Akio Ikai

Feasibility of the extracardiac conduit Fontan procedure in patients weighing less than 10 kilograms

OBJECTIVE The extracardiac conduit Fontan procedure has led to improved outcomes. We performed the procedure in patients weighing less than 10 kg and evaluated its feasibility. METHODS Since January 1999, 72 patients weighing less than 20 kg underwent extracardiac conduit Fontan procedure with polytetrafluoroethylene conduits. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 36 patients weighing less than 10 kg in group S and 36 weighing more than 10 kg in group L. Mean weight, median age, and median follow-up period in groups S and L were 8.5 +/- 1.1 and 14.0 +/- 3.0 kg, 18.9 and 42.0 months, and 29.2 (1.7-79.7) and 42.1 (2.8-94.2) months, respectively. Postoperatively, most patients received peritoneal drainage catheters. We reviewed data precatheterization and postcatheterization and postoperative course. RESULTS Conduit sizes in groups S and L were 17.0 +/- 1.3 and 17.9 +/- 1.9 mm, respectively (P = .03). Five patients required fenestrations. There were 2 hospital deaths, 1 in each group, and 2 late deaths in group S. The postoperative course was identical in both groups, except for median length of stay in the intensive care unit and peritoneal drainage volume. Group S versus L: ventilator support, 11 versus 7 hours; pleural drainage, 9 days each; pleural drainage greater than 14 days, 6 versus 5 cases; peritoneal drainage, 8 versus 7 days; intensive care unit stay, 7 versus 4 days (P = .01), peritoneal drainage volume, 26.1 versus 14.1 mL x kg x d(-1) (P = .0007). CONCLUSIONS The early outcome of the extracardiac conduit Fontan procedure was satisfactory in patients weighing less than 10 kg. However, the required size of the conduit remains debatable.

Management of infectious endocarditis with mycotic aneurysm evaluated by brain magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVES Cerebral complications of infective endocarditis (IE) [particularly, mycotic aneurysm, visualized as a hypointense spot on T2*-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] are associated with a high incidence of postoperative cerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage. We have adopted a policy of performing elective open heart surgery after performing a MRI enhanced by gadolinium in such patients whenever possible after improvement in inflammatory findings around a cerebral aneurysm. METHODS Fifty-six patients (35 men and 21 women, mean age 56 years) diagnosed with active-phase IE between January 2000 and December 2010 were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS Six patients who had not undergone MRI were excluded. The remaining patients were classified into four groups according to preoperative brain MRI findings-Group A (n = 13): cerebral haemorrhage, cerebral infarction, abscess and encephalitis; Group B (n = 7): simple or multiple black dots ( = hypointensive spots) with cerebral haemorrhage or cerebral infarction; Group C (n = 15): simple or multiple black dots alone; Group D (n = 15): no abnormal MRI findings. None of the 12 patients who successfully underwent elective surgery in Groups B and C developed postoperative cerebral complications. CONCLUSIONS Brain MRI is an important tool for the detection of asymptomatic intracranial abnormalities associated with IE and evaluation of the preoperative bleeding risk of patients. Patients with contrast enhancement around black dots are at high risk for bleeding, and performing open heart surgery in such patients whenever possible after the improvement of inflammatory findings reduces the potential risk of cerebral haemorrhage.

Artery Fistula Causing Aortic Regurgitation in Pulmonary Atresia With Ventricular Septal Defect and Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries

We report a case of aortic regurgitation (AR), coronary artery-to-pulmonary artery (CAPA) fistula, pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA/VSD), and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAS). As a result of coronary steal and AR, myocardial ischemia and ventricular dysfunction occurred. When the patient was 2 months old with a body weight of 2.7 kg, we performed fistula ligation, aortic valvuloplasty, unifocalization of the MAPCAS, and right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery shunting. After the operation, the AR volume reduced, and the patient was scheduled for repair.

Aortic translocation using the hemi-mustard procedure for corrected transposition.

The management of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and associated lesions is frequently challenging. Restrictive ventricular septal defect and mild pulmonary stenosis are contraindications to the double switch procedure, including the atrial-Rastelli switch procedure, due to the production of postoperative left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. We describe a case of aortic translocation using the hemi-Mustard procedure after left ventricular training in order to prevent postoperative left ventricular outflow obstruction.

Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collaterals: single-stage complete unifocalization.

Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collaterals (MAPCAs) is a complex lesion. Since the concept of primary one-stage unifocalization evolved in the 1990s, the results of surgical treatment have improved significantly. From the midline approach, most of MAPCAs are dissected in the posterior mediastinal space between the ascending aorta and the superior vena cava. Extensive dissection maximizes the length of each MAPCA, which makes direct anastomosis of native tissue feasible without use of prosthetic materials. Pulmonary blood supply is established by a systemic-pulmonary shunt. The procedure was performed in 13 patients with 7.7% of hospital mortality. There was 1 late death because of infection in a patient with deletion of chromosome 22q11.2. Nine patients underwent intracardiac repair without mortality. The ratio of right ventricular systolic pressure to the systemic pressure after intracardiac repair did not exceed 0.5, except for 1 patient. Although further follow-up is necessary, midline one-stage unifocalization is considered as the standard procedure for this lesion.

Repair of a simple total anomalous pulmonary venous connection coexisting with a persistent left superior vena cava

A simple total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) coexisting with a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is extremely rare. Connection of the PLSVC with the coronary sinus behind the left atrium induces coronary sinus dilatation. This reduces the free posterior wall space to which the common pulmonary vein is anastomosed for repairing the anomalous connection. Postoperative recurrent pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) is the most important complication. To prevent PVO, sufficient tension-free anastomosis is necessary. When dilated, the coronary sinus becomes an obstacle for obtaining sufficient incision length in the left atrial cavity. We encountered two cases of a simple TAPVC with a PLSVC in infants weighing 1.8 and 2.9 kg, respectively. To obtain sufficient incision length, we extended the incision line to the right atrium for an atypical supracardiac TAPVC and incised from the left atrium to the coronary sinus via the right atrium for an infracardiac TAPVC. Moreover, we recreated the atrial septum with a rightward shift using a tanned pericardium in both cases. The postoperative courses were uneventful, without recurrent PVO.

Successful neo-ostium creation using pulmonary artery tissue in a case of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the right sinus of Valsalva is rare and is known to cause sudden death in young patients. A 17-year old male patient experienced syncopal episodes after intense exercise. No abnormal findings were noted on brain magnetic resonance imaging, electroencephalography or Holter monitoring. Contrast-enhanced coronary computed tomography revealed the anomalous origin of the LCA from the right sinus of Valsalva. Considering the positional relationship with the aortic valve and the morphology of the left main trunk, a neo-ostium was created in the left coronary sinus, and patch angioplasty was performed using pulmonary arterial wall tissue. The postoperative course of the patient was uneventful, and the patient remains asymptomatic 2 years after surgery. Here, we describe this case and review the literature on the different surgical techniques for this anomaly. We believe that our technique would be useful in cases of anomalous origin of the LCA from the right sinus of Valsalva, regardless of morphological variations.

Novel Left Atrioventricular Valvuloplasty for Atrioventricular Septal Defect

An infant boy with 21 trisomy was diagnosed with complete atrioventricular septal defect-Rastelli type A with parachute left atrioventricular valve and absent left mural leaflet. Biventricular repair was difficult in infancy because the left ventricular volume and left atrioventricular valve annulus were too small. After 2 pulmonary artery bandings, the left atrioventricular valve annulus increased to 85% of normal mitral valve, and the left ventricular end-diastolic volume increased to 98% of normal. We report a successful instance of complete atrioventricular septal defect that achieved biventricular repair via novel left atrioventricular valvuloplasty for parachute left atrioventricular valve and absent left mural leaflet.

Total arch replacement in a patient with a tracheostoma through a reverse L-shaped partial sternotomy

A conventional median sternotomy in a patient with a tracheostoma is susceptible to postoperative mediastinitis or graft infection after total arch replacement (TAR). An optimal surgical procedure has still not been established to circumvent these complications in such patients. We report a successful case of a 74-year-old man with a tracheostoma who received TAR through a reverse L-shaped partial sternotomy. This incision was simple and enabled us to secure an adequate operative field similar to that of a conventional median sternotomy. The patient was discharged without any evidence of infection or any other complications.

Pulmonary Artery Plasty with Internal Thoracic Arterial Patch in Fontan Candidate

Pulmonary Artery Plasty with Internal Thoracic Arterial Patch in Fontan Candidate Junichi Koizumi1), Akio Ikai1), Tomoyuki Iwase1), Tatsuya Furutake1), Katsuyoshi Kanno4), Satoshi Nakano2), Wataru Soda2), Shin Takahashi2), Kotaro Oyama2), Takashi Kobayashi3), and Hitoshi Okabayashi1) Department of 1)Cardiovascular Surgery, 2)Pediatric Cardiology, 3)Anesthegiology, Memorial Heart Center, Iwate Medical University, Iwate, Japan 4)Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Children’s Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan