A Successful Surgical Treated Case of Traumatic Rupture of the Distal Descending Thoracic Aorta above the Diaphragm / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 24-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta suffered in a traffic accident. On admission, he had recovered from shock and was alert. Chest CT showed massive hematoma around the total extent of the descending aora and the intimal flap at the diatal descending aorta. We performed an emergency operation. Through left thoracotomy, we found dilatation of the descending aorta. Epiaortic echo revealed that the aortic intima was completely transecred between Th 10 and Th 11. The pseudoaneurysm was replaced with a Hemashield vascular graft under partial cardiopulmonary bypass. The intercostal artery was preserved. His postoperative course was uneventful and paraplegia was not seen. We reported a rare case of traumatic rupture of the distal descending thoracic aorta above the diaphragm followed by successful surgical treatment.

A Case of Successful Aortic Fenestration for Renal Failure Associated with Aortic Dissection / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 72-year-old woman suffered sudden back pain 42 days after ascending aortic replacement for retrograde acute type A aortic dissection. Computed tomography (CT) revealed type B aortic dissection and a stenotic true lumen at the abdominal aorta. The celiac artery and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) branched from the true lumen, but bilateral renal arteries were not found by DSA. Infrarenal abdominal aortic fenestration was performed at 6th day from onset, because of progressive renal dysfunction. Intestinal ischemia was not confirmed by laparotomy. After the Infrarenal aorta was clamped and transected, the proximal intima was resected in a U-shape. The proximal stump which was reinforced with teflon felt was anastomosed to an 18mm woven graft. Distal anastomosis was carried to the true lumen was carried out with closure of the false lumen. Regaining flow into the collapsed true lumen was observed by epiaortic echography. Postoperatively, continuous hemofiltration was required for several days until renal dysfunction was improved. CT showed reasonable expansion of the true lumen, and no findings of visceral ischemia except for partial infarction of the left kidney. DSA revealed that bilateral renal arteries were perfused from the true lumen through the fenestration. Neither aortic dilatation nor new ischemia have been recognized, but further close observation is necessary.

A Case Report of Double False Aneurysms Associated with a Penetrating Atherosclerotic Ulcer / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 72-year-old man was admitted with an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. Chest CT and aortography showed double saccular aneurysms at the aortic arch and the descending thoracic aorta. Three-dimensional CT was useful to detect the association between the arch aneurysm and neck vessels. Graft replacement, from the distal arch to the descending thoracic aorta, was performed by the lateral approach with hypothermic arrest and open proximal method. The aorta had severe atherosclerotic changes and the intima was absent at the orifices of the aneurysms. Pathological examination showed the aneurysmal wall to be composed of fibrous tissue without medial components. These macroscopic and pathological findings of aneurysms corresponded with double pseudo-aneurysms originating from the penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer.

Evaluation of Postoperative Cardiac Function in Severe Ischemic Heart Disease Associated with Decreased Ejection Fraction / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

This clinical study was peformed to clarify the postoperative cardiac functions after coronary artery bypass graft surgery in the cases associated with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) or increased end-diastolic volume index (EDVI). The patients were divided into two groups by preoperative EF. The EF of Group I ranged from 31 to 39% in 42 cases, and the EF of Group II was below 30% in 27 cases. Several parameters of cardiac function such as EF, peak ejection rate (PER), peak filling rate (PFR) or early diastolic peak filling rate were evaluated with radionuclide ventriculography. Postoperative mean values of these parameters significantly improved in both Group I and Group II compared to preoperative values. Although these parameters and left ventricular wall motion did not improve in the 7 cases with an EDVI over 140ml/m² in Group II, the clinical results of these 7 cases were good during the follow-up period except one case which preoperatively had frequent ventricular arrythmia. The clinical condition improved remarkably in the 3 patients who had preoperative angina pectoris among these 7 cases. Surgical indications must be carefully determined in cases with increased EDVI and frequent ventricular arrythmia.

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Wall Motion after Mitral Valve Replacement with Preservation of Both Anterior and Posterior or Only Posterior Chordae Tendineae / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Left ventricular wall motion was evaluated after mitral valve replacement (MVR). MVR for mitral regurgitation (MR) was performed with preservation of both anterior and posterior chordae tendineae (Group I, <i>n</i>=12) or posterior chordae tendineae (Group II, <i>n</i>=9). MVR for mitral stenosis was performed with the preservation of the posterior chordae alone (MS Group, <i>n</i>=12). Postoperative regional wall motion was analyzed from the shortening fraction (SF) of the centerline method in 5 of antero-basal (AB), anterolateral (AL), apical (AP), diaphragmatic (DP) and posterobasal (PB) regions. The percentage of post-operative SF for preoperative value (%SF) was compared between Group I and Group II. The value of %SF improved much more in Group I than in Group II at the AL and AP regions. %EF was more significantly increased in Group I than in Group II, although postoperative ESVI and EDVI decreased in both groups. In the MS Group, EF, ESVI and EDVI did not change after surgery. The regional wall motion improved except in the calcified PB region. These results demonstrated that the preservation of both anterior and posterior chordae tendineae for MR was a useful procedure to improve postoperative LV regional wall motion. The preservation of posterior chordae for MS was sufficient to improve the regional wall motion except in the calcified submitral region.

