Establishment of a rat model with aortic dissection induced by β-aminopropionitrile combined with angiotensin Ⅱ / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To investigate the optimal administration combination of β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) and Angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang-Ⅱ) in the establishment of SD rat aortic dissection (AD) model and the related complications. Methods    Forty-two three-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into 7 groups: a group A (0.25% BAPN), a group B (0.40% BAPN), a group C (0.80% BAPN), a group D [1 g/(kg·d) BAPN], a group E [1 g/(kg·d) BAPN+ 1 μg/(kg·min) saline], a group F [1 g/(kg·d) BAPN+1 μg/(kg·min) Ang-Ⅱ] and a group G (control group). There were 6 rats in each group. The intervention period was 4 weeks (groups E and F were 4 weeks+5 days). Rats were dissected immediately if they died during the experiment. After the intervention, the surviving rats were sacrificed by pentobarbital sodium, and the whole aorta was separated and retained. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the changes of aorta from the pathological morphology. Results    There was no statistical difference in the survival rate among the groups after 4 weeks of BAPN intervention (P>0.05). After 5 days of mini-osmotic pumps implantation, the survival rate of rats was higher in the group E than that in the group F (P=0.008), and the incidence of AD in the group E was lower than that in the group F (P=0.001). BAPN could affect the food and water intake of rats. After BAPN intervention for 4 weeks, the body weight of rats in the group G was higher than those in the intervention groups (P<0.05). BAPN combined with Ang-Ⅱ could make the aortic intima thick, elastic fiber breakage, arrangement disorder, and inflammatory cell infiltration in rats, which conformed to the pathological and morphological changes of AD. BAPN could also affect mental state and gastrointestinal tract. Conclusion    The combination of BAPN [1 g/(kg·d)] and Ang-Ⅱ [1 μg/(kg·min)] can stably establish AD model in rats, which will provide a stable carrier for further study of the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of AD. However, the complications in this process are an unstable factor. How to balance the influence of BAPN on other tissues and organs in the process of AD model establishment remains to be further studied.

Efficacy of prone positioning ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome after acute Stanford type A aortic dissection surgery / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective     To explore the efficacy of prone positioning ventilation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (STAAD) surgery. Methods     From November 2019 to September 2021, patients with ARDS who was placed prone position after STAAD surgery in the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University were collected. Data such as the changes of blood gas, respiratory mechanics and hemodynamic indexes before and after prone positioning, complications and prognosis were collected for statistical analysis. Results    A total of 264 STAAD patients had surgical treatment, of whom 40 patients with postoperative ARDS were placed prone position. There were 37 males and 3 females with an average age of 49.88±11.46 years. The oxygen partial pressure, oxygenation index and peripheral blood oxygen saturation 4 hours and 12 hours after the prone positioning, and 2 hours and 6 hours after the end of the prone positioning were significantly improved compared with those before prone positioning ventilation (P<0.05). The oxygenation index 2 hours after the end of prone positioning which was less than 131.42 mm Hg, indicated that the patient might need ventilation two or more times of prone position. Conclusion     Prone position ventilation for patients with moderate to severe ARDS after STAAD surgery is a safe and effective way to improve the oxygenation.

Surgical treatment of Stanford type A aortic dissection after coronary artery stenting / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To retrospectively analyze the surgical treatment of Stanford type A aortic dissection after coronary artery stenting, and to explore the surgical techniques and surgical indications. Methods    Clinical data of 1 246 consecutive patients who underwent operations on Stanford type A aortic dissection from April 2016 to July 2019 in Beijing Anzhen Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection after coronary artery stenting were enrolled. Results    Finally 19 patients were collected, including 16 males and 3 females with an average age of 54±7 years ranging from 35 to 66 years. There were 11 patients in acute phase, 15 patients with AC (DeBakey Ⅰ) type and 4 patients with AS (DeBakey Ⅱ) type. In AC type, there were 10 patients receiving Sun's surgery and 5 patients partial arch replacement. Meanwhile, coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 7 patients and mitral valve replacement in 1 patient. Stents were removed from the right coronary artery in 4 patients. In this group, 1 patient died of multiple organ failure in hospital after operation combined with malperfusion of viscera. Eighteen patients recovered after treatment and were discharged from hospital. The patients were followed up for 30 (18-56) months. One patient underwent aortic pseudoaneurysm resection, one thoracic endovascular aortic repair, one emergency percutaneous coronary intervention due to left main artery stent occlusion, and one underwent femoral artery bypass due to iliac artery occlusion. Conclusion    Iatrogenic aortic dissection has a high probability of coronary artery bypass grafting at the same time in patients with Stanford type A aortic dissection after coronary artery stenting. Complicated type A aortic dissection after percutaneous coronary intervention should be treated with surgery aggressively.

