Successful repair of recurrent ventricular septal perforation after myocardial infarction using double patch technique via right ventriculotomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Post-myocardial infarction (MI) ventricular septal perforation (VSP) is a rare but life-threatening complication. Surgical repair is challenging and carries significant risks, particularly in the context of recurrent VSPs. This case study presents a patient with recurrent VSP after initial surgical repair following myocardial infarction. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old male were re-administered to our hospital due to recurrent VSP. He was during follow up after undergone emergency VSP closure surgery 2 months earlier, utilizing the bovine double patch technique via left ventriculostomy. The initial VSP was located in the apical part of the interventricular septum, while the recurrent VSP appeared in the upper middle portion of the interventricular septum (Fig. 1). As the previous patch remained intact, the second surgery employed the bovine double patch technique via right ventriculostomy. The patient's condition remained stable without the development of heart failure symptoms. CONCLUSION: Repairing recurrent VSPs remains a challenge, necessitating the mastery of appropriate approaches to achieve optimal outcomes. Further research and guidelines are required to refine management strategies for recurrent VSPs.

Non-aneurysmal ascending aorta diameter changes after aortic valve replacement in patients with stenotic bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve.

OBJECTIVE: The appropriate timing of aortic repair in patients with bicuspid aortic valve-related aortopathy remains controversial. We describe the changes in diameter of the non-aneurysmal ascending aorta after aortic valve replacement for bicuspid or tricuspid aortic valve stenosis. METHODS: This retrospective review included 189 patients who had undergone aortic valve replacement for severe stenotic aortic valve with a non-aneurysmal ascending aorta diameter of 45 mm or less between January 2008 and December 2018. A linear mixed-effect model was used to analyze and compare the enlargement rates of the non-aneurysmal ascending aorta at the tubular portion after aortic valve replacement in bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve patients. RESULTS: The enlargement rate of the non-aneurysmal ascending aorta after aortic valve replacement was significantly greater in the bicuspid aortic valve group than in the tricuspid aortic valve group (0.36 mm/year vs. 0.09 mm/year, p < 0.001). The specific form of bicuspid aortic valve also affected aorta diameter enlargement: the enlargement rate of 0.85 mm/year in the Type 0 (according to Sievers' classification) group was approximately five times that in the Non-Type 0 group (p < 0.001). No aortic events were observed, and no patients needed reoperations for the ascending aorta, in either the bicuspid or tricuspid aortic valve groups. CONCLUSION: The persistent possibility of progressive ascending aortic dilatation after aortic valve replacement for bicuspid aortic valve stenosis, especially in Type 0 bicuspid aortic valve patients, demands careful post-procedural evaluation of the ascending aorta.

Strict control of phosphorus concentration of hemodialysis patients may decrease structural valve deterioration after aortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVES: The number of hemodialysis patients requiring aortic valve replacement (AVR) is increasing. Although bioprosthetic valves are increasingly popular, they are associated with a risk of structural valve deterioration (SVD). The aim of this study is to examine the outcomes of bioprosthetic valves in hemodialysis patients undergoing AVR and to identify treatment strategies that can decrease the risk of SVD. METHODS: Between February 2010 and November 2019, 61 patients on hemodialysis underwent AVR using bioprosthetic valves at our hospital. Five patients died while still in the hospital. Kaplan-Meier estimates of overall survival and univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed for the remaining 56 patients. RESULTS: During follow-up, there were six SVD events (10.7%) related to the bioprosthetic valves. The survival rate was 67.9% at 3 years and 39.5% at 5 years. In all SVD cases, SVD was caused by aortic stenosis. The mean interval between AVR and the discovery of SVD was 41.5 months. The SVD-free rate was 88.6% at 3 years and 65.3% at 5 years. Preoperative phosphorus levels are associated with SVD risk. High preoperative phosphorus concentration is associated with elevated SVD risk. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we determined that the risk of SVD can be influenced by preoperative phosphorus level. Strict control of the phosphorus concentration of hemodialysis patients may decrease structural valve deterioration after aortic valve replacement.

Thoracic aortic stent graft placement and simultaneous screw removal for a screw hitting the aorta.

Vascular injury caused by spinal screw displacement is a rare complication of spinal fusion surgery. Here, we report a case with no perforation of the aortic wall, which we treated by means of simultaneous thoracic endovascular aorta repair (TEVAR) and screw removal. An 82-year-old female underwent corrective spinal fixation. Postoperatively, a screw became displaced from the vertebrae and contacted the outer membrane of the descending aorta. To prevent rupture of the aorta, we performed stent graft placement from the right common femoral aorta. We left a flexion-resistant catheter in the left arm and moved the patient into an abdominal position with the left arm extended upward to enable immediate insertion of a guidewire and occlusion balloon if necessary. Then we removed the displaced screw with a drill. This safe and effective method can prevent possible aortic injuries secondary to displaced spinal screws. The key to our method is the simultaneous performance of TEVAR and screw removal, made possible through patient repositioning.

Rapidly growing papillary fibroelastoma complicated by myxoma.

Rapidly growing papillary fibroelastoma complicated by myxoma is extremely rare. An 80-year-old male was transported to our hospital because of cerebral hemorrhage. Echocardiogram revealed a massive pedunculated tumor in the septum of the left atrium. The tumor extended to the mitral valve orifice and posed a risk of strangulation, yet removing it immediately would have required cardiopulmonary bypass with anticoagulant, which would have posed a serious risk of rebleeding. Magnetic resonance imaging showed that the tumor stalk was sufficiently thick for us to perform a standby surgery 1 month after cerebral hemorrhage. Follow-up echocardiogram prior to this surgery revealed a new, high-mobility tumor in the right ventricular septum. We resected these two tumors together. Histopathological examination showed that the tumor of the left atrium was a myxoma and the tumor of the right ventricle was a papillary fibroelastoma. The patient had a good postoperative course and was discharged without complications.

