Aorto-left renal vein fistula caused by a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Retroaortic left renal vein is a malformation in which the left renal vein courses dorsal to the abdominal aorta. In patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, an aorto-left renal vein fistula can form if the left renal vein is sandwiched between the aneurysm wall and lumbar vertebrae. The patient was an 84-year-old man with lower back pain. We performed a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), although renal dysfunction was noted. The CT showed a ruptured juxta-renal abdominal aortic with aorto-left renal vein fistula. This clinical condition can cause severe renal dysfunction, in spite of which an enhanced contrasted CT scan would be extremely informative preoperatively.

Opposite effects of SSRIs and tandospirone in the treatment of REM sleep behavior disorder.

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a parasomnia defined by intermittent loss of electromyographic atonia during REM sleep with emergence of complex and vigorous behaviors. Although the efficacy of several agents for treating RBD has been reported, a rationale for medication has not been established and the exact pathophysiological mechanisms of RBD are uncertain. We encountered a patient with idiopathic RBD that dramatically improved with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and deteriorated with a 5-HT1A partial agonist, tandospirone. We report on the effects of these serotonin-modulating agents, which yield clues to a possible pharmacological approach to RBD.

Nicorandil attenuates reperfusion injury after long cardioplegic arrest.

The cardioprotective efficacy of nicorandil in cardiac surgery was determined using a surgically relevant 4-hr cardioplegic arrest model. Each isolated rabbit heart was parabiotically blood-perfused using a modified Langendorff column. The magnitude of left ventricular developed pressure and rate of change of developed pressure over time were measured before (baseline) and after ischemia. Nicorandil was administered either pre-ischemia, post-ischemia, pre/post-ischemia, or continuously (before, during, and after ischemia). The endothelium of the coronary artery was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Serum myeloperoxidase activities were also measured. Although pretreatment with nicorandil did not affect recovery of developed pressure, administration of nicorandil after ischemia, or before and after ischemia, enhanced the recovery of developed pressure. Serum myeloperoxidase activity was decreased in the pre/post-ischemia and continuous groups. Endothelial reperfusion injury decreased in all nicorandil-treated groups. Administration of nicorandil attenuated ischemia-reperfusion injury of the myocardium and coronary endothelium while ameliorating leukocyte activation. In the event of unexpected prolonged cardioplegic arrest, administration of nicorandil, even just after declamping, may improve cardiac function. However, pre-ischemia administration alone was not helpful in the heart subjected to prolonged cardioplegic arrest.

Safety of perioperative hemodialysis and continuous hemodiafiltration for dialysis patients with cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: We have routinely used postoperative continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) combined with intraoperative hemodialysis (IHD) for dialysis patients undergoing open-heart surgery. This perioperative management could avoid any limitation of potassium concentration in the cardioplegic solution, strict restriction of fluid administration, or blood transfusion. METHODS: To evaluate the safety of this strategy, 22 dialysis patients who underwent open-heart surgery (Dialysis Group) were retrospectively compared with 30 patients with normal renal function selected from the same time period with rigorously matched clinical characteristics such as age, gender, and operative procedures (Matched Group). RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the operative variables such as the operative procedures, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and aortic cross-clamp time in both groups. There were two deaths (9.1%) in the Dialysis Group compared with Matched Group (0%). In the Dialysis Group, the levels of serum potassium and creatinine were well controlled in the perioperative period with a mean duration of IHD and CHDF of 243.7 +/- 60.6 min and 2.7 +/- 1.1 days, respectively. In particular, no significant difference between intraoperative and postoperative levels of serum potassium was observed in the Dialysis Group (P = 0.09), whereas there was a significant increase in the Matched Group (P = 0.004). Mean volume administered for the first 24 h after surgery was not different from the Matched Group. There were no vascular access-related complications in the Dialysis Group. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative CHDF combined with IHD can provide a similar management protocol for dialysis patients compared to patients with normal renal function.

Surgical revascularization for acute coronary syndrome: comparative surgical and long-term results.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adequate timing of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: In our institution, emergency CABG has been avoided when possible for ACS patients favoring stabilization with medical therapies, including intra-aortic balloon pumping or percutaneous coronary intervention. After thorough preoperative examinations, an urgent CABG is performed. A total of 67 patients with ACS underwent CABG, comprised of 33 patients receiving an emergency CABG (emergent group: E-G) and 34 patients receiving an urgent CABG (urgent group: U-G). The early and long-term results were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the incidences of acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock were significantly higher in E-G. No significant differences were found in the intraoperative factors except for the number of distal anastomoses (2.5 in E-G vs. 3.1 in U-G, p=0.01). The hospital mortality was 9.1% in E-G, and 2.9% in U-G, with no significant difference between the groups. Moreover, no patient in U-G necessitated emergency CABG while waiting for surgery. The patency rate of the grafts was 100% in E-G, and 96.2% in U-G. The 5-year survival rate excluding in-hospital death was 80.3% in E-G, and 78% in U-G (p>0.05). The 5-year cardiac event-free rate was 80.3% in E-G, and 80.9% in U-G (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: An emergency CABG can be reserved for ACS patients when symptoms and hemodynamic state are stabilized with medical therapies. Improvements in long-term results can be expected after high quality and complete surgical revascularization.

