Akira Furutachi

Aneurysm of the Right Sinus of Valsalva After Aortic Valve Replacement in Takayasu Arteritis

Abstract  We herein report a case with an aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva, which developed 14 years after an aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic regurgitation caused by Takayasu arteritis. The aortic wall around the right coronary artery ostium showed calcification, as a result, the modified Bentall procedure and coronary artery bypass to the right coronary artery were successfully performed. A pathological study of the resected aortic sinus wall showed a disruption of the elastic fibers in the media, granuloma formation, and a marked proliferation of the collagen fibers in the adventitia, and these findings were compatible with Takayasu arteritis. The development of an aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva late after AVR indicates the necessity of a close and lifelong follow‐up for patients with Takayasu arteritis, especially focusing on the aortic root morphology.

Total arch replacement for acute aortic dissection (Stanford A) in a patient with hemophilia A.

As a result of improvements in medical management, patients suffering from hemophilia have a life expectancy approaching that of the normal population. An increased life expectancy, however, brings an increased risk of developing age-related disorders. Several article have reported elective cardiac operations successfully performed on hemophiliacs. To our knowledge, there are no articles describing such patients undergoing emergent aortic surgery. Our report describes the successful management of an individual with hemophilia A undergoing emergent total arch replacement for acute aortic dissection (Stanford A). We used a continuous infusion of factor VIII concentrate during the perioperative period. The patient was discharged without bleeding complications.

Real-Time Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography Is Useful for the Localization of a Small Mitral Paravalvular Leak

The use of multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to reconstruct 3-dimensional (3D) images is limited by time-consuming, multiplane image acquisition and the need for offline processing. To overcome these limitations, a 3D fully sampled matrix array transducer was recently developed to allow real-time acquisition and online display of 3D images. In this case, real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography produced clear image of a small paraprosthetic leak point. Although the surgical view from the left atrium was poor due to severe adhesions, we were able to perform optimal repair of the small leak after intraoperative confirmation of the location of the leak that was identified by preoperative real-time 3D transesophageal echocardiography.

A safer technique of aortic root replacement after aortic valve replacement

Aortic root replacement after aortic valve replacement (AVR) is often complicated by bleeding around the aortic root, which increases the risk of morbidity and mortality, making it a technically challenging procedure. We describe a new technique of aortic root replacement designed to minimize bleeding around the aortic root. This surgical technique focuses on safe dissection and exposure of the aortic root to avoid inadvertent entry into the right atrium or right ventricle; on modifying the proximal anastomosis of the graft to the aortic annulus; and on performing a coronary artery reimplantation that achieves complete hemostasis at the suture lines. We performed aortic root replacement after AVR in four patients over a 4-year period, without encountering any bleeding around the aortic root.

Aortic valve replacement and tricuspid valve annuloplasty via a left thoracotomy in an adult with left pulmonary agenesis

We report a case of a 66-year-old man who was diagnosed with severe aortic regurgitation, moderate tricuspid regurgitation and chronic atrial fibrillation. Preoperative computed tomography showed left lung agenesis. We performed aortic valve replacement, tricuspid valve annuloplasty and right pulmonary vein isolation via a left thoracotomy. This approach provided an adequate field of view.

Anterior tibial artery rupture treated using covered stent in a patient with vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome

Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a rare degenerative connective tissue disease caused by a mutation of the COL3A1 gene that results in systemic vascular fragility. Arterial rupture is a potentially fatal serious complication that is the most commonly reported cause of death among patients with this disease, as ruptured vessels remain fragile even after surgical or endovascular reconstruction. Therefore, treatment for vascular complications in patients with vEDS remains controversial. Rupture or pseudoaneurysm of the infrapopliteal artery is extremely rare. We describe a 38-year-old woman with vEDS who presented with sudden widespread rupture of the anterior tibial artery. She was treated by endovascular reconstruction using covered stents. She has remained free of vascular events for two years after surgery, and the course has been uneventful. Endovascular reconstruction using covered stents might offer an alternative for relatively small ruptured arteries and avoid disturbing blood flow in the lower extremities of patients with vEDS. <Learning objective: Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) causes systemic vascular fragility that results in arterial rupture. However, rupture of the arteries in the lower extremities is rare, and definitive treatment has not been established. Endovascular reconstruction with covered stents might offer an alternative treatment for ruptured arteries in the lower extremities of patients with vEDS.>.