Giant Ruptured Azygos Vein Aneurysm in a 33-Year-Old Woman.

The rupture of an azygos vein aneurysm is a very rare but catastrophic complication. Careful differential diagnosis of acute dyspnea and thoracic pain in young patients is essential for effective and early management. We present the case of a young woman with a huge, spontaneously ruptured vena azygos saccular aneurysm, successfully repaired via median sternotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass.

Subsequent cardiac surgery after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Indications and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Aim of this study was to report on indications and clinical outcomes of patients who underwent subsequent open-cardiac surgery after transcatheter aortic valve implantation TAVI. METHODS: Between 01/2011 and 12/2020 our centre performed 4043 TAVI procedures. Twenty-seven patients (including patients in whom TAVI was performed in other centres) underwent subsequent open-heart surgery via cardiopulmonary bypass. Demographic, intraprocedural data, indications for, and outcomes after surgery were evaluated. RESULTS: Indications for cardiac surgery (aged 79 [IQR 76-84]; 59.3% male) were endocarditis (n = 11; 40.7%), annular rupture, severe paravalvular leak and severe stenosis in three (11.1%) patients, respectively as well as in one patient each (3.7%) severe tricuspid valve regurgitation, valve thrombosis, valve malposition, valve migration, ostial right coronary artery obstruction, left ventricular rupture and type A aortic dissection. The interval between the index TAVI procedure to open surgery was 3 months (IQR 0-26 months). Eight patients underwent emergent surgical conversions. Immediate procedural and procedural mortality was 25.9% and 40.7%, respectively and all-cause mortality was 51.9% (11/12 died for cardiovascular reasons). No disabling stroke was observed postoperatively. New permanent pacemaker implantation was required in three patients (11.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Subsequent open-cardiac surgery after TAVI is rare, but may urgently become necessary due to TAVI related complications or progressing other cardiac pathologies. Despite a substantial early attrition rate clinical outcome is acceptable and a relevant number of these high-risk patients can be discharged even after emergency conversions. The option of subsequent surgical conversion remains.

Transposition of great arteries with left outflow tract obstruction and non-committed VSD: surgical management and late results.

OBJECTIVES: Transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) is a rare malformation. Our objective was to report on management and results of the cohort with non-committed VSD from a national registry for congenital heart disease. METHODS: Multicentre data were screened in the German National Registry for Congenital Heart Defects (Berlin, Germany) for repairs of transposition of the great arteries-VSD-LVOTO. A subgroup of patients with a remote/non-committed VSD was identified. End points included survival, reoperation and a composite of reoperations for LVOTO-/VSD- or baffle-related problem. RESULTS: N = 47 patients were identified treated in 14 different national centres between 1984 and 2020. The mean age was 14 (standard deviation 9) months, ranging from 7 days to 9.5 years. Nine patients (19%) were treated as neonates, 21 (45%) as infants and 17 children (36%) beyond the age of 1 year. Survival was >90% (80-100%) at 20 years. Freedom from any reoperation was 30% (10-50%) at 20 years. Freedom from the composite end point was 72% (50-90%) at 20 years. Patients after Rastelli underwent more reoperations compared to those without intraventricular baffle (freedom from reoperation 14% vs 50%, P = 0.1). The rates of the composite end point were similar when comparing Rastelli to other techniques (63% vs 83%, P = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: The Rastelli operation yields robust results in the setting of non-committed VSD. Late results after neonatal arterial switch operation are outstanding. If LVOTO is not resectable and neonatal arterial switch operation suboptimal, interim palliation does not negatively impact outcome, patients can be safely delayed to beyond 1 year of age.

Wolfe procedure in a 78-year-old patient with aortic root aneurysm: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Aortic root and ascending aortic aneurysms are traditionally surgically treated through the deployment of a conduit with an artificial aortic valve, which significantly increases the risk of postoperative complications in the form of thrombosis. MATERIALS & METHODS: We report a case of Wolfe procedure in a 78-year-old female patient with aortic root aneurysm at high risk for conventional Bentall surgery. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We use this case to discuss the effectiveness and short-term results of this procedure.

Cor triatriatum sinister with left anomalous pulmonary venous return to innominate vein.

Cor triatriatum sinister is a rare congenital abnormality, with varying signs and symptoms related to the anatomic features and the components of the accompanying cardiac abnormalities. We present a 3-year-old girl who underwent successful simultaneous operation with complete loss of the membrane and ligation of vertical vein by anomalous venous return. The principles for surgical management of cor triatriatum can be summarised as radical resection of the membrane and correction of other intracardiac anomalies.