Acute dissection of a syphilitic saccular aneurysm of the ascending aorta and arch in a hypertensive patient - a rare phenomenon

ABSTRACT We report the case of a 77-year-old male who suffered from hypertension and died suddenly. At autopsy, he was found to have hypertensive cardiomegaly and a dissecting syphilitic saccular aneurysm of the ascending aorta and arch with tamponade. Chronic aortic regurgitation, which is often seen in syphilitic aortitis, produces an additive effect to the concentric left ventricular hypertrophy seen in hypertension.

Acute Aortic Dissection Type A in Younger Patients (< 60 Years Old) - Does Full Arch Replacement Provide Benefits Compared to Limited Approach?

ABSTRACT Introduction: Acute aortic dissection Stanford type A (AADA) is a surgical emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. Although surgical management has improved, the optimal therapy is a matter of debate. Different surgical strategies have been proposed for patients under 60 years old. This paper evaluates the postoperative outcome and the need for secondary aortic operation after a limited surgical approach (proximal arch replacement) vs. extended arch repair. Methods: Between January 2000 and January 2018, 530 patients received surgical treatment for AADA at our hospital; 182 were under 60 years old and were enrolled in this study - Group A (n=68), limited arch repair (proximal arch replacement), and group B (n=114), extended arch repair (> proximal arch replacement). Results: More pericardial tamponade (P=0.005) and preoperative mechanical resuscitation (P=0.014) were seen in Group A. More need for renal replacement therapy (P=0.047) was seen in the full arch group. Mechanical ventilation time (P=0.022) and intensive care unit stay (P<0.001) were shorter in the limited repair group. Thirty-day mortality was comparable (P=0.117). New onset of postoperative stroke was comparable (Group A four patients [5.9%] vs. Group B 15 patients [13.2%]; P=0.120). Long-term follow-up did not differ significantly for secondary aortic surgery. Conclusion: Even though young patients received only limited arch repair, the outcome was comparable. Full-arch replacement was not beneficial in the long-time follow-up. A limited approach is justified in the cohort of young AADA patients. Exemptions, like known Marfan syndrome and the presence of an intimal tear in the arch, should be considered.

Evaluation of descriptive performances of platelet indices, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, and platelet/lymphocyte ratio in aortic dissections

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Mechanical damage resulting from aortic dissection creates a thrombus in the false lumen, in which platelets are involved. Platelet index is useful for the function and activation of platelets. The aim of this study was to show the clinical relevance of the platelet index of aortic dissection. METHODS: A total of 88 patients diagnosed with aortic dissection were included in this retrospective study. Demographic data and hemogram and biochemistry results of the patients were determined. Patients were divided into two groups: deceased and surviving patients. The data obtained were compared with 30-day mortality. The primary outcome was the relationship of platelet index with mortality. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients, 22 of whom were female (25.0%), diagnosed with aortic dissection, were included in the study. It was determined that 27 (30.7%) of the patients were mortal. The mean age of the entire patient group was 58±13 years. According to the DeBakey classification of aortic dissection of the patients, the percentages of the 1-2-3 type were determined as 61.4, 8.0, and 30.7%, respectively. Platelet index was not found to be directly related to mortality. Increase in age, decrease in bicarbonate value, and presence of diabetes mellitus were associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Although there were no significant changes in platelet index in aortic dissection, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and platelet/lymphocyte ratio were found to be high in line with the literature. In particular, the presence of advanced age diabetes mellitus and decrease in bicarbonate are associated with mortality.

