[Simultaneous carotid and coronary artery surgery in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis--report of three cases].

Some patients with coronary artery disease are diagnosed as having additional carotid artery disease. This subset of patients has been identified as a high-risk group for cardiac and cerebral complications following surgical intervention. Three patients who underwent combined CEA/CABG for coexistent asymptomatic carotid occlusive disease are reported. Case 1: A 69-year-old female who suffered chest pain on exertion. Her coronary angiogram showed severe stenosis of three vessels. Her carotid angiogram showed 98% stenosis of the right internal carotid artery and poor collateral circulation. The severe stenosis of her carotid artery was considered as a risk factor for perioperative cerebral stroke. Intraoperatively, CEA preceded the CABG. Postoperative course was uneventful. Case 2: A 64-year-old male. Intermittent claudication was his initial symptom. His coronary angiogram showed stenosis in three vessels and carotid angiogram showed 75% stenosis in the right carotid artery. Simultaneous CABG and CEA was performed. His postoperative course was uneventful. Case 3: A 62-year-old male whose ECG indicated ischemic heart disease, although he had no symptoms. His coronary angiogram showed stenosis in three vessels, and 80% stenosis of his right carotid artery was observed by carotid angiogram. He underwent simultaneous surgery, and had an uneventful postoperative course. It has been reported that 1.5-8.7% of CABG patients have severe carotid artery stenosis, and perioperative cerebral stroke occurs in 0.9-16%. Simultaneous surgery was successful in our three patients who had asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. Using this surgical approach for critical coexistent disease may minimize the incidence of perioperative cerebrovascular complications in patients undergoing CABG.

Leukocyte-depleted blood cardioplegia reduces cardiac troponin T release in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: Activated neutrophils have been implicated in reperfusion injury of the myocardium. Leukocyte depletion at reperfusion may contribute to better myocardial protection during cardiac surgery. We tested the efficacy of leukocyte-depleted blood cardioplegia in reducing myocardial injury during coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: Subjects were 27 patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting divided into controls (perfused with nonfiltered blood cardioplegia, n = 12) and those undergoing leukocyte-depleted blood cardioplegia (n = 15). Oxygenated blood mixed with a potassium crystalloid cardioplegic solution was delivered through the aortic root at every 30 minutes during cardiac arrest and terminal warm blood was administered before aortic declamping in both groups. In leukocyte depletion, blood was filtered prior to the mixture with crystalloid solution in the cardioplegic reservoir. RESULTS: Patient profiles did not differ significantly between groups, nor did systemic leukocyte count during or after surgery despite more than 81% removal of leukocytes in cardioplegic delivery. No consistent differences between groups in creatine kinase or creatine kinase-MB were seen up to 18 hours after surgery. Peak troponin T levels were significantly lower in the leukocyte-depleted blood cardioplegia group (0.52 +/- 0.13 ng/ml), however, than in controls (3.85 +/- 0.85 ng/ml). CONCLUSION: We concluded that leukocyte-depleted blood cardioplegia reduces the release of cardiac troponin T in patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting and may produce better myocardial protection in patients with impaired cardiac function or a damaged myocardium.

[A case report of pulmonary embolectomy using an endoscope for the detection of residual emboli].

A 61-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital because of palpitation, tachypnea and repeated syncopal attack. On admission, sinus tachycardia and hypoxia were noted without deterioration of consciousness. The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism was made by pulmonary angiography and right heart catheterization showing multiple pulmonary emboli and pulmonary hypertension. An emergent pulmonary embolectomy was performed under total cardiopulmonary bypass. Residual emboli of bilateral pulmonary arteries were detected with a fiberoptic choledochoscope and removed carefully with forceps. Pulmonary angioscopic evaluation appears to be safe and useful for direct visual detection of emboli and completion of embolectomy.

[Findings of the Carpentier-Edwards porcine bioprosthesis in the mitral position with PTF in the 16th post-operative year].

