[Effectiveness of an Early Enteral Nutrition Flowchart after Open Heart Surgery].

Purpose: The nutrition support team at our hospital introduced a flowchart to ensure smooth initiation of early enteral nutrition after open heart surgery. We assessed the effectiveness and safety of early enteral nutrition using the flowchart.

Methods: We examined 240 patients who had undergone cardiovascular surgery between November 2013 and September 2015.

Factors that determine kinematic coupling behavior of calcaneal pronation/supination and shank rotation during weight bearing: ananalysis based on foot bone alignment using radiographic images.

[Purpose] This study aimed to identify factors that determine the kinematic coupling behavior of calcaneal pronation/supination and shank rotation in a standing position. [Participants and Methods] Study participants included 15 healthy adults (30 legs). Kinematic coupling behavior was quantified as the linear regression coefficient (kinetic chain ratio [KCR]) of the angle of shank rotation against the angle of calcaneal pronation-to-supination measured using a 3-dimensional motion analysis system during pronation and supination of both feet while standing.

Bilateral Internal Thoracic Artery Grafts in Hemodialysis: A Single-Center Propensity Score Analysis.

Background: Clinical evidence comparing the surgical risk and long-term effectiveness of the bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) and single internal thoracic artery (SITA) for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in hemodialysis patients is limited. We sought to clarify the short-term and midterm outcomes of CABG using BITA or SITA grafts in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Between October 2000 and December 2015, 161 hemodialysis patients underwent isolated CABG by internal thoracic artery grafting; 67 received BITA grafts and 94 SITA grafts.

Successful surgical treatment of a giant right coronary artery aneurysm with a patent left internal thoracic artery graft.

We report a rare case of a giant right coronary artery aneurysm 13 years after coronary artery bypass grafting. Coronary angiography at the time of primary surgery demonstrated irregular aneurysmal dilatation in the mid-right coronary artery that expanded greatly over a 13-year period to a maximum diameter of 80 mm. The patient underwent aneurysmectomy and interposition using a saphenous vein graft through a right lateral thoracotomy.

Repeat Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Replacement for Recurrent Mitral Stenosis after OMC in Patients Who Decline Blood Product Transfusion for Religious Reasons.

Cardiac surgery for Jehovah's Witness (JW) patients is considered to be high risk because of patients' refusal to receive blood transfusion. We report a successful mitral valve replacement for recurrent mitral stenosis after OMC with minimally invasive right thoracotomy, without any transfusion of allogeneic blood or blood products. This minimally invasive mitral valve replacement through right thoracotomy was an excellent approach for JW patients.

[Surgical treatment of coarctation of the aorta concomitant with left main coronary stenosis; report of a case].

A 60-year-old male was referred to our institution for investigation of intractable hypertension. Coarctation of the aorta was detected by computed tomography (CT). Bilateral internal thoracic arteries played an important role as a collateral source to the lower extremity.