Prosthetic Grafting and Arteriovenous Fistula for the Surgical Management of a Common Femoral Vein Injury Using a Staged Approach

A 27-year-old female patient was referred due to an edematous left lower extremity. Both saphenous veins had been ablated with an endovenous laser procedure used to treat varicose veins. Venography revealed that the left common femoral vein had been divided and that thrombosis was present at the site of division. No veins were available around the thighs. The patient was treated using a staged procedure. During the first stage, a ringed polytetrafluoroethylene graft was used to repair the common femoral vein, and an arteriovenous fistula was constructed from the femoral artery to the graft using a short segment of cephalic vein to increase graft patency. The edema was relieved postoperatively and the graft was patent. During the second stage, which was performed 6 months later, the fistula was occluded by coil embolization. The staged procedure described herein provides an alternative for venous reconstruction when autologous vein is unavailable.

Bronchial Artery Aneurysm Presenting as Hematemesis and Mediastinal Hemorrhage

Hematemesis is a rare manifestation of a ruptured bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) in the mediastinum. It is difficult to diagnose a ruptured BAA presenting as hematemesis, because it can be confused with other diseases, such as Boerhaave's syndrome, variceal disease, or a perforated ulcer. In this report, we describe a case of BAA resulting in hematemesis and mediastinal hemorrhage.

Surgical Planning by 3D Printing for Primary Cardiac Schwannoma Resection

We report herein a case of benign cardiac schwannoma in the interatrial septum. A 42-year-old woman was transferred from a clinic because of cardiomegaly as determined by chest X-ray. A transthoracic echocardiography and chest computed tomography examination revealed a huge mass in the pericardium compressing the right atrium, superior vena cava (SVC), left atrium, and superior pulmonary vein. To confirm that the tumor originated from either heart or mediastinum, cine magnetic resonance imaging was performed, but the result was not conclusive. To facilitate surgical planning, we used 3D printing. Using a printed heart model, we decided that tumor resection under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) through sternotomy would be technically feasible. At surgery, a huge tumor in the interatrial septum was confirmed. By incision on the atrial roof between the aorta and SVC, tumor enucleation was performed successfully under CPB. Pathology revealed benign schwannoma. The patient was discharged without complication. 3D printing of the heart and tumor was found to be helpful when deciding optimal surgical approach.

Early and Mid-term Changes of the Distal Aorta after Total Arch Replacement for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection

BACKGROUND: Total arch replacement (TAR) is being more widely performed due to recent advances in operative techniques and cerebral protective strategies. In this study, the authors reviewed the relationship between TAR and early- and mid-term changes of the false lumen after TAR in acute type A aortic dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients (aged, 54.7+/-13.3 years) who underwent TAR for acute type A dissection between June 2004 and February 2012 were reviewed. The relationship between the percentage change in the aortic diameter and the false lumen patency status was assessed by examining the early and late postoperative computed tomography imaging studies. RESULTS: There were two in-hospital mortalities, one late death, and three follow-up loses. The mean follow-up duration for the final 21 patients studied was 54+/-19.0 months (range, 20 to 82 months). The incidence of false lumen thrombosis within 2 weeks of surgery in the proximal, middle, and distal thoracic aorta, and the suprarenal and infrarenal abdominal aorta were 67%, 38%, 38%, 48%, and 33%, respectively, and 57%, 67%, 52%, 33%, and 33% for those examined at a mean of 49+/-18 months after surgery, respectively. The false lumen regressed in 11 patients (42.3%). The aortic diameters were larger in the patients with a patent false lumen than those with a thrombosed false lumen at all levels of the descending aorta (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: TAR and a more complete primary tear-resection can be accomplished with a relatively low-risk of morbidity and mortality. Enlargement of the distal aorta significantly correlated with the false lumen patency status.

Diagnosis of Acute Aortic Dissection by the 2010 American Heart Association Guideline at Emergency Room: Analysis of a Delayed Diagnosis

PURPOSE: Acute aortic dissection is a rare and life-threatening disease, requiring an immediate evaluation and treatment. In 2010, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association suggested a new risk score system for the detection of an acute aortic dissection. This system was applied to our known patients with acute aortic dissection. METHODS: 155 patients with acute aortic dissection regardless of the types from January 2000 to June 2012 were examined. The known risk factors and 12 newly proposed risk factors were compared, based on the new guidelines, after dividing them into a delayed diagnosis group and early diagnosis group. The impact of the aortic dissection detection (ADD) risk score on the diagnostic process was assessed. RESULTS: The abrupt onset of pain was the most frequent symptom (65.2%) and only had an impact on an early diagnosis (p=0.021). 83 patients (53.5%) showed a widened mediastinum in the chest X-rays. The diagnosis was delayed in 21 patients (13.8%). According to the new guideline, 149(96.1%) were identified by 1 or more of the 12 clinical markers. 6(3.8%), 88(56.8%) and 61(39.3%) patients were classified as low, intermediate and high risk, respectively. Three of the 6 low risk patients showed mediastinal widening. CONCLUSION: The clinical risk markers and the ADD risk score system in the 2010 guidelines detected patients with high sensitivity. The new risk score system appears to be a valuable diagnostic index at the initial presentation.