Two-stage Surgical Treatment of a Giant Solitary Fibrous Tumor Occupying the Thoracic Cavity.

A solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a mesenchymal fibroblastic tumor inside the pleura, for which complete surgical resection is the standard treatment. For large SFTs, preoperative identification of tumor-feeding vessels using angiography is important for achieving complete resection without unexpected operative bleeding. Extensive adhesions can make resection difficult in a limited operative window, and pulmonary resection may be required to achieve complete SFT resection. Herein, we report successful resection of a large pleural SFT in a 39-year-old man without any complications using a 2-stage approach, in which ligation of the feeding vessels through small another operative window was the first step.

Simplified surgical approach to improve surgical outcomes in the center with a small volume of acute type A aortic dissection surgery.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent advances in surgical techniques and perioperative management, the surgical mortality of acute type A aortic dissection remains high. OBJECTIVE: In a hospital with few acute type A aortic dissection operations, we retrospectively investigated whether simplified surgical approach could obtain proper surgical outcomes. METHODS: Between October 2007 and December 2016, we performed emergency surgery in 99 patients who had acute type A aortic dissection, including replacement of the hemi-arch in 62 patients (63%) and total arch in 32 patients (32%) and aortic root surgery in 7 patients (7%). Surgical strategy has been simplified over time. RESULTS: We performed right axillary artery perfusion in 61 patients (62%) and antegrade cerebral perfusion in 78 patients (79%). During the last 3 years, in-hospital mortality was decreased to 4% (2/47). Preoperative unresolved shock was an independent predictor of hospital death. Although the patients with total arch replacement or aortic root surgery had a mean significantly long cardiopulmonary bypass or circulatory arrest time, in-hospital mortality or neurologic complications was not increased. CONCLUSIONS: Simplified surgical approach could provide a reasonable surgical outcome in acute type A aortic dissection surgery in a center with a small volume of acute aortic dissection surgery.

Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Patients with the Cox Maze Procedure Concurrently with Other Cardiac Operations.

BACKGROUND: In elderly patients who have atrial fibrillation (AF), surgical ablation of the arrhythmia during cardiac surgery may be challenging. Despite the reported advantages of ablating AF with the Cox maze procedure (CMP), the addition of the CMP may complicate other cardiac operations. We evaluated the effect of the CMP in elderly patients concurrent with other cardiac operations. METHODS: From October 2007 to December 2015, we enrolled 27 patients aged >70 years who had AF and who underwent the CMP concurrently with other cardiac operations. The mean preoperative additive European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation score was 8±11 (high risk). RESULTS: Only 1 hospital death occurred (4%). The Kaplan-Meier method showed a high 5-year cumulative survival rate (92%). At mean follow-up of 51 months, 23 patients (89%) had sinus rhythm conversion. The postoperative left atrial dimensions did not significantly differ between the 8 patients who had reduction plasty for giant left atrium (53.4±7.5 cm) and the 19 patients who did not have reduction plasty (48.7±5.7 cm). CONCLUSION: In patients aged >70 years, concurrent CMP may be associated with a high rate of sinus rhythm conversion without increased surgical risk, despite the added complexity of the main cardiac procedure.

Haemodynamic improvement of older, previously replaced mechanical mitral valves by removal of the subvalvular pannus in redo cardiac surgery.

Patients requiring redo cardiac surgery for diseased heart valves other than mitral valves may show increased pressure gradients and reduced valve areas of previously placed mechanical mitral valves due to subvalvular pannus formation. We treated four women who had mechanical mitral valves inserted greater than or equal to 20 years earlier and who presented with circular pannus that protruded into the lower margin of the valve ring but did not impede leaflet motion. Pannus removal improved the haemodynamic function of the mitral valve.

Simple Anastomotic Techniques for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in Patients with Small Coronary Arteries or a Marked Size Discrepancy Between the Coronary Artery and Graft.

Different suture techniques have been used for anastomosis in coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Bypass surgery may be difficult for patients who have small coronary arteries or marked size discrepancies between target coronary arteries and grafts. For proximal and distal anastomoses, three continuous stitches are first placed in the heel and toe of the small coronary arteries; for sequential anastomosis, an interrupted eight-stitch technique is used. We applied these anastomotic suture techniques in patients requiring coronary artery bypass graft surgery, achieving an early angiographic patency rate of 100%.

SRSF5: a novel marker for small-cell lung cancer and pleural metastatic cancer.