Research progress of ferroptosis in aortic dissection / 中华老年医学杂志

Aortic dissection, especially Stanford type A aortic dissection, is an acutely progressive and highly fatal cardiovascular disease.Early prevention and timely treatment can greatly reduce mortality and reduce the burden on families and society.However, due to the etiological mechanism is still unclear, the clinical treatment is still mainly surgery, and the early prevention and drug application are very limited.And some recent studies have found that ferroptosis may play an important role in the occurrence and development of aortic dissection, revealing the relationship between them may provide ideas for the prevention, treatment and scientific research of the disease.

Analysis of risk factors for retrograde type A dissection associated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for retrograde type A dissection (RTAD) associated with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) which provided the basis for clinical risk stratification and treatment decision.Methods:The clinical data of 1 688 patients with thoracic aortic disease who underwent TEVAR in our center from January 2004 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The pathological classification included aortic dissection (1 592 cases) and other thoracic aortic diseases (96 cases). Univariate analysis and categorical multiple logistic regression analysis were used to explore the risk factors for the development of RTAD during or after TEVAR.Results:A total of 18 cases of RTAD were found, with an overall incidence of 1.1% (18/1 688), all of which occurred in aortic dissection group. After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the incidence of RTAD was significantly decreased(OR=0.27,95%CI 0.07-0.96, P=0.043) when the oversize of stentgraft was 11%-20%, the oversize of stentgraft was ≤10% as the control group, and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05). The ascending aorta diameter was <40 mm as the control group, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of RTAD between the ≥40 mm group and the control group(OR=2.71,95%CI 0.94-7.84, P=0.065). Conclusions:Aortic dissection is more likely to develop RTAD than other thoracic aortic diseases. A proper stentgraft oversizing ratio could reduce the probability of RTAD. That is to say that a too low stentgraft oversizing ratio is not recommended.

Changes of D-dimer, cTnI and VIS after Stanford type A aortic dissection and their predictive effect on death outcome / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To investigate the change of D-Dimer (D-D), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) after Stanford type A aortic dissection (TAAD) and thier predictive effect on death outcome.Methods:120 patients with TAAD who were treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College from January 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively selected and divided into death group ( n=17) and survival group ( n=103) according to the 28-day survival after operation. The difference of clinical data between the two groups was compared, and the influencing factors of postoperative death in TAAD patients were analyzed by logistic regression method. Results:The age, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest time, D-D and cTnI of the patients in the death group were (60.50±5.42)years old, (30.40±9.92)min, (15.65±5.52)g/L and (3.32±0.82)mg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the survival group (all P<0.05). The VIS score and change of VIS score in the death group at 24 hours after operation were (9.66±1.10)points and (4.50±0.91)points respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the survival group (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, D-D, cTnI and change of VIS score were the influencing factors of death after TAAD (all P<0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve predicted by the D-D, cTnI and change of VIS score for death in TAAD patients was 0.718, 0.691 and 0.789 respectively (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Postoperative death of TAAD patients is affected by their age, D-D, cTnI and change of VIS score. The D-D, cTnI and change of VIS score have certain application value in predicting postoperative death of patients.

Survival analysis of patients with acute aortic dissection with different treatment modalities / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To investigate the survival status of patients with acute aortic dissection (AD) treated by different methods, and evaluate the factors affecting the survival of AD patients.Methods:According to the retrospective research method, the patients diagnosed with AD in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 were collected. The treatment data and follow-up of patients were counted, the survival of patients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curve, and the factors affecting the survival of patients were analyzed by Cox regression model.Results:A total of 251 patients were included in this study, including 169 patients in the surgical treatment group and 82 patients in the conservative treatment group. The in-hospital fatality rate in the surgical treatment group and the conservative treatment group were 8.88%(15/169) and 43.90%(36/82), respectively, and the difference were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The survival time of surgical treatment group and conservative treatment group was (328.08±8.17)d and (194.43±19.80)d, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Surgery ( RR=5.424, 95% CI: 2.821-10.428, P<0.05), acute myocardial infarction ( RR=0.448, 95% CI: 0.221-0.906, P<0.05), and shock ( RR=0.266, 95% CI: 0.102-0.693, P<0.05) and stroke ( RR=0.277, 95% CI: 0.127-0.604, P<0.05) were the factors affecting 1-year survival in AD patients. Conclusions:Active surgical treatment is recommended for AD patients with surgical indication as soon as possible.