Complete rupture of the posterior papillary muscle caused by late reperfusion for acute myocardial infarction.

We describe a patient with acute mitral regurgitation due to complete rupture of the papillary muscle immediately after successful late reperfusion for inferior myocardial infarction. An 81-year-old woman was admitted complaining of mild chest discomfort. Although the electrocardiograms, biochemical test results, and her clinical history showed that several days had passed since the onset of acute myocardial infarction, a late coronary stenting was performed. Immediately after successful stenting, she suddenly developed acute pulmonary edema, leading to cardiogenic shock. In addition to high pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (mean 35 mmHg), color Doppler imaging revealed massive mitral regurgitation caused by complete rupture of the posterior papillary muscle. Emergent mitral valve replacement with a prosthetic valve was performed, saving the patient. Hence, late reperfusion should be considered carefully when treating a patient with a high risk, such as an elderly patient or a patient with single-vessel disease or initial transmural myocardial infarction.

Aortic valve regurgitation in alkaptonuria.

Aortic valve lesions associated with alkaptonuria tend mostly to be due to aortic valve stenosis, while aortic valve regurgitation is only rarely observed. Herein, a case is reported of severe aortic valve regurgitation and a fibrous strand in a patient with alkaptonuria. A 65-year-old male, with a history of inferior myocardial infarction, presented with symptoms of congestive heart failure. Alkaptonuria was diagnosed based on urine coloration, skin pigmentation and ochronotic arthropathy in the vertebrae and hip. Grade IV aortic valve regurgitation with mild aortic valve stenosis and occlusive disease in the right coronary artery indicated a need for aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting. Sclerotic change in the cusps, and shrinkage of the non-coronary cusp, impeded normal coaptation of the aortic valve, and the left-coronary cusp also had a fibrous strand suspending the free margin of the cusp from the aortic wall just above the commissure. The sclerotic change in the cusps, and shrinkage of the non-coronary cusp, appeared to be the causative lesion of aortic valve regurgitation, implying that cardiovascular ochronosis may cause aortic valve regurgitation.

Coronary occlusion using bi-directionally stretched elastic sutures during off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting may be partly invasive, particularly to the coronary endothelium that is snared. Efficacy of a simple technique to occlude a coronary artery with elastic sutures bi-directionally stretched just beneath the artery was evaluated. METHODS: Test subjects were eighteen adult mongrel dogs weighing 20-30 kg. After systemic heparinization (150 U/kg), the mid-left anterior descending artery (mid-LAD) was exposed with a stabilizer applied and snared using non-elastic sutures (n = 6) or elastic sutures (n = 6), or occluded with elastic sutures bi-directionally stretched (n = 6). The left internal thoracic artery (LITA) was anastomosed to the mid-LAD with humidified gas insufflation. After completion of the anastomosis, the mid-LAD was observed endoscopically through the LITA. The coronary endothelium was also observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) after perfusion fixation. RESULTS: Bleeding at the anastomotic site with the coronary artery occluded by bi-directionally stretched elastic sutures was observed. However, all anastomoses were done successfully with the aid of humidified gas insufflation. Coronary endoscope showed that the lumens snared with non-elastic sutures were collapsed with folds and often with clots. Coronary arteries snared with elastic sutures appeared similar to the arteries snared with non-elastic sutures endoscopically, but with less clots. In the case of coronary occlusion with bi-directionally stretched elastic sutures, the lumens were occluded in a flattened linear fashion without clots. SEM showed endothelial injuries with blood cells deposited when non-elastic sutures were used. When elastic sutures were used for snaring, endothelial injuries were ameliorated with less blood cells deposited, which were further decreased when elastic sutures were bi-directionally stretched. CONCLUSION: The coronary artery can be effectively occluded by bi-directionally stretched elastic sutures with minimal endothelial damage.

Splenic abscess associated with active infective endocarditis.

Splenic abscess is a rare complication in infective endocarditis. Here, we present two cases of splenic abscess associated with active infective endocarditis. Body computed tomography before emergency valvular surgery revealed abscess in the spleen. In case 1, the abscess was localized within the spleen; splenectomy and valve replacement were performed through the same median skin incision. In case 2, the splenic abscess was diagnosed as ruptured; valve replacement was performed, followed by splenectomy through a separate skin incision. No recurrence of infection occurred after surgery in either case. In surgical treatment for active infective endocarditis, body computed tomography is essential to diagnose splenic abscess preoperatively. If there is an abscess, then splenectomy and valvular surgery should be performed simultaneously to prevent reinfection after valvular surgery. The approach to the spleen should be individualized according to the extension of the abscess.

Mitral annular reconstruction.

Mitral annular reconstruction using a pericardial patch was performed in 3 cases of atrioventricular disruption. This technique may be useful for atrioventricular disruption in cases of active endocarditis, redo valve replacement, left ventricular rupture after mitral valve replacement, and annular calcification.