OBJECTIVES: SR-splicing factors (SRSFs) play important roles in oncogenesis. However, the expression of SRSF 5-7 proteins in lung cancer (LC) is unclear, and their use in the diagnosis of pleural diseases has never been assessed. We evaluated SRSF 5-7 protein levels in LC and their diagnostic potential for cancer cells in lung and pleural effusion (PE) and, for the dysregulated SRSFs, investigated their neutralization effect on LC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: SRSF 5-7 levels in lung tissue and PE cell lysate samples (n=453) were compared with the results of conventional tumor markers. Knockdown of SRSF gene expression was performed using small interfering RNAs on small-cell LC (SCLC) cell lines. RESULTS: In lung tissue analysis, SRSF 5-7 levels were up-regulated in LC samples compared with non-tumoral lung tissue samples; they were markedly higher in SCLC than in adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. SRSF5 showed the highest detection accuracy (89%) for total LC, and it was superior to that (74%) of carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA, a commonly used non-SCLC (NSCLC) marker]. Notably, the detection accuracies of the three SRSFs for SCLC were all 100% and higher than that (69%) of a pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (a well-known SCLC marker). In PE cell analysis, the detection accuracy (86%) of SRSF5 for malignant cells was highest among SRSFs and comparable to that (83%) of CEA. SRSF5 additionally detected 70% of CEA-missed non-NSCLC cases. Down-regulation of the SRSFs induced mild (SRSF5 and SRSF7) to remarkably (SRSF6) reduced cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated the up-regulated expression of SRSF 5-7 proteins in LC with much more profound up-regulation in SCLC than in NSCLC and suggest that up-regulation of the SRSFs is related to SCLC proliferation. Moreover, we identified SRSF5 as a novel detection marker for SCLC and pleural metastatic cancer cells.

Intimal Detachment of the Left Main Coronary Artery in a Marfan Patient with Acute Aortic Dissection: An Alternative Technique for Coronary Revascularization.

In patients with acute type A aortic dissection, intimal detachment associated with circumferential dissection of the left main coronary artery (LMCA) is a rare but lethal complication. We report a Marfan patient with dissection and intimal detachment of the LMCA that was caused by acute aortic dissection involving the left aortic sinus and that was reconstructed using a short reversed saphenous vein graft. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12746 (J Card Surg 2016;31:348-350).

Dynamic mitral annular motion after posterior mitral annuloplasty: Use of a strip that is designed for placement in the posterior annulus.

BACKGROUND: Most annuloplasty rings and bands used for mitral valve repair restrict annular motion due to their fixation to the posterior annulus, the commissures, and the trigones. OBJECTIVE: Annular motion was evaluated after posterior mitral annuloplasty (PMA) for correction of mitral valve regurgitation (MR) using a strip that is designed for placement in the posterior annulus only, sparing the anterior annulus and both commissural angles. METHODS: Valve annular dynamics were analyzed in 51 patients who underwent PMA for MR. In 37 patients (72.5%), additional associated procedures were performed: new chord placement (n = 35), patch valvuloplasty (n = 4), and posterior leaflet augmentation (n = 12). Patients received serial echocardiographic follow-up. RESULTS: After PMA, the MR grade was nil or mild (0 and 1+) in 47 patients (92.1%), moderate (2+) in 3 patients (5.9%), and moderate to severe (3+) in 1 patient (2.0%). The maximum and minimum septo-lateral dimensions during the cardiac cycle were 21.7 ± 4.8 mm and 18.1 ± 4.1 mm (p < 0.0001), respectively, and the change ratios were 19.8 ± 9.3%. While the septo-lateral dimensions exhibited dynamic changes, the aorto-mitral dimensions remained constant throughout the cardiac cycle. CONCLUSIONS: PMA preserves dynamic septo-lateral motion of the mitral valve annulus during the cardiac cycle.

Delayed recovery of right ventricular systolic function after repair of long-standing tricuspid regurgitation associated with severe right ventricular failure.

After tricuspid valve surgery for long-standing tricuspid regurgitation associated with right ventricular failure, reverse remodelling of the enlarged right ventricle, including recovery of right ventricular systolic function, is unpredictable. We present the case of a 31-year old man with early reduction of dilated right ventricular dimensions and delayed recovery of impaired right ventricular systolic function after valve repair for traumatic tricuspid regurgitation lasting 16 years.

Mediastinal Desmoid Tumor With Remarkably Rapid Growth: A Case Report.