Application value of the aortic dissection detection risk score plus D-dimer for the early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection / 中国基层医药

Objective:To investigate the application value of aortic dissection detection risk score (ADD-RS) combined with D-dimer (DD) in the early diagnosis of acute aortic dissection (AAD).Methods:The clinical data of 70 patients with suspected aortic dissection detection admitted to The Second Hospital of Jiaxing from August 2019 to April 2020 were collected. All patients were scored using the ADD-RS, and grouped according to the scoring results. The sensitivity and specificity of ADD-RS plus DD in the early diagnosis of AAD were calculated. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves that were plotted for drADD-RS plus DD versus DD alone to screen AAD were compared to evaluate efficacy. Results:CT angiography results showed that among 70 patients with suspected AAD, 29 patients had AAD and 41 patients had no AAD. A total of 21 patients were scored 0, 41 patients were scored > 1, and 8 patients were scored > 0. ADD-RS > 0 had an overall sensitivity of 79.31% and a specificity of 36.59% for AAD diagnosis. DD test results had an overall sensitivity of 86.20% and a specificity of 36.50% for AAD diagnosis. The area under the ROC curve of ADD-RS = 0 plus DD-negative result and the area under the ROC curve of DD-negative result alone in ruling out AAD were 0.885 with 95% CI (0.786-0.949) and 0.787 with 95% CI (0.673-0.876), respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P = 0.024). Conclusion:Compared with DD-negative result alone, the ADD-RS = 0 plus DD-negative result strategy offers greater specificity to rule out AAD. The combined strategy has a greater efficacy in ruling out AAD. However, a multi-center study involving a large sample is required for in-depth evaluation.

Analysis of blood glucose fluctuations and related influencing factors in non-diabetic patients with type A aortic dissection after surgery / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the influencing factors of blood glucose fluctuation after surgery for type A aortic dissection in non-diabetic patients.Methods:A total of 109 patients with non-diabetic type A aortic dissection who underwent surgical treatment in Ningbo Medical Center Li Huili Hospital from Dec. 2016 to Mar. 2022 were selected as the research subjects. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of blood glucose fluctuation in non-diabetic patients with type A aortic dissection surgery, and a nomogram model of blood glucose fluctuation in non-diabetic patients with type A aortic dissection surgery was constructed.Results:Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI≥24 kg/m 2, poor sleep quality, depression, cardiopulmonary bypass time>5 h and intraoperative bleeding were the risk factors for postoperative blood glucose fluctuation in non-diabetic type A aortic dissection patients ( P<0.05). The C-index of the nomogram model was 0.746 (95% CI: 0.711-0.781) ; the calibration curve was in good agreement with the ideal curve; the AUC of the nomogram model was 0.804. Conclusion:BMI≥24 kg/m 2, poor sleep quality, depression, cardiopulmonary bypass time>5 h and intraoperative bleeding are risk factors for postoperative blood glucose fluctuation in non-diabetic type A aortic dissection patients.

