An Autopsy Case of Transthyretin-Related Cardiac Amyloidosis (TTR-CA), Which Fell into Low-Output Syndrome after Cardiac Surgery / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We present the case of 83-year-old male patient. He was under observation as an outpatient with mild to moderate aortic stenosis and regurgitation since 75 years old. He underwent surgery because of repeated hospitalization by heart failure due to progressive aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation, mitral valve stenosis and regurgitation, and tricuspid regurgitation. Elective aortic valve replacement, mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valve repair was performed. Even though his condition after surgery was stable, suddenly feature like low output syndrome appeared on day 6, and led to a mortality on day 8 after operation. Ejection fraction was kept above 50 percent before and after surgery, which indicated to Heart Failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). After autopsy examination, by immunohistochemical staining identified transthyretin, we demonstrated previously undiagnosed transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis (TTR-CA).

A Case of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT) with Postoperative Cerebral Infarction Following Surgical Repair of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 61-year-old man with consciousness disorder was transferred to our hospital. Computed tomography found acute type A aortic dissection and cardiac tamponade, and an emergency operation was performed. Operation findings indicated dissection above the commissure between the left coronary cusp and the right coronary cusp, to the ostium of the right coronary. An ascending aorta replacement and coronary aorta bypass grafting were performed. The postoperative course was good, but he did not regain clear consciousness. Results of magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple cerebral infarctions. At the same time, the platelet count had decreased and we suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Following detection of an heparin-dependent antibody, administration of an heparin was discontinued. However, the platelet count still tended to decrease. Therefore, we started continuous administration of argatroban, which resulted in the gradual increase in platelet count to within normal limits on postoperative day 26. The results indicate that in patients continuously and repeatedly treated with heparin, there is a possibility of the development of HIT and thrombosis with HIT.