Desmoid tumors (DTs) are a group of rare and benign soft tissue tumors that result from monoclonal proliferation of well-differentiated fibroblasts. Since DTs tend to infiltrate and compress adjacent structures, the location of DTs is one of the most crucial factors for determining the severity of the disease. Furthermore, DTs can further complicate the clinical course of patients when the growth is remarkably rapid, especially for DTs occurring in anatomically critical compartments, including the thoracic cavity.The authors report a case of a 71-year-old man with a known mediastinal mass incidentally detected 4 months ago, presenting dyspnea with right-sided atelectasis and massive pleural effusion. Imaging studies revealed a 16.4 × 9.4-cm fibrous mass with high glucose metabolism in the anterior mediastinum. The mass infiltrated into the chest wall and also displaced the mediastinum contralaterally. Interestingly, the tumor had an extremely rapid doubling time of 31.3 days.En bloc resection of the tumor was performed as a curative as well as a diagnostic measure. Histopathologic examination showed spindle cells with low cellularity and high collagen deposition in the stroma. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for nuclear ß-catenin. Based on these pathologic findings, the mass was diagnosed as DT. After surgery, there has been no evidence of recurrence of disease in the patient.This patient presents a mediastinal DT with extremely rapid growth. Notably, the doubling time of DT in our case was the shortest among reported cases of DT. Our experience also highlights the benefits of early interventional strategy, especially for rapidly growing DTs in the thoracic cavity.

Posterior mitral annuloplasty for enhancing mitral leaflet coaptation: using a strip designed for placement in the posterior annulus.

BACKGROUND: In patients with mitral valve regurgitation (MR), posterior mitral annuloplasty (PMA) was performed for mitral valve repair using a strip designed for placement in the posterior annulus, sparing the anterior annulus and anterior half of the commissures. METHODS: Between September 2009 and October 2013, we performed PMA using a novel strip in 74 consecutive patients with MR greater than 3+. Procedures associated with mitral valve repairs were performed in 41 patients (56.9 %), including new chord placement for leaflet prolapse (n=30), patch valvuloplasty for posterior chord rupture (n=4), and posterior leaflet augmentation (n=15). All patients were analyzed by serial echocardiographic follow-up, and preoperative and postoperative computed tomography was performed in 10 randomly selected patients. RESULTS: Hospital death occurred in two patients (2.7 %), and 72 survived patients were completely followed up. At a mean follow-up of 37.2 ± 15.0 months, the MR grade was zero or 1+ in 64 patients (88.9 %), 2+ in 7 patients (9.7 %), and 3+ in one patient (1.4 %). The mean indexed valve area and mean valve gradient were 1.7 ± 0.4 cm(2)/m(2) and 3.5 ± 1.2 mmHg, respectively. The mean leaflet coaptation height in early systole was 12.8 ± 3.5 mm. During the cardiac cycle, the repaired valves exhibited dynamic changes of 19.5 ± 9.3 % in the septo-lateral dimensions. No early conversions to valve replacements or late reoperations occurred. None of the patients with remnant or recurrent MR experienced hemolysis. CONCLUSIONS: PMA using a novel strip showed a sufficient coaptation height secondary to reduction of the septo-lateral annular dimensions and dynamic changes in the dimensions. It can be expected to be an alternative mitral annuloplasty technique with satisfactory results.

Right atrial reduction plasty associated with the cox-maze procedure.

We performed a right atrial reduction plasty combined with the Cox-maze procedure in a patient with a giant right atrium and permanent atrial fibrillation. The reduction plasty involved excisions of the redundant atrial wall along two ablation lines of the maze procedure, and excision of the redundant thin septum primum. This procedure achieved a 60% dimension reduction and an 80% volume reduction. The reduced atrial size and sinus rhythm were maintained after 3.5 years.

Cost-Effectiveness of Carotid Endarterectomy versus Carotid Artery Stenting for Treatment of Carotid Artery Stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic or asymptomatic patients with significant carotid artery stenosis (range, 70% to 99%) generally undergo either carotid artery endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) to prevent stroke. In this study, we evaluated the cost effectiveness of these two treatment modalities. METHODS: A total of 47 patients (mean age, 67.1±9.1 years; male, 87.2%) undergoing either CEA (n=28) or CAS (n=19) for the treatment of significant carotid artery stenosis were enrolled in this study. Hospitalization costs were subdivided into three parts, namely pre-procedure, procedure and resource, and post-procedure costs. RESULTS: Total hospitalization costs were similar in both groups of CEA and CAS (6,377 thousand won [TW] vs. 6,703 TW, p=0.255); however, the total cost minus the pre-procedure cost was higher in the CAS group than in the CEA group (4,948 TW vs. 5,941 TW, p<0.0001). The pre-procedure cost of the CEA group was higher than that of the CAS group (1,429 TW vs. 762 TW, p<0.0001). However, the procedure and resource cost was higher in the CAS group because the resource cost was approximately three times higher in the CAS group than in the CEA group. The post-procedure cost was higher in the CEA group because hospital stays were approximately two times longer. CONCLUSION: The total hospitalization cost was not different between the CEA and the CAS groups. The pre-procedure cost was high in the CEA group, but the cost from procedure onset to discharge, including the resource cost, was significantly lower in this group.