Construction and validation of early warning model for acute aortic dissection / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with acute aortic dissection (AAD) through a retrospective and observational study, and to construct an early warning model of AAD that could be used in the emergency room.Methods:The data of 11 583 patients in the Emergency Chest Pain Center from January to December 2019 were retrospectively collected from the Chest Pain Database of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University. Inclusion criteria: patients with chest pain who attended the Emergency Chest Pain Center between January and December 2019. Exclusion criteria were 1) younger than 18 years, 2) no chest/back pain, 3) patients with incomplete clinical information, and 4) patients with a previous definite diagnosis of aortic dissection who had or had not undergone surgery. The clinical data of 9668 patients with acute chest/back pain were finally collected, excluding 53 patients with previous definite diagnosis of AAD and/or without surgical aortic dissection. A total of 9 615 patients were enrolled as the modeling cohort for early diagnosis of AAD. The patients were divided into the AAD group and non-AAD group according to whether AAD was diagnosed. Risk factors were screened by univariate and multivariate logistic regression, the best fitting model was selected for inclusion in the study, and the early warning model was constructed and visualized based on the nomogram function in R software. The model performance was evaluated by accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio. The model was validated by a validation cohort of 4808 patients who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria from January 2020 to June 2020 in the Emergency Chest Pain Center of the hospital. The effect of early diagnosis and early warning model was evaluated by calibration curve.Results:After multivariate analysis, the risk factors for AAD were male sex ( OR=0.241, P<0.001), cutting/tear-like pain ( OR=38.309, P<0.001), hypertension ( OR=1.943, P=0.007), high-risk medical history ( OR=12.773, P<0.001), high-risk signs ( OR=7.383, P=0.007), and the first D-dimer value ( OR=1.165, P<0.001), Protective factors include diabetes( OR=0.329, P=0.027) and coronary heart disease ( OR=0.121, P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the early diagnosis and warning model constructed by combining the risk factors was 0.939(95 CI:0.909-0.969). Preliminary validation results showed that the AUC of the early diagnosis and warning model was 0.910(95 CI:0.870-0.949). Conclusions:Sex, cutting/tear-like pain, hypertension, high-risk medical history, high-risk signs, and first D-dimer value are independent risk factors for early diagnosis of AAD. The model constructed by these risk factors has a good effect on the early diagnosis and warning of AAD, which is helpful for the early clinical identification of AAD patients.

Age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index predicts mortality in patients with acute type A aortic dissection / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (ACCI) for in-hospital mortality and 1-year mortality in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study, and the clinical data of ATAAD patients admitted to Wuhan Union Hospital from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2018 were collected for analysis. All the patients were confirmed by computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance imaging of the aorta and the onset time was less than 14 days. Patients who survived at discharge were followed up to obtain 1-year survival information. The ACCI score was calculated for patients based on their comorbidities and age at admission, and they were divided into three groups of 0, 1 and ≥2 according to the ACCI score. The in-hospital mortality and 1-year mortality of the three groups were compared. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the independent predictors for in-hospital mortality and 1-year mortality.Results:Among 1 133 ATAAD patients, 383, 357 and 393 patients had ACCI score of 0, 1, and ≥2, respectively. The in-hospital mortality and 1-year mortality of patients with ACCI score ≥2 were significantly higher than those of patients with ACCI score of 0 (25.4% vs. 17.0%, 30.0% vs. 19.6%, both P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that ACCI score ≥2 was an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality ( OR=1.670, 95% CI: 1.176-2.370, P=0.004) and 1-year mortality ( OR=1.762, 95% CI: 1.264-2.456, P<0.001). Age (per 10-year increase) and cerebrovascular diseases were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality and 1-year mortality, while diabetes mellitus was a protective factor for in-hospital mortality. Conclusions:ACCI can predict the in-hospital mortality and 1-year mortality of ATAAD patients, and patients with ACCI score ≥2 have a poorer prognosis.

Comparison of curative effect and cost between domestic and imported covered stents in the treatment of non-complex Stanford type B aortic dissection / 国际外科学杂志

Objective:To compare the curative effect and cost of domestic and imported covered stents in the treatment of non-complex Stanford type B aortic dissection.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was used to analyze the clinical data of 93 patients with non-complex Stanford B aortic dissection who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) in Taizhou Second People's Hospital from September 2016 to September 2021.Ninty-three patients were divided into two groups according to the use of different covered stents during the operation, of which 47 patients were treated with domestic covered stents (observation group) and 46 patients were treated with imported covered stents (control group). Overall response rate, rate of complication, treatment cost and cost-effectiveness ratio of the two groups were compared and sensitivity analysis was performed in the two groups.The measurement datas conforming to the normal distribution were expressed as mean ± standard deviation( ± s), and the inter-group comparison was conducted by t test.The comparison of counting datas between groups was conducted by Chi-square test or Fisher exact probability method. Results:The overall response rate of the observation group and the control group were 93.62% and 97.83%, with no significant difference ( P>0.05); The incidence of complications was 6.38% and 2.17%, with no significant difference ( P>0.05). The cost of covered stent [(62 155.49±10 231.08) yuan] and the total cost of treatment [(95 063.66±20 042.34) yuan] in the observation group were lower than those in the control group [(93 825.37±16 577.04) yuan and (126 035.89±26 186.18) yuan]( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other direct costs between the observation group [(32 908.17±9 811.26) yuan] and the control group [(32 210.52±9 609.14) yuan] ( P >0.05). The cost-effectiveness ratio of the observation group and the control group were 1 015.42 and 1 288.31, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the control group was 7 356.82. After the cost-effectiveness sensitivity analysis and adjusting the cost of the covered stent to decrease by 10% of the two groups, the cost-effectiveness ratio of the observation group and the control group were 949.03 and 1 192.41, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of control group was 6 604.61. Conclusions:Both domestic and imported covered stents are effective in the treatment of non-complex Stanford type B aortic dissection with fewer complications. Compared with the imported covered stent, the domestic covered stent has lower treatment cost and more advantages of cost-effectiveness, which is more in line with diagnosis related groups reform.

