A case of destination therapy for post-fulminant myocarditis with myelodysplastic syndrome.

We encountered a 64-year-old woman who experienced fulminant myocarditis and underwent treatment with veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and Impella CP support. Subsequently, she underwent a device upgrade to Impella 5.5 and received continuous hemodiafiltration for 3 months. During mechanical circulatory support, she developed refractory anemia and thrombocytopenia, leading to a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome. Following the removal of the devices, she no longer required blood transfusions. She received HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device implantation as a destination therapy indication despite the presence of myelodysplastic syndrome. She was successfully managed by aspirin-free antithrombotic therapy without any hemocompatibility-related adverse events for 4 months after index discharge on foot. We present a patient with a unique and rare presentation, wherein HeartMate 3 was implanted and successfully managed without aspirin to prevent bleeding complications associated with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Probiotics may alleviate intestinal damage induced by cardiopulmonary bypass in children.

OBJECTIVES: Intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury induced by cardiopulmonary bypass causes intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction, leading to dysbiosis and bacterial translocation. We conducted a randomized prospective study with 2 objectives: (i) to investigate epithelial barrier dysfunction and bacterial translocation induced by cardiopulmonary bypass and changes in the gut microbiota and (ii) to verify whether probiotics can improve these conditions. METHODS: Between 2019 and 2020, patients 0-15 years old scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled and randomly allocated to 2 groups: the intervention group received probiotics and the control group did not receive probiotics. We analysed the microbiota in faeces and blood, organic acid concentrations in faeces, plasma intestinal fatty acid-binding protein and immunological responses. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were enrolled in this study. The characteristics of the patients were similar in both groups. The total number of obligate anaerobes was higher in the intervention group than in the control group after postoperative day 7. We identified 4 clusters within the perioperative gut microbiota, and cluster changes showed a corrective effect of probiotics on dysbiosis after postoperative day 7. Organic acid concentrations in faeces, incidence of bacterial translocation, intestinal fatty acid-binding protein levels and immunological responses, except for interleukin -17A, were not markedly different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of probiotics was able to correct dysbiosis but did not sufficiently alleviate the intestinal damage induced by cardiopulmonary bypass. More effective methods should be examined to prevent disturbances induced by cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000037174 UMIN000035556.

Successful management of HeartMate 3 in a patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

The management of right heart failure during durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support remains an unsolved issue so far. We had a 44-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and received HeartMate 3 LVAD (Abbott, USA) implantation as a bridge-to-transplant indication. The pump speed was adjusted as low as 4500 rpm to avoid the left ventricular narrowing and interventricular septal leftward shift. Riociguat was administered to decrease the afterload of the right ventricle and increase the preload of the left ventricle, in addition to the combination of neurohormonal blockers. Frequent low-flow alarm events eventually disappeared after amlodipine administration, and he was successfully returned to work. We here present a unique management in a patient with right heart failure due to arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy during HeartMate 3 LVAD support.

[Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Mycotic Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm After BCG Intravesical Therapy].

Bacille Calmette-Guérin( BCG) intravesical therapy is an effective and safe treatment for bladder cancer; however, mycotic aneurysms have been reported as a rare complication. Case 1:A 64-year-old man with a history of BCG intravesical therapy underwent emergent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). He was diagnosed with BCG infection by hemosputum specimen culture five months later;then, antituberculous therapy was initiated. However, his follow-up computed tomography scan revealed stent-graft infection and new aneurysm formation. Therefore, we performed a repeated TEVAR with abdominal 4-vessel debranching. There was no recurrence of infection for six years while continuing postoperative antituberculous therapy. Case 2:A 72-year-old man who had undergone BCG intravesical therapy underwent TEVAR for a rapidly enlarging mycotic TAA. He received anti-tuberculous therapy for one year with no recurrent infection for one year. TEVAR may be an effective alternative to the open surgical procedure;however, multidisciplinary treatment including anti-tuberculous therapy and careful long-term follow up are required.

Association between intraoperative pulmonary artery pressure and cardiovascular complications after off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery: a single-center observational study.