Effects of perioperative oral care on postoperative inflammation following heart valve surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Whether oral health care during the perioperative period can lead to a better outcome after heart valve surgery has not been adequately elucidated. We examined the effects of perioperative oral care on postoperative inflammation response in patients who underwent heart valve surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 223 patients scheduled for single valve heart surgery were divided into the oral care, who underwent professional teeth cleaning or scaling within 3 days prior to surgery, and also following surgery at least twice a week (n = 111), and non-oral care (n = 112) groups. After propensity score matching, records of both groups (80:80) were examined after surgery to evaluate inflammation markers (white blood cell count [WBC], neutrophil/white blood cell ratio [NWR], C-reactive protein [CRP] level, body temperature [BT]). RESULTS: WBC, NWR, CRP level, and BT were increased in both groups the day following surgery. Thereafter, CRP level, WBC, NWR, and BT on various days after surgery in the oral care group showed greater decreases as compared to the non-oral care group. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative oral health care can decrease postoperative inflammation in patients undergoing heart valve surgery and may be important to ensure a better outcome in those patients.

Association between false lumen segmental arteries and spinal cord ischemia in type A acute aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) and paraplegia are complications of surgery for type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD). Since the segmental arteries play a key role in SCI, this study evaluated the association between SCI and false lumen segmental arteries (FLSAs: segmental arteries originating from the false lumen). METHODS: The study included 101 consecutive TAAAD patients (mean age, 66±13; range, 34-89 years) who underwent surgery from January 2011 to April 2017. The diagnosis of TAAAD and the number of FSLAs were determined by preoperative computed tomography (CT). Patients were divided into two groups according to the number of FLSAs at the Th9-L2 level: Group A (N.=13), ≥8 FLSAs; and group B (N.=88), ≤7 FLSAs. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative findings were compared between the groups, and risk factors for SCI were evaluated. RESULTS: The frequency of preoperative paralysis was significantly higher in Group A than Group B (P=.0070). The overall incidence of postoperative SCI was 8% (8/101) and significantly higher in Group A than Group B (5/13 [45%] vs. 3/88 (4%), P<0.0001). Hospital mortality was 8% (8/101) and significantly higher in Group A than Group B (3/13 [23%] vs. 5/88 [6%], P=.0302). Multivariate analysis showed that the independent risk factors for SCI were ≥8 FLSAs at Th9-L2 (odds ratio [OR], 20.4; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 3.34-124.9, P=0.0011) and diabetes mellitus (OR, 22.3; 95% CI, 1.69-294.5; P=0.0184). CONCLUSIONS: In patients who underwent surgery for TAAAD, ≥8 FLSAs at the Th9-L2 levels on preoperative CT was a risk factor for SCI.

A case of supra-annular mitral valve replacement using chimney technique for severe mitral stenosis with extensive mitral annular calcification.

When patients with extensive mitral annular calcification undergo mitral valve replacement, excessive debridement of calcification may result in fatal complications and may protract operation time. We report a case of supra-annular MVR using "the chimney technique" on a high-risk patient for severe mitral stenosis with extensive mitral annular calcification. This technique is usually used in small infants whose mitral annulus is smaller than the smallest available prosthetic valve. We apply this technique to minimize the debridement of calcification and shorten the operation time. The operation was successfully completed, and the postoperative course has been uneventful. This technique was safely and easily performed, and eliminated the need for aggressive debridement of the calcification. We believe this technique may be a good choice for high-risk patients with mitral annular calcification.

Complete brain protection during debranching thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

We describe the case of a 71-year-old man with an asymptomatic saccular-type thoracic aortic aneurysm and severe atheroma in the distal arch. As he had previously undergone coronary artery bypass grafting, we decided to perform thoracic endovascular aortic repair rather than open repair to avoid injury to the bypass grafts. Owing to severe atheroma, we completely blocked the native forward flow before deploying the endograft using percutaneous cardiopulmonary support, thus preventing perioperative stroke.

Abdominal organ protection strategy for aortic arch aneurysm surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Body temperature maintained during open distal anastomosis in patients who undergo aortic surgery has been showing an upward trend; however, a higher temperature may increase visceral organ and spinal cord injury. Distal perfusion may reduce abdominal organ injury, especially acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS: From 2009 to 2016, 56 patients who underwent ascending aortic and/or aortic arch surgery were enrolled. Open distal anastomosis was performed using one of three protection strategies: 1) systemic temperature of 25°C followed by selective cerebral perfusion (SCP) with lower body circulatory arrest (Group CA25, n=27); 2) systemic temperature of 28°C followed by SCP with lower body circulatory arrest (Group CA28, n=4); and 3) systemic temperature of 28°C followed by SCP with distal aortic perfusion (Group DP, n=25). RESULTS: During the postoperative course, levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, liver enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase and lactate in Groups CA28 and CA25 were significantly higher than those in Group DP. AKI defined by the AKI Network occurred in 28 cases (50%) and 3 cases required permanent hemodialysis. AKI was significantly higher in Groups CA25 and CA28 than in Group DP (p=0.026). Mid-term follow-up showed that patients who developed postoperative AKI were more likely to suffer from cardiovascular events. CONCLUSIONS: Distal perfusion during open distal anastomosis reduced kidney and liver injury after thoracic aortic surgery despite an increased body temperature of up to 28°C. This strategy may be useful to prevent AKI, liver dysfunction, the need for hemodialysis and multiple organ failure and could improve mid-term results.