Surgical strategy and clinical outcomes of reoperative aortic root replacement after prior aortic valve replacement / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#Objective    To summarize the surgical strategy of reoperative aortic root replacement after prior aortic valve replacement (AVR), and analyze the early and mid-term outcomes. Methods    From April 2013 to January 2020, 75 patients with prior AVR underwent reoperative aortic root replacement in Fuwai Hospital. There were 54 males and 21 females with a mean age of 56.4±12.7 years. An emergent operation was performed in 14 patients and an elective operation in 61 patients. The indications were aortic root aneurysm in 38 patients, aortic dissection involving aortic root in 30 patients, root false aneurysm in 2 patients, prosthesis valve endocarditis with root abscess in 2 patients, and Behçet's disease with root destruction in 3 patients. The survival and freedom from aortic events during the follow-up were evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and the log-rank test. Results    The operative procedures included prosthesis-sparing root replacement in 45 patients, Bentall procedure in 26 patients, and Cabrol procedure in 4 patients. Operative mortality was 1.3% (1/75). A composite of adverse events occurred in 5 patients, including operative death (n=1), stroke (n=1), and acute renal injury necessitating hemodialysis (n=3). The follow-up was available for all 74 survivors, with the mean follow-up time of 0.5-92.0 (30.3±25.0) months. Four late deaths occurred during the follow-up. The survival rate at 1 year, 3 years and 6 years was 97.2%, 91.4% and 84.4%, respectively. Aortic events developed in 2 patients. The rate of freedom from aortic events at 1 year, 3 years, and 6 years was 98.7%, 95.0% and 87.7%, respectively. There was no difference in rate of survival or freedom from aortic events between the elective patients and the emergent patients. Conclusion    Reoperative aortic root replacement after prior AVR can be performed to treat the root pathologies after AVR, with acceptable early and mid-term outcomes.

Intra-Aortic Intimal Band Treated as a Chronic Type A Aortic Dissection / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

We present a case of a 76-year-old woman who was diagnosed with sarcoidosis due to enlarged hilar lymph nodes 6 year earlier. Computed tomography (CT) revealed asymptomatic Stanford type A dissection at that time. A chest radiograph taken a year ago showed obvious cardiac enlargement; therefore, echocardiography was performed for further investigation, which revealed severe aortic regurgitation. The patient was referred to our department for surgery after the contrast-enhanced CT revealed the same intra-aortic intimal flap as before. Transthoracic echocardiography showed cardiac enlargement with a left ventricular end-diastolic diameter of 61 mm and aortic regurgitation of 3/4 degree. Contrast-enhanced CT showed an approximately 3-mm-wide band-like structure (linear shadow) that appeared to be the intima of the ascending aorta; however, no entry or false lumen was apparent. The structure in the ascending aorta had an appearance distinct from that of a typical aortic dissection, but was deemed possible in chronic aortic dissection. Nevertheless, intraoperative findings revealed that the linear shadow shown on CT was not due to dissection. The band-like structure was actually the intima, and it was excised. The aortic valve was replaced with a biological valve and the ascending aorta was replaced with a prosthetic graft. She was discharged home on the 11th postoperative day after a favorable recovery. Pathological findings of the band-like structure revealed the intima of the blood vessel and no evidence of inflammatory cell infiltration. There was no evidence of aortic dissection. We encountered a rare case of intra-aortic intimal band that was misdiagnosed and treated as an aortic pseudodissection. It is difficult to rule out aortic dissection prior to surgery; therefore, it is preferable to prepare the operation as a dissection.