BACKGROUND: The impact of intraoperative pulmonary hemodynamics on prognosis after off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery remains unknown. In this study, we examined the association between intraoperative vital signs and the development of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization or within 30 days postoperatively. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed data from a university hospital. The study cohort comprised consecutive patients who underwent isolated OPCAB surgery between November 2013 and July 2021. We calculated the mean and coefficient of variation of vital signs obtained from the intra-arterial catheter, pulmonary artery catheter, and pulse oximeter. The optimal cut-off was defined as the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) with the largest Youden index (Youden index = sensitivity + specificity - 1). Multivariate logistic regression analysis ROC curves were used to adjust all baseline characteristics that yielded P values of < 0.05. RESULTS: In total, 508 patients who underwent OPCAB surgery were analyzed. The mean patient age was 70.0 ± 9.7 years, and 399 (79%) were male. There were no patients with confirmed or suspected preoperative pulmonary hypertension. Postoperative MACE occurred in 32 patients (heart failure in 16, ischemic stroke in 16). The mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was significantly higher in patients with than without MACE (19.3 ± 3.0 vs. 16.7 ± 3.4 mmHg, respectively; absolute difference, 2.6 mmHg; 95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 3.8). The area under the ROC curve of PAP for the prediction of MACE was 0.726 (95% confidence interval, 0.645 to 0.808). The optimal mean PAP cut-off was 18.8 mmHg, with a specificity of 75.8% and sensitivity of 62.5% for predicting MACE. After multivariate adjustments, high PAP remained an independent risk factor for MACE. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide the first evidence that intraoperative borderline pulmonary hypertension may affect the prognosis of patients undergoing OPCAB surgery. Future large-scale prospective studies are needed to verify the present findings.

Intraoperative Heparin Resistance after Administration of Andexanet Alfa to Manage an Internal Iliac Artery Aneurysm Rupture: A Case Report.

Antithrombotic agents are increasingly prescribed to older adults; however, they are associated with bleeding-related complications. We describe a case of intraoperative heparin resistance after administration of andexanet alfa (AA). An 81-year-old man was diagnosed with a ruptured internal iliac artery aneurysm. The patient required emergency endovascular aneurysm repair and was treated with AA because he was receiving apixaban. Despite high-dose intraoperative heparin administration, his activated coagulation time was not prolonged. Our findings suggest that AA should be administered with caution in patients experiencing potentially fatal bleeding (requiring surgical intervention) who are also receiving direct oral anticoagulants.

Mitral valve plasty in a patient with multiple cerebral cavernous malformations: A case report.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are blood vessel malformations, often untreated if asymptomatic. However, upon cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, cerebral edema/hemorrhage may occur. We successful performed mitral valve plasty for a case of severe mitral regurgitation with multiple CCMs. Preoperative head magnetic resonance imaging and strict perioperative management are important.

An autopsy case of sudden unexpected death with Barlow's disease.

A 45-year-old man was clinically diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation 2 years before death. The autopsy showed left ventricular hypertrophy and mitral valve prolapse of the bileaflet with billowing valve and excessively thickened leaflet, the findings of which were consistent with Barlow's disease. Microscopically, destruction of the 3-layer structure of the mitral valve and advanced interstitial fibrosis of the left ventricular wall were evident. Additionally, a marked but limited reduction in conduction fibers was found in the branching point of the left and right branches, as seen in cases of idiopathic complete atrioventricular block. Genetic investigation using whole-exome sequencing showed some genetic variants with uncertain significance. In patients with Barlow's disease, a marked reduction of conduction fibers might be a subtype of sudden cardiac death. The overlap of some arrhythmogenic substrate in the heart may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death with asymptomatic Barlow's disease.

A case of chronic myocarditis remitted by immunosuppressive and central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy.

The concept and therapeutic strategy for chronic lymphocytic myocarditis remain unestablished. We had a 57-year-old man with advanced biventricular (predominantly right ventricular) failure due to chronic lymphocytic myocarditis. He received central extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy that was explanted on day 129 following the aggressive steroid pulse and plasma exchange therapy. Infiltration of inflammatory cells persisted even after the device removal, which required long-term oral steroid administration after the index discharge on day 200. High-sensitivity cardiac troponin T level was normalized and inflammatory cell infiltration was remitted following post-discharge 4-month 10 mg/day prednisolone therapy. Aggressive immunosuppressive therapy under mechanical circulatory support might be a promising strategy for those with chronic lymphocytic myocarditis. .

A Rescue Use of ECPELLA for Sepsis-Induced Cardiogenic Shock Followed by Mitral Valve Replacement.

The use of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with sepsis-induced cardiogenic shock has been reported, but the clinical implication of the Impella percutaneous axial-flow left ventricular assist device for such patients remains unknown. We had a 37-year-old man with septic shock and severely reduced cardiac function. Veno-arterial ECMO and concomitant Impella CP support ameliorated his end-organ dysfunction and achieved cardiac recovery, whereas severe mitral valve regurgitation due to chordal rupture developed later. Mitral valve replacement concomitant with ECMO removal as well as an Impella upgrade successfully treated the patient. ECMO and Impella support might be an effective therapeutic strategy for the bridge to recovery in patients with sepsis-induced cardiogenic shock; however, paying attention to mitral chordal rupture is highly encouraged.

Takayasu Arteritis Complicated by Ischemic Colitis: A Case Report.

Takayasu arteritis is an inflammatory disease of the aorta and its major branches, which results in stenosis and aneurysm formation. Lesions of the abdominal aorta and renal arteries are common. Nevertheless, lesions of the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries are less common. Since the inferior mesenteric artery is usually preserved and functions as a collateral pathway, developing intestinal ischemia is very rare in patients with Takayasu arteritis. In this study, we report the case of a patient with Takayasu arteritis complicated by ischemic colitis. The patient was treated with surgical repair, which resolved the patient's symptoms.

Trans-Apical Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in a Dialysis Patient with Systolic Heart Failure.

Mortality and morbidity remain high following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in dialysis patients or those with low left ventricular ejection fraction. Therapeutic strategy for those with these comorbidities remains unestablished. We had a dialysis patient with peripheral artery disease and low left ventricular ejection fraction, who received successfully scheduled trans-apical TAVR following sufficient reverse remodeling by 3-month optimal medical therapy. Our strategy should be validated in a larger robust cohort.

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale accompanying right-to-left shunt during Impella support.

We experienced a 65-year-old woman who was diagnosed as fulminant myocarditis and transferred on mechanical ventilator and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) supports. Impella 5.0 support was additionally initiated to improve pulmonary edema and unload left ventricle. We found a patent foramen ovale (PFO) at the time of Impella insertion by transesophageal echocardiography. Follow-up transesophageal echocardiography found a development of right-to-left shunt flow through PFO accompanying central hypoxia during Impella P8 support. Veno-arterial ECMO was converted to veno-arterio-venous ECMO and PFO was occluded percutaneously on the next day, which stabilized hemodynamics and systemic oxygen supply. In case of Impella 5.0 support, the existence of PFO and the development of right-to-left shunt flow should be carefully surveyed and closed immediately to maintain hemodynamics and systemic oxygen supply.

Aortic valve replacement in a patient with self-reported systemic multiple metal allergy.

We report our experience with aortic valve replacement in a patient with severe aortic stenosis who had self-reported allergies to multiple metals. The patient was a 74-year-old man. He developed palmoplantar pustulosis after using a dental prosthesis, and a patch test revealed reactions to several metals; therefore, he was diagnosed with systemic metal allergy. His condition progressed to severe aortic stenosis, and bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement was planned. The Avalus valve (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was selected for aortic valve replacement, since the patient reported having allergies to several metals. While most devices used in cardiac surgery contain some amount of metal, the Avalus bioprosthetic valve does not contain metal in the stent and has been extremely useful for aortic valve replacement in patients with suspected metal allergies.

Primary Cardiac Angiosarcoma Accompanying Cardiac Tamponade.

A de novo cardiac malignant tumor is rare and sometimes challenging to diagnose. We encountered a 67-year-old man without any medical history complaining of dyspnea on effort. On admission, his hemodynamics were deteriorated due to cardiac tamponade, which was improved by percutaneous drainage of 1,200 mL pericardial effusion, showing 11.0 g/dL of hemoglobin. We suspected primary cardiac malignancy following multidisciplinary tests, and a cardiac biopsy via sternotomy demonstrated the definitive diagnosis of primary malignant tumor (angiosarcoma) infiltrating the right atrial myocardium. We initiated weekly paclitaxel therapy. Further studies are warranted to establish the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for de novo cardiac malignancy.

Diagnosis of Carney complex following multiple recurrent cardiac myxomas.

Carney complex is a rare syndrome caused by a genetic mutation leading to multiple endocrine abnormalities and a variety of tumors. Here, we report a case of Carney complex diagnosed due to recurrent multiple myxomas in the right atrium of a patient 16 years after the resection of the primary left atrial myxoma. Surgical excision was performed for the multiple recurrent right atrial tumors under cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient remained complication-free after surgery and was discharged on the 14th day. He was scheduled to continue echocardiographic follow-up and periodic systemic review by an endocrinologist. This case emphasizes the fact that if cardiac myxomas tend to be multiple and recurrent at a relatively young age, the possibility of Carney complex should be considered, even in the absence of any other related feature other than cardiac tumors.

Anastomotic stenosis of a reconstructed dissecting superior mesenteric artery aneurysm undetectable by intraoperative indocyanine green angiography: A case report.

Intraoperative evaluation of blood flow using ICG angiography revealed no significant abnormality. However, the anastomotic stenosis was revealed by postoperative CT angiography; more precise intraoperative evaluation methods need to be developed.

Acute Heart Failure in a Patient with Occult Barlow's Disease Receiving Bevacizumab.

Bevacizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody and a key drug for treatment of various types of cancer. Bevacizumab is associated with the occurrence of heart failure, but its risk factors remain unknown. A 55-year-old woman was diagnosed with cervical cancer, which was completely treated by bevacizumab-incorporated chemotherapy. During the 9-month bevacizumab therapy, she suffered from hypertension requiring multiple antihypertensive agents. She was admitted to our hospital due to acute heart failure with afterload mismatch and severe mitral regurgitation. A transesophageal echocardiography showed Barlow's disease with a degenerated and widely prolapsed mitral valve. She received a scheduled surgical mitral valve repair. Post-operative cause was uneventful, but metastatic dissemination developed later. The existence of mitral valve regurgitation, even when sub-clinical, might be a risk of worsening heart failure during bevacizumab therapy. Careful follow-up at an onco-cardiology clinic is highly encouraged particularly for such a cohort during bevacizumab therapy.

Application of the Konno procedure for infective endocarditis in native bicuspid aortic valve with annular abscess extending into the interventricular septum.

Annular abscess is a serious complication of infective endocarditis, which often requires complex surgery and has a very high post-operative mortality rate. The Konno procedure involves valve annuloplasty for a narrow aortic annulus or left ventricular outflow tract stenosis in children; it is also performed for various cardiac conditions in adults. Here, we report a case of the Konno procedure performed in a patient with aortic valve infective endocarditis, with an annular abscess extending into the interventricular septum (IVS). A 58-year-old man who presented to our hospital with fever was diagnosed with aortic valve infective endocarditis caused by Streptococcus saccharolyticus. On echocardiography, an annular abscess in the direction of the IVS was detected, and surgery was planned. The Konno procedure was performed to secure an adequate surgical field and to debride and reconstruct the cavity created by the interventricular septal abscess. The patient was discharged uneventfully 29 days after surgery.

Peak Lag Between Plasma Vasopressin and Urine Aquaporin-2 Following Cardiac Surgery.

Tolvaptan, a vasopressin type-2 receptor antagonist, is utilized to ameliorate fluid retention following cardiac surgery. However, the optimal timing of tolvaptan administration considering novel biomarkers remains unknown. We prospectively included patients who underwent cardiac surgery between 2016 and 2020. We measured perioperative trends of free water reabsorption mediators including plasma arginine vasopressin and urine aquaporin-2. A total of 20 patients (68 [60, 75] years old, 18 men) were included. Urine volume decreased gradually after the initial 3 hours following cardiac surgery. The plasma arginine vasopressin level increased significantly with a peak at postoperative 6 hours, whereas the urine aquaporin-2 level increased later with a delayed peak at postoperative 12 hours. As a result, urine aquaporin-2 relative to the plasma arginine vasopressin level, which represents the activity of the collecting ducts and indicates predicted responses to tolvaptan, was a minimum at postoperative 6 hours. Tolvaptan administration immediately after cardiac surgery might not be recommended given the transient refractoriness to tolvaptan probably due to the stunning of kidney collecting ducts.