Injuries to Iliac Arteries Following Blunt Trauma of the Abdomen / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We present three cases of injured iliac arteries due to blunt abdominal trauma in traffic accidents. We performed emergency operations on these patients. Two of them received interposition of artificial prosthesis, and one received extraanatomical bypass. Fasciotomy was needed for compartment syndrome in 2 cases and one of them suffered a fractured pelvis with rupture of the ipsilateral femoral vein. One case was complicated with laceration of the mesentery. The postoperative course was almost uneventful in 2 cases but one died 8 days after operation because of subsequent multiple organ failure due to renal failure with necrosis of the small intestine of unknown cause. The diagnostic difficulties in such injuries depend on the existence of complications and different obstructive mechanisms from the penetrating injuries. Adequate and prompt diagnosis based on the clinically suspicious signs including weakness and discrepancy of the pulse are required.

Evaluation of Myocardial Protection and Postoperative Early Diastolic Function in Aortic Stenosis with Severe Concentric Hypertrophy / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Postoperative cardiac function and the occurrence of arrythmia depend upon myocardial protection during open heart surgery in severe concentric hypertrophy. The effect of myocardial protection was evaluated in terms of several released cardiac enzymes before and after reperfusion, and postoperative left ventricular (LV) cardiac function from cardiac pool scintigram in 21 cases with aortic stenosis (AS Group). These data were compared with 20 cases with aortic regurgitation (AR Group). Heart weight and aortic cross-clamping time were not significantly different in these two groups. The enzymatic values in peak total creatine-kinase (CK) and peak CK-MB fraction were higher in the AS group than in the AR group, and peak GOT was significantly elevated in the AS group (peak GOT: 93±32 in AS group, 64±17IU/<i>l</i> in the AR group, <i>p</i><0.01). Among the cases in the AS group, six cases with LV small cavity (LVDd<4cm) and severe concentric hypertrophy were associated with high values of released enzyme and the occurrence of ventricular arrythmia. Postoperative cardiac function was estimated from both systolic parameters such as LV ejection fraction (LVEF) or peak ejection rate (PER) and diastolic parameters such as peak filling rate (PFR) or early diastolic filling rate (1/3PFR). Postoperative LVEF and PER improved to normal control levels in the AS group with preoperatively depressed systolic function, although values were decreased in the AR group with impaired systolic function. The postoperative early diastolic peak filling rate did not recover to control levels in the AS group as well as the AR group, and was impaired in the AS group with severe concentric hypertrophy due to elevated chamber stiffness and the delay of time to peak filling rate. In severe concentric hypertrophy, we used several techniques for myocardial protection of terminal blood cardioplegia, and gradually increased reperfusion pressure and LV venting after reperfusion. Late results revealed a good clinical course in all 21 cases except for the occurrence of arrythmia in three.

Isolated Iliac Aneurysm with Arterio-Sigmoid Fistula. A Case Report / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We report a case of a solitary iliac aneurysm-fistula of the sigmoid colon. A 68-year-old male was diagnosed as having diverticulum of the sigmoid colon by barium enema at a near-by hospital with a major complaint of melena. He continued to have massive melena although he received sigmoid colectomy. His condition eventually deteriorated into shock and he was transferred to our department. Angiographic findings showed a left common iliac aneurysm. Under the diagnosis of a rupture of a sigmoid colon, emergency operation was performed including aneurysmectomy and bypass formation between the femoral and femoral artery as an extraanatomical bypass. The patient developed multipul organ failure following the sepsis and died 8 days postoperatively. An aneurysm-intestinal fistula is a complication of an aneurysm. The problem of this disease is the difficulty in making a definite diagnosis with high mortality rate. We should consider the possibility of an aneurysm-intestinal fistula for the patient with gastrointestinal bleeding of the unknown origin.

An Operative Case of Bilateral Coronary Arteries to Pulmonary Artery Fistula with Giant Saccular Aneurysm / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We reported an operative case of bilateral coronary arteries to pulmonary artery fistula with giant saccular aneurysm. This 68 year-old female was admitted for evaluation of chest oppression and heart murmur. On coronary angiography, the diagnosis was made as a coronary artery fistula originating from right coronary artery and left anterior descending artery, and draining into the main pulmonary artery. The operation was indicated by giant saccular aneurysm, high shunt ratio, and positive finding of ischemic change on exercise electrocardiogram. The closure of coronary fistula and aneurysmorrhaphy were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. The aneurysm was 25×30mm diamater, and not found arteriosclerotic change in operative finding. The fistula was completely disappeared by postopertive coronary angiography. We concluded that curative operation for coronary artery fistula with giant aneurysm can be done with minimal risk under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Rare complications for aortitis syndrome / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Rare complications-1) Sarcoidosis, 2) Amyloidosis, 3) Phycomycosis-following surgical therapy for aortitis syndrome are reported. Sarcoidosis occurred in 39 y.o. female following Bentall operation for AAE and AR was diagnosed by biopsy and was controlled with drug completely 1 year after the onset. Amyloidosis found in 56 y. o. male after AVR and AAo plication for AAE and AR started with severe diarrhea and the diagnosis was made by autopsy. Phycomycosis was diagnosed by necropsy in 49 y. o. female after CABG and thoraco-abdominal bypass operation. Poor control of inflammation and administration of gluco-corticoid are the common problems for the 3 cases. Aortitis syndrome is autoimmune disease and some immunological factor has a role for the cause of the three complications. We must be very strict about the administration of the gludo-corticoid and the control of the inflammation.