[Cardiac angiosarcoma resected after definitive diagnosis by thoracoscope-assisted biopsy].

A 31-year-old woman presented with cardiac tamponade. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography(CT) revealed an inhomogeneously-enhanced soft tissue mass measuring 50×35×30 mm, which was in contact with the right atrial wall. The mass was definitely diagnosed as cardiac angiosarcoma by thoracoscope-assisted biopsy. The right atrial wall, including the tumor, was extensively resected, and then reconstructed with the equine pericardium. Postoperative radiation therapy was performed, but the patient developed malignant ascites with an intra-pericardial ectopic tumor recurrence. Additional radiation therapy was performed, but she died 177 days after the operation. Although thoracoscopeassisted biopsy is considered to be a useful diagnostic method for cardiac tumors on the surface of the heart, it carries the risk of spreading tumor cells. In the present case, the tumor should have been resected immediately after the prompt pathological diagnosis.

Rupture of Kommerell diverticulum after total arch replacement.

A 62-year-old man was brought to the emergency room of our hospital because of chest pain. Computed tomography revealed a right aortic arch and an aberrant left subclavian artery with Kommerell diverticulum and acute aortic dissection (Stanford type A). Total arch replacement was performed emergently through a median full sternotomy. A stomach feeding tube was placed postoperatively for the patient to receive nutrition, and esophageal bleeding was observed postoperatively. The patient died because of the bleeding. Autopsy findings showed a communication between the esophagus and Kommerell diverticulum. Rupture of Kommerell diverticulum and perforation of the esophagus were indicated.

[Abdominal aortic aneurysm with chronic contained rupture in a ninety-year-old woman: a case report].

A 90-year-old woman was admitted to a local clinic with fever, anorexia, and right lower abdominal pain on March 25, 2004. She was referred to our hospital for detailed examination of an abdominal aortic aneurysm on May 18. Computed tomography revealed an abdominal aortic aneurysm measuring 78mm in maximal diameter and a retroperitoneal hematoma, suggesting chronic contained rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm. Emergency Y-shaped graft replacement was performed. The intraoperative findings included a perforation on the posterior wall of the abdominal aortic aneurysm and an organized thrombus on the retroperitoneum. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 21 days after surgery.

Establishing right ventricle-pulmonary artery continuity by autologous tissue: an alternative approach for prosthetic conduit repair.

BACKGROUND: In conventional conduit operations, longevity has been essentially limited by the inevitable need for conduit replacement. This study was undertaken to compare long-term results of the use of equine pericardial conduits, autologous pericardial conduits, and direct anastomosis repair. METHODS: Between 1982 and 2001, 366 patients underwent primary establishment of right ventricle-pulmonary artery continuity at our institution. The mean age at the time of operation was 6.2 years (range, 4 days to 28 years) and mean weight was 17.2 kg (range, 1.6 to 61 kg). Three different repair techniques were used for connection: hand-made valved equine pericardial conduits (n = 179), autologous pericardial conduits (n = 71), and direct anastomosis without a conduit (n = 116). Mean follow-up period for early survivors was 8.6 years in the equine group, 6.1 years in the direct anastomosis group, and 5.1 years in the autologous pericardium group. RESULTS: Direct anastomosis repair (p = 0.0002) was associated with significantly better freedom from late events (conduit replacement or late death) than equine pericardial conduits. The hazard ratio was less with the autologous pericardium conduit than with the equine pericardium, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.2122). Younger age at operation, and postoperative pressure ratio from right to left ventricle were also predictors of conduit longevity. CONCLUSIONS: To decrease the probability of late events, direct anastomosis is an encouraging technique compared with traditional equine pericardium extracardiac conduit repair. An autologous pericardial conduit, because of its benefits, would be an alternative when direct anastomosis is not suitable.

Surgery for unilateral absence of pulmonary artery using autologous tissue.

A 7-year-old girl with unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery underwent autologous tissue limited reconstructive surgery. The proximal portion of the artery was reconstructed by rotating a reverse U-shaped cut opposite the pulmonary arterial wall and covering the anterior surface with autologous pericardium. Follow-up catheterization at 5.8 years after surgery revealed no stenosis. This procedure could become one of the preferred methods for this unusual clinical condition.

Progressive diffuse aortic stenosis after localized supravalvular aortic stenosis repair.

A 6-year-old boy presented with diffuse stenosis of the aortic arch. He had undergone patch augmentation for localized supravalvular aortic stenosis at 2 years of age. Before the initial operation, the aortic arch and descending aorta were noticed to be hypoplastic with a diameter of 60 to 73% of that of the aortic annulus, without a pressure gradient. 4 years later, progressive diffuse stenosis of the aortic arch with a diameter of 42% of that of the aortic annulus was found. Reoperation, consisting of patch augmentation of the aortic arch, was carried out. A pressure gradient of 40 mmHg distal to the repair was newly recognized, again. This is a rare case of supravalvular aortic stenosis, which required reoperation because of the progression of diffuse stenosis of the distal aorta.