A 62-year-old woman, who had ever undergone mitral valve replacement with a 29 mm Carpentier-Edwards (C-E) porcine bioprosthesis for mitral regurgitation, was admitted to our hospital because of progressive dyspnea on effort. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed primary tissue failure (PTF) of the C-E bioprosthesis with prolapsing, thickening and impaired mobility of the leaflets which resulted in severe mitral stenosis and regurgitation. The patient was scheduled to elective operation for redo mitral valve replacement with a prosthetic mechanical valve. The removed C-E bioprosthesis showed (1) leaflet perforation, (2) commissural tear, (3) pannus overgrowth, (4) impaired leaflet mobility and (5) diffuse calcification. Despite all attempt to improve on bioprosthetic features, reported free rate from PTF decreased approximately after 10th postoperative year in any types of bioprostheses available. Our various degenerative findings on the C-E bioprosthesis in the 16th postoperative year may suggest the limitation of long-term durability of the bioprostheses, which needs to be concerned about in their surgical indication and choice.

[Bacterial culture of the anterior chest skin for prophylaxis in cardiovascular operations: prospective study in two civilian hospitals].

Mediastinitis after median stermotomy is a significant complication for a cardiovascular surgery. Prospective study of bacterial cultures of the anterior chest skin in cardiac and aortic surgery was performed with the comparison of two civilian hospitals. There were many ABPC-resistant bacteria including 26 to 67 percent of Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE). ABPC could not be chosen for the first drug of prophylaxis. Although there was a few CEZ-resistant SE, the efficacy of first-generation cephalosporins was acceptable in this series. If methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is detected in patient's preoperative bacterial cultures, vancomycin should be selected for prophylaxis. In patients with poor risk who required emergent cardiac surgery, combinational use of an first-generation cephalosporin and an amikacin or a minocycline should be recommended in our data.

[Two cases of mitral stenosis associated with ball thrombus in the left atrium].

Two patients (55-year-old female and 77-year-old female) were operated on for mitral stenosis associated with left atrial ball thrombus. The first case had the episode of cerebral infarction and second case had syncopal attack. Both of them presented with systemic arterial embolism. After confirmation of the diagnosis by echocardiography, removal of ball thrombi, OMC and MVR were carried out urgently. Considering high risk of "hole in one sudden death" and multiple-episodes of systemic embolization, ball thrombus should be removed as urgent following confirmation of diagnosis.

[A case report of surgical management of blunt ruptured right atrium with blunt ruptured liver].

This is a case report of a 23 year old female involved in a car accident that caused blunt trauma to the patient. First of all, she was found to have cardiac tamponade when the abdomen was explored to suture and to put the gaze compression on for hemostasis of the ruptured liver. Then, she was brought to our institution by the ambulance. Upon the exploration of the heart under standby of extracorporal circulation (ECC), small multiple lacerations were found at the junction of the right atrium and superior vena cava. These were sutured directly to close without ECC. On the 2nd postoperative day, she was bought to the OR again to removal of the gaze tamponade from the ruptured liver and to complete hemostasis. The patient was discarded 35 days after admission.

[Obstruction of the true lumen by retrograde perfusion during repair of DeBakey type I aortic dissection: a case report].

Retrograde femoral perfusion is often used during the repair of DeBakey type I aortic dissections, however, it may cause serious ischemic damage of vital organs even though the arterial cannula is properly placed. A 58-year-old woman with chest pain was admitted to our hospital. She was operated on urgently because chest computed tomograms revealed that she suffered from a DeBakey type I aortic dissection. A ringed graft, 22 mm in diameter, was implanted into the ascending aorta using retrograde perfusion through the right femoral artery. Following the removal of the aortic cross-clamp and rewarming, the prosthetic graft remained flaccid and the heart failed to resume beating. We speculated that retrograde femoral perfusion caused the true lumen obstruction while distending the false lumen. This resulted in blocking reperfusion of the coronary arteries. After antegrade perfusion was initiated through an 8 mm Dacron graft which was anastmosed to the ringed graft, the heart soon resumed beating. During the repair of DeBakey type I aortic dissections, this serious complication should be anticipated. If it occurs, retrograde femoral perfusion must be exchanged for antegrade aortic perfusion before irreversible changes occur.

