissection patient required renal artery revascularization for renal artery stenosis resulting from the compression by a false lumen. Renal artery stenting was complicated by unclear opacification of the ostia resulting from the collapsed true lumen of both renal artery and aorta. The use of the "Szabo" technique facilitated this procedure by allowing us to position the stent edge precisely at the ostium.

Surgical treatment of cardiac myxosarcoma.

A 36-year-old man suffering from exertional dyspnea was admitted to our hospital. An echocardiogram showed a left atrial tumor, which was excised via the left atrial approach. Histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed that it was a myxosarcoma.

Intravascular ultrasound-guided retrograde wiring for chronic total occlusion.

This report describes a retrograde wiring technique, using intravascular ultrasound, for a blunt chronic total occlusion with a side branch at the site of occlusion of which the operator has difficulty of awareness of the proper re-entry point with the retrograde wire angiographically.

Can 64-row computed tomography replace angiography after coronary bypass?

Multi-detector (64-row) computed tomography has become an alternative to coronary angiography to diagnose graft occlusion and stenosis after coronary artery bypass. We compared the power of evaluation of multi-detector computed tomography with that of conventional coronary angiography in 60 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass with 135 grafts and 210 graft anastomoses. The diagnostic power of multi-detector computed tomography for graft occlusion was: 100% (2/2) sensitivity, 98.

Initial clinical experience with the Heartstring.

Objective: The Heartstring is one of the devices that enable proximal anastomosis without clamping the aorta. We have applied the device not only to low-risk patients with normal aortas but also to high-risk patients with diseased aortas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the initial outcomes of using this device.

Aortic valve myxoma mimicking vegetation: report of a case.

We report a case of cardiac myxoma of the aortic valve. To our knowledge, this represents only the seventh such case ever documented. A 61-year-old woman underwent an echocardiography to screen for hypertensive-diabetic cardiac complications, which showed a mass on her aortic valve.

[Three-dimensional image of Adamkiewicz artery detected by using multidetector CT: preoperative assessment of thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm].

Images were obtained with the following parameter 0.5 sec/r, 1 mm collimation, pitch 3.5, 120 kV, 300 mA.

[Primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma with incomplete endocardial cushion defect; report of a case].

Primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma is rare tumor and its prognosis is quite poor due to its late presentation and difficulty of complete resection. We describe a rare case of primary pericardial malignant mesothelioma in a 46-year-old female with incomplete endocardial cushion defect (ECD). Incidentally, we found 2 masses in the pericardial spaces after pericardiectomy.

[Aortic root redissection associated with the use of gelatin-resorcin-formalin glue following surgical treatment for acute type A aortic dissection; report of a case].

A late redissection case of the aortic root after total arch replacement for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection was reported. A 55-year-old male was treated with total arch replacement for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection. The aortic valve was bicuspid valve, and the right coronary leaflet was prolapsed because of the dissection of right and non coronary cusp.

Sevoflurane metabolite production in a small cohort of coronary artery bypass graft surgery patients.

Objective: To determine hepatic and renal effects of hexafluoroisopropanol in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery under sevoflurane anesthesia.

Design: Prospective, clinical comparison.

Setting: University hospital.

[A case of coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient who has a rosary-like coronary lesion with Buerger's disease].

We report a case of coronary artery bypass grafting using left intra thoracic artery (LITA) in a 63-year-old male with Buerger's disease. His coronary angiography showed a long lesion seemed rosary in the left anterior descending (LAD). At operation, the surface of the coronary artery was dark red with white speckles.

[Simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting and total arch graft replacement with dextrocardia and situs inversus].

The patient was a 79-year-old male who complained a sudden back pain. He had dextrocardia and situs inversus. An aortogram showed the dilatation of the ascending and aortic arch which reached 5.

[A case of two stage operation of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm of a patient in late phase with Behçet's disease].

Patient was a 70-year-old female diagnosed as Behçet's disease 1973. She underwent descending thoracic aortic aneurysm operation 1980. She had graft replacement for a residual thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm on April 28, 1994.

[Coronary artery surgery in elderly patients].

We have experienced 351 cases of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients 70 years of age or older (107 cases: 75 years of age or older, 26 cases: octogenarians), among 1,395 cases of all coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Estimated hospital death rate 4.8% seemed to be satisfactory.