A Case of Intraoperative Iatrogenic Aortic Dissection during Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 70-year-old woman diagnosed with angina pectoris was scheduled to undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) using the left internal thoracic artery and the saphenous vein (SVG). We performed a proximal anastomosis of the SVG to the ascending aorta using a clampless proximal anastomotic device. When this device was removed from the ascending aorta after completion of the SVG proximal anastomosis, we noticed the extensive appearance of an ascending aortic adventitial hematoma. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed a flap in the ascending aorta, which was diagnosed as an iatrogenic aortic dissection. The decision was made to immediately perform an additional aortic replacement. There was an intimal tear consistent with the device insertion site, which was identified as the site for the development of aortic dissection. After performing an ascending aortic replacement, coronary artery bypass grafting was performed. Her postoperative course was uneventful, and enhanced CT on postoperative day 12 showed aortic dissection up to the level of the abdominal aorta, but the false lumen was completely thrombosed. Iatrogenic aortic dissection caused by proximal anastomotic device during OPCAB is a very rare but serious complication, and early intraoperative diagnosis and prompt additional surgical treatment were considered necessary to save the patient's life.

Aortic Arch Replacement via the L-Incision Approach for Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection with Pectus Excavatum / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

A 65-year-old woman who had been diagnosed with a thoracic aneurysm was admitted to our hospital because of loss of consciousness. Brain CT revealed that the left corticomedullary junction is obscured. Contrast-enhanced CT demonstrated an acute type A aortic dissection with right internal carotid artery occlusion, left internal carotid artery stenosis, and severe pectus excavatum. Although the consciousness level at the time of admission was JCS200, it gradually improved and she regained spontaneous movement of the right side of her body. Repair of the acute type A dissection was indicated because her neurological deficit had improved. The surgery was performed via an L-shaped approach consisting of a median sternotomy and a left 5th intercostal thoracotomy with moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest and selective cerebral perfusion. An entry was found in the aortic arch between the origins of the brachiocephalic artery and the left common carotid artery, and a partial arch replacement was performed using a four-branched artificial graft. Although the right hemiparesis remained, she recovered well and was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital at 45 days postoperatively. The L-incision approach obtained a good surgical field in a patient with a type A dissection and severe pectus excavatum.

Successful Management of Acute Type A Aortic Dissection with Spinal Cord Ischemia: A 3-Case Series / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

Spinal cord ischemia (SCI), a complication of acute aortic dissection, has no established treatment. Here, we report the successful management of three cases of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) with SCI using a multidisciplinary approach. Case 1: A 55-year-old man presented with paraparesis due to ATAAD (non-communicating type), cardiac tamponade, and no loss of consciousness. He underwent emergency surgery for ascending aortic replacement. He awoke 3 h after the surgery; however, as his paralysis was not improved, we initiated multidisciplinary treatment with cerebrospinal drainage, continuous infusion of naloxone, and steroid pulse therapy. These treatments led to the complete resolution of his symptom; he was discharged on Day 32, with no neurological deficits. Case 2: A 50-year-old woman presented with complete paralysis of the left lower limb due to ATAAD (communicating type) but no loss of consciousness. She underwent emergency surgery for ascending aortic replacement. She awoke 2 h after the surgery; however, as her paralysis was not improved, multidisciplinary treatment with cerebrospinal drainage, continuous infusion of naloxone, and steroid pulse therapy were initiated, which led to partial resolution of the symptoms. She could walk with orthotics and was discharged on Day 57. Case 3: A 43-year-old man presented with paraparesis of the left lower limb due to ATAAD (non-communicating type). He was hemodynamically stable, with no loss of consciousness. The ATAAD was conservatively managed, and multidisciplinary treatment with cerebrospinal drainage, continuous infusion of naloxone, and steroid pulse therapy was administered. These therapies led to the complete resolution of his symptoms; he was discharged on Day 46, with no neurological deficits. Hence, for ATAAD with SCI, multidisciplinary treatment, including emergency surgery, is an important therapeutic strategy.