[Endovascular Treatment for Contained Rupture of a Mycotic Abdominal Aneurysm].

We present a 76-year-old male patient on chronic dialysis for over 10 years with contained rupture of a mycotic abdominal aortic aneurysm, which was successfully treated by thoracic endovascular aortic repair(TEVAR) and computed tomography(CT) guided percutaneous drainage. Endovascular repair of mycotic aortic aneurysm is nowadays feasible and can be a suitable alternative especially in frail patients.

Long-Term Results of Crossover Bypass for Iliac Atherosclerotic Lesions in the Era of Endovascular Treatment: The Re-ACTION Study (Retrospective Assessment of Crossover Bypass as a Treatment for Iliac LesiONs).

Objective: The aim of this study was to elucidate the long-term results of crossover bypass (CB) for iliac atherosclerotic lesions in the era of endovascular treatment (EVT). Methods: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was performed. CB was performed in 242 patients between 2003 and 2014 by vascular surgeons at multiple medical centers in Japan. Results: Perioperative mortality was 1.7%. Primary patency rates were 86% at 5 years and 82% at 8 years. Univariate analysis showed that critical limb ischemia (Rutherford class 4-6), vein graft, and superficial femoral artery occlusion were significantly associated with low primary patency. In multivariate analysis, only critical limb ischemia influenced primary patency. The secondary patency rate was 87% at both 5 and 8 years. The limb salvage rate was 98% at both 5 and 8 years. The overall survival rates were 71% at 5 years and 49% at 8 years. Conclusion: The long-term results of CB were good in our study, compared with previous reports. Our results suggest that CB remains an option for the arterial reconstruction in unilateral iliac occlusive disease after EVT failed.

Medical treatment for acute Type A aortic dissection.

Six patients with acute Type A aortic dissection were medically treated due to advanced age, patient refusal and comorbidity despite surgical indication. Computed tomography after onset revealed a thrombosed false lumen in 3 patients and a patent false lumen with flap in 3 patients. All patients were stable during admission except 1 patient who presented with shock. After admission, treatment including strict control of systolic blood pressure was started according to a predetermined treatment strategy. All patients had no significant complications during hospitalization. All patients survived and returned to their usual activities. Medical treatment for stable elderly patients is a possible therapeutic option for acute Type A aortic dissection.

Congenital left ventricular diverticulum in an adult patient.

A 64-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with palpitation and exertional dyspnea. An electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm, but supraventricular tachycardia was recorded on Holter monitoring. Multidetector computed tomography revealed a small left ventricular outpouching in the apex, with a narrow connection to the ventricle and normal coronary arteries. Surgery for the left ventricular pouch was performed successfully. Histological examination demonstrated that the left ventricular diverticulum consisted of three layers of the ventricular wall, with the myocardial layer mostly replaced by fibrous tissue. The patient has been well after surgery.

A floating thrombus in the ascending aorta complicated by acute myocardial infarction.

A 37-year-old male was transferred to our hospital with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and a mass in the ascending aorta. Echocardiography revealed dyskinesia on the left ventricular apex and a floating mass lesion just above the aortic valve. Acute myocardial infarction was considered to be caused by embolism from the floating mass in the ascending aorta. Emergency surgery was successfully performed and histological examination showed the extirpated mass in the ascending aorta was thrombus. The patient has been well on oral anticoagulant and no recurrence has been seen on echocardiogram 4 years after the operation.

The life-threatening complication of a vascular graft rupture early after a thoracic aortic replacement.

A 74-year old male presented with a dilatation of the thoracic aorta late after an acute aortic dissection. Computed tomography (CT) showed chronic dissecting aortic aneurysms just below the distal aortic arch. The total descending thoracic aorta was surgically replaced. Four weeks later, a massive bloody effusion developed in the right thorax and a subsequent CT scan revealed an extravasation of the contrast material out of the vascular prosthesis. Emergency surgery disclosed bleeding from a small vascular graft rupture and a successful repair was performed.

Bilateral popliteal artery entrapment syndrome with asynchronous onset.

Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is recognized as a cause of lower leg claudication in patients younger than 50 years of age. We report a rare case of a patient with bilateral popliteal artery entrapment who presented with the same symptom 11 years after his first experience of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. On both occasions, the surgery was performed in a similar manner and the patient was free from symptoms after the surgery. Since the diagnosis of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is difficult, early detection of popliteal artery entrapment syndrome is important to prevent its progression.

Spontaneous dissection of the splanchnic arteries.

Three patients had severe abdominal pain of sudden onset. Computed tomography showed localized dissection in the superior mesenteric artery in two patients and in the celiac artery in one. With conservative therapy abdominal symptoms were self-remitted. All patients were successfully treated with medication and have been doing well during follow-up.

