An Infant Case of Anomalous Origin of the Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery Successfully Treated with Modified Spiral Cuff Technique / 日本心臓血管外科学会雑誌

The patient was a six-month-old girl with an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). She had fever and visited a family physician at 5 months of age. Because of poor oxygenation, she was referred to our pediatric department and intubated soon after hospitalization. Echocardiography showed that the orifice of left coronary artery was just above pulmonary commissure, the left ventricular ejection fraction was 9%, and the level of mitral regurgitation was moderate. Right coronary angiography showed that the left coronary artery contrasted against the collateral arteries. The left coronary artery originated from the left side of the pulmonary trunk. After recovery of the general condition with medical therapy, the patient underwent coronary artery reconstruction by the modified spiral cuff technique on the 21st day of hospitalization. The temporary detachment of pulmonary valve and its commissure for making a margin around the left coronary artery enabled us to make the spiral cuff in almost the usual manner. She was moved to the intensive care unit with the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and was successfully weaned off the VA-ECMO 5 days after the surgery. The postoperative course was good, and she was discharged from our hospital 3 months after the surgery. The echocardiogram one year after the surgery showed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 30%, mild mitral regurgitation, and mild pulmonary regurgitation. Our experience indicates that the spiral cuff technique is a useful coronary reconstruction method for the treatment of ALCAPA, especially in cases presenting a considerable distance between the origin of the left coronary artery and the transplantation site. There are few reports regarding the surgical treatment of infantile ALCAPA showing reduced left ventricular function. Coronary artery reconstruction using the spiral cuff method and planned VA-ECMO are useful surgical procedures in such cases. Our experience also suggests that the establishment of a treatment strategy including mechanical support is essential to improve the results in severe ALCAPA cases.

Tricuspid valve morphometry – In cadaveric study

Background: The tricuspid valve is situated between the right atrium and the right ventricle This valve prevents back flow of blood from the right ventricle to right atrium For cardiovascular surgeons, the morphometry of tricuspid valve is of clinical importance Aim: To study the tricuspid valve morphometry in cadavers Materials and methods: This study was conducted on 120 adult human hearts, whose age was ranging from 21 to 66 years, as decomposition or putrefaction might occur during medico-legal postmortem examination which was performed within nineteen hours of death so that the morphology and morphometry of the heart was not altered From the total number 30 hearts had accessory leaflets and scallops in tricuspid valve Results: : The weight of heart (g), circumference of tricuspid valve (mm), attachment length of leaflets and commissures (mm), height of three leaflets (mm) were the parameters which were studied Between the circumference of tricuspid valve with the weight of heart, attachments lengths of leaflets and the three commissures and leaflets height, a direct correlation was observed Conclusion: This study can be used as an important tool in anthropological studies, which was performed to improve analysis of the morphometric parameters of tricuspid valve and to correlate the various parameters and which further helped the cardiac surgeons and forensic experts to understand the anatomy of the tricuspid valve complex and appropriate design of valvular complex for transplantation

Anterior Commissure - Posterior Commissure Revisited

OBJECTIVE: The anterior commissure (AC) and posterior commissure (PC) are the two distinct anatomic structures in the brain which are difficult to observe in detail with conventional MRI, such as a 1.5T MRI system. However, recent advances in ultra-high resolution MRI have enabled us to examine the AC and PC directly. The objective of the present study is to standardize the shape and size of the AC and PC using a 7.0T MRI and to propose a new brain reference line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four, 21 males and 13 females, healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. After determining the center of each AC and PC, we defined the connection of these centers as the central intercommissural line (CIL). We compared the known extra- and intra-cerebral reference lines with the CIL to determine the difference in the angles. Additionally, we obtained horizontal line from flat ground line of look front human. RESULTS: The difference in angle of the CIL and the tangential intercommissural line (TIL) from the horizontal line was 8.7 +/- 5.1 (11 +/- 4.8) and 17.4 +/- 5.2 (19.8 +/- 4.8) degrees in males and females, respectively. The difference in angle between the CIL and canthomeatal line was 10.1 in both male and female, and there was no difference between both sexes. Likewise, there was no significant difference in angle between the CIL and TIL between both sexes (8.3 +/- 1.1 in male and 8.8 +/- 0.7 in female). CONCLUSION: In this study, we have used 7.0T MRI to define the AC and PC quantitatively and in a more robust manner. We have showed that the CIL is a reproducible reference line and serves as a standard for the axial images of the human brain.

Inter-Racial, Gender and Aging Influences in the Length of Anterior Commissure-Posterior Commissure Line

OBJECTIVE: The length of anterior-posterior commissure (AC-PC) in racial groups, age, gender of patients with deep brain stimulation (DBS) and pallidotomy were investigated. METHODS: From January 1996 to December 2003, 211 patients were treated with DBS and pallidotomy. There were 160 (76%) Caucasians, 35 (17%) Hispanics, 12 (5%) Asians and 4 Blacks (2%). There were 88 males and 52 females in DBS-surgery group and 44 males, 27 females in pallidotomy group. Mean age was 58 year-old. There were 19 males and 19 females and mean age was 54.7 years in the control group. Measurements were made on MRI and @Target software. RESULTS: The average AC-PC distance was 24.89 mm (range 32 to 19), which increased with aging until 75 years old in Caucasian and also increased with aging in Hispanic, but the AC-PC distance peaked at 45 years old in Hispanic. The order of AC-PC distance were 25.2+/-2 mm in Caucasian, 24.6+/-2.24 mm in Asian, 24.53 mm in Black, 23.6+/-1.98 mm in Hispanic. The average AC-PC distance in all groups was 24.22 mm in female who was mean age of 56.35, 25.28 mm in male who was mean age of 60.19 and 24.5+/-2 mm in control group that was excluded because of the difference of thickness of slice. According to multiple regression analysis, the AC-PC distance was significantly correlated with age, race, and gender. CONCLUSION: The AC-PC distance is significantly correlated with age, gender, and race. The atlas of functional stereotaxis would be depended on the variation of indivisual brain that can influenced by aging, gender, and race.

Prevention of Posterior Glottic Stenosis by Mitomycin-C in a Rabbit Model / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) is a disabling disease and most commonly induced by trauma from endotracheal intubation. We performed a randomized, controlled study with three animal groups to investigate the preventive effect of mitomycin-C on the posterior glottis undergone laser injury. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Twenty rabbits were available for evaluation. Group 1 (n=7) and 2 (n=6) were treated with topical mitomycin-C of 0.4 and 1.0 mg/ml, respectively, with the group 3 (n=7) used as the control. All animals underwent laser injury of 6 W, continuous mode on the posterior glottis. Group 1 and 2 were treated by a single topical use of cottonoid soaked in mitomycin-C solution on the injured posterior glottis for 5 minutes and the group 3 by saline. The posterior glottis of all groups was evaluated by telescopic examinations under direct laryngoscopy 2 months after the injury and was harvested for histological staining with hematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome. RESULTS: The scar, granulation tissue and synechia formation of the posterior glottis was clearly induced by laser injury. Microscopic examinations showed increased collagen content and fibroblast proliferation in the region. Topical use of mitomycin-C significantly decreased the incidence of such gross and microscopic changes of the posterior glottis (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Mitomycin-C prevents PGS via its anti-proliferative effect on fibroblasts. The use of Mitomycin-C is warranted for patients with a history of prolonged intubation or for those who have undergone surgery of the posterior glottis.