[Operative removal of esophageal leiomyosarcoma: a case report].

This is a case report of 56-year-old man complaining of dysphasia. Upon admission, his chest X-ray film revealed medium amount of fluid accumulation in the right pleural space. Cytological examination of the aspirated fluid revealed nothing particular. Preoperative radiological examination including esophagogram, CT and MRI demonstrated cystic appearance of mass lesion, measuring approximately 5 cm in size located in posterior aspect of the lower portion of the mediastinum. Upon operation, it was found that a tumor with pedunculated connection to the esophageal muscle layer, suspecting diagnosis of leiomyoma of the esophagus. Then, tumor was removed together with the part of esophageal muscle. Postoperative pathology reported leiomyosarcoma of the esophagus with low grade malignancy. We added no esophagectomy. He made uneventful recovery without no sign of recurrence of the malignancy, 4 years after the surgery.

[A case report of the radical correction of a truncus arteriosus and peripheral pulmonary stenosis in association with Holt-Oram syndrome].

A one year and 6 months old female infant was admitted to our department for a radical correction of a truncus arteriosus (Collett-Edwards type II). She also had a peripheral pulmonary stenosis and Holt-Oram syndrome. Under a cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermia, PFO was closed directly. First of all, the pulmonary arteries were dissected from the aorta, the defect of the aorta was closed directly and VSD was closed with Dacron fabric patch. The reconstruction of the pulmonary arteries were performed with valved conduit which consisted of Dacron graft and 14 mm Björk-Shily valve. The post-operative course was uneventful. Cardiac catheterization study, done 77 days after surgery, revealed 44 mmHg of pressure gradient between RV outflow tract and right PA. The patient was doing well and two years have passed since the surgery. She should be observed carefully at the out-patient clinic due to the mechanical valve and the presence of pressure gradient at RV outflow tract.

[Surgical management of coronary artery fistula with tricuspid stenosis in a three-month-old infant].

This is a case report of a 3-month-old infant who had been suffering from progression of cardiac failure. Two dimensional echo-cardiography revealed a fistula between the right coronary artery to the right heart. He was operated upon using extracorporeal circulation. Symbas procedure was carried out to close the fistula. Upon opening the right atrium, there noted tricuspid stenosis (TS). Then, ASD was created to reduce the right atrial pressure to prevent right heart failure secondary to TS. He is doing well postoperatively.

[Mitral valve replacement and closure of atrial septal defect in the case associated with Marfan syndrome].

This is a case report of 8-years-old boy, who was diagnosed mitral regurgitation, secundum type of atrial septal defect and annulo-aortic ectasia in association with Marfan syndrome. His diagnosis was confirmed at the age of 6 years when cardiac catheterization was carried out. Atrial septal defect was closed using PTFE patch (0.2 mm in thickness). His diseased mitral valve was replaced with CarboMedics prosthesis 27 mm in diameter. Because of intact aortic valvular function, we left the ectatic aorta alone at present time for future procedure. His postoperative course was uneventful. He is active and doing well at present and has been followed-up at the outpatient clinic routinely. He might be having to require AVR and graft implantation for ectatic ascending aorta.

[Myxoma originating from right ventricle found incidentally with cardiac murmur--a case report of surgical treatment].

We report a rare case of a 21-year-old male who had myxoma originating from septal band of the right ventricle. He was otherwise healthy young man without any associated symptom. His cardiac murmur was found incidentally upon routine health control mass examination. Subsequently, echocardiography and angiocardiography demonstrated a tumor occupying the right ventricular outflow tract and protruding into the main pulmonary artery in systolic phase. He was operated upon using extracorporeal circulation. By right ventriculotomy the tumor was resected together with septal tissue 5 mm around the stalk, which branched into the myocardium. Resected mass was 4 x 3.7 cm in size and 5 grams in weight. Because of the frozen section of the surgical stump was positive for tumor cells, additional resection of septal myocardium was carried out. The defect was closed using mattress sutures with dacron felt strips. His postoperative course was uneventful. Thirty-two months after the surgery, patient has no sign of recurrence. Right ventricular myxoma is uncommon with only 27 cases appearing in Japanese literature. In review of literature, we discussed the characteristics and management of the right ventricular myxoma.