Brown-Sequard syndrome after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

A 76-year-old female had suffered from distal arch aortic aneurysm and chronic DeBakey IIIB type dissecting aneurysm. The patient underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). After TEVAR the patient had a motor and proprioceptive loss on the left side and a pain and body temperature loss on the right side below the level of T7. At diagnosis of Brown-Sequard syndrome, corticosteroid and free radical scavenger were administered soon afterwards. Her neurological deficits gradually improved and the patient was discharged with the aid of a walking stick three months after TEVAR.

Surgical repair of coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula with aneurysms.

A 58-year-old female was referred to our hospital with an abnormal shadow on her chest X-ray. Further examination revealed the left anterior descending coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula with aneurysms. The patient was successfully repaired with operation and had no residual fistulas and aneurysms.

Surgical repair of coronary sinus atrial septal defect and supraventricular tachycardia.

A 67-year-old female had suffered from fatigue and palpitation. Cardiac examination revealed coronary sinus atrial septal defect, moderate mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, coronary artery disease, and supraventricular tachycardia with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Surgical repair of the anomaly, regurgitant valves, and arrhythmia associated with coronary revascularization was successfully performed and the patient has been doing well in normal sinus rhythm.

Simple and reliable distal anastomosis for total aortic arch replacement.

In total aortic arch replacement, distal aortic anastomosis is often remarkably difficult because of the deep operative field. Once bleeding from the anastomotic area occurs, it is intractable not only because of technical problems but also decreased coagulability due to deep hypothermia and the fragility of the aortic wall. We describe a simple but reliable strategy for distal anastomosis, which is unique with regard to the approach to the anastomotic area and the anastomotic method.

Free-floating left atrial ball thrombus without mitral valve disease.

Reports of left atrial ball thrombus without mitral valve disease are few. We experienced a case of free-floating left atrial ball thrombus that developed in a short period in a patient with atrial fibrillation and dilated left atrium but intact mitral valve. Surgical removal of the thrombus was performed. It was presumed that atrial fibrillation and enlarged left atrium were the contributory factors to thrombus development.

Lymphatic cardiac tamponade after open-heart surgery with liver dysfunction.

A 46-year-old female with alcoholic liver dysfunction was admitted for mitral regurgitation due to infective endocarditis. She underwent mitral valvuloplasty and resection of the vegetation without complication. After removal of the chest tube, late cardiac tamponade occurred and subsequently recurred. On the 64th day after mitral valvuloplasty, we performed redo median sternotomy with small laparotomy trying to reveal and repair injured lymphatic vessels in the pericardial space and successfully cured the leakage of lymph. The post reoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged 20 days after reoperation. We review a rare complication of recurrent cardiac tamponade of lymphatic leakage associated with liver dysfunction.

Modified Ross procedure with stentless bioprosthesis and pericardial xenograft for the right ventricular outflow tract. Usefulness of autologous pericardial patch for hemostasis.

A 31-year-old man with severe aortic regurgitation due to a defective bicuspid valve underwent surgery using modified Ross procedure. The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was reconstructed with a 25 mm stentless xenograft valve sutured with a rolled equine pericardium. Oozy bleeding from the RVOT was controlled with an autologous pericardial patch and fibrin glue. Postoperative echocardiography showed no aortic regurgitation. No blood transfusion was required.

Reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract with stentless xenografts in Ross procedure.

To investigate whether the use of a stentless porcine aortic xenograft can be an alternative for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction during the Ross procedure, 9 patients underwent the Ross procedure and RVOT reconstruction with a stentless xenograft since January 2000. After the aortic valve was replaced with a pulmonary autograft, a stentless xenograft with a xeno- pericardial roll was implanted in the RVOT. One patient required subsequent aortic valve replacement because of severe regurgitation of the pulmonary autograft. All patients recovered well from the operation. The right ventricle-pulmonary arterial pressure gradient was 18 +/- 7 mm Hg at discharge and was not significantly increased during the 2-year follow-up period. Although 1 patient died of ventricular arrhythmia 5 months after, his cardiac function was normal, and transpulmonary valve pressure was 19 mm Hg in the follow-up. The other 7 patients are currently in New York Heart Association functional Class I. Although long-term follow-up is required to explain the durability, the stentless xenograft with a pericardial roll is considered to be an alternative for reconstruction of the RVOT within 2 years after the Ross procedure.

Aortic aneurysm and aortic regurgitation following aortic valve replacement due to Takayasu's arteritis.

A 26-year-old man who underwent aortic valve replacement for aortic regurgitation due to Takayasu's arteritis 2 years earlier experienced left amaurosis persisting for some minutes. Computed tomography showed aneurysmal dilation of the ascending aorta to a diameter of 60 mm and occlusion of the left carotid artery. Cardiac echography showed perivalvular leakage. Following administration of a calcium antagonist, the patient's amaurosis subsided and brain bloodstream scintigraphy showed no abnormalities. We resected the aneurysm instead of using Bentall's operation. Following an uncomplicated postoperative course, the patient was discharged 21 days after surgery and echocardiography has shown no perivalvular leakage to date.