[Endoscopic closure of the postoperative bronchopleural fistula].

A case of successful endoscopic closure of a bronchopleural fistula with fibrin glue was reported. Fifty-eight-year-old man underwent right lower lobectomy for lung carcinoma. On the 21st postoperative day, he suffered from high fever and diagnosed as right side pyothorax. Then tube thoracotomy was done under UCG-guide. As a fistula in the right lower bronchial stump was found tiny by BFS, we tried to close the fistula bronchoscopically with fibrin glue. The fibrin glue was injected into the fistula via the ERCP tube, which was passed through the bronchoscope. This procedure was performed twice for two weeks interval. The fistula was completely closed about a month after the trial. This method is useful to close postoperative small bronchopleural fistula without surgical intervention.

[Surgical repair of postinfarction cardiac rupture in three cases].

Operative managements and results of postinfarction left ventricular (LV) rupture in 2 patients and right atrial (RA) rupture in one patient are reviewed. Two patients showed both subacute onset of LV rupture in association with cardiac tamponade. The site of infarction was inferior wall in one and anterior wall in the other. Both patients underwent infarctectomy with closure of the defect using a Dacron felt patch. Endocardial site of the Dacron patches were covered with own pericardium to avoid bleeding from the patch and postoperative complication of endocardial clot formation. The case with extended inferior wall infarction was succumbed to cardiac failure and acute renal failure at the twelfth postoperative day. The other case was uneventful postoperatively and shows excellent long-term result. Left ventriculography and coronary angiographic studies were carried out 3 months after the surgery. It demonstrated 43% of LVEF. Multiple stenotic lesions were also noted in left coronary artery. The third patient was rupture of the RA in association with cardiac tamponade. Direct suture closure of the rupture was carried out under extracorporeal circulatory support. Patient tolerated the procedure well. Postoperatively, he suffered from exacerbation of renal insufficiency necessitating hemodialysis for a month. He discharged from hospital and now in the good condition. Postoperative RI study and coronary angiography demonstrated no compatible finding of right atrial infarction. However, pathological specimen revealed definite diagnosis of the infarction at the RA appendage.

[Risk factors influencing the prognosis of severe aortic valve disease following aortic valve replacement].

As a result of improvement in intraoperative and postoperative management, severe aortic valve disease can be cured by operation, however, late cardiogenic sudden death after aortic valve replacement (AVR) has been existed as one of the important unsolved problem. This report is aimed to predict the risk factors influencing the postoperative prognosis of severe aortic valve disease. Twenty-three cases with aortic regurgitation (AR) and 20 cases with aortic stenosis (AS) were selected by postoperative period over 12 months. In 18 AR cases with normal coronary artery substantiated by selective coronary angiography, cross sectional area index of left ventricular wall (CSAI) and ST depression in left chest leads of electrocardiogram correlated well as the CSAI increased, so decreased the ST segment. This shows the increment of CSAI leads left ventricular endocardial ischemia. By means of introduction of this indicator, 23 AR and 20 AS patients were divided into two groups as group C-I having CSAI over 20 cm2/m2 and group C-II under 20 cm2/m2. Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was selected as an predictive indicator of left ventricular function. As same as CSAI, AVR cases were divided into two groups as group E-I having EF under 50% and E-II over 50%. Each group was compared concerning with the complication rate of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LOS) and late cardiogenic sudden death. In C-I group of AR, 55% cases accompanied with LOS, 18% died due to LOS and 18% died suddenly from late cardiogenic cause, however, none of cases in C-II group had these complications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)