Hideyuki Fumoto

Dual left anterior descending coronary artery: report of a case.

We report a case of Type I dual left anterior descending artery (LAD) successfully treated by coronary artery bypass grafting including the long LAD. This rare coronary artery anomaly is of clinical importance in the field of myocardial revascularization.

Mitral Valve Replacement for a Severely Calcified Mitral Annulus

Abstract  We herein describe a surgical technique in a mitral valve replacement for a hemodialysis patient presenting with mitral valve stenosis and severe mitral annular calcification. Mitral annular calcification extending to the left ventricular myocardium was resected using a cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) to make a flat plane from the left atrium to the left ventricle. An autologous pericardium was secured to the posterior left ventricular wall and to the left atrial wall covering the mitral annulus for annular reconstruction. In the posterior mitral annulus, the prosthetic valve was fixed onto this pericardial patch. After the operation, the patient recovered well without any embolic complications. The prosthetic valve functions normally without any perivalvular leakage. Decalcification using the CUSA and the annular reconstruction with a pericardial patch is therefore indicated in valve replacement for patients with severe mitral annular calcification.

Surgical Revascularization for Acute Coronary Syndrome : Comparative Surgical and Long-term Results

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adequate timing of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS In our institution, emergency CABG has been avoided when possible for ACS patients favoring stabilization with medical therapies, including intra-aortic balloon pumping or percutaneous coronary intervention. After thorough preoperative examinations, an urgent CABG is performed. A total of 67 patients with ACS underwent CABG, comprised of 33 patients receiving an emergency CABG (emergent group: E-G) and 34 patients receiving an urgent CABG (urgent group: U-G). The early and long-term results were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS Preoperatively, the incidences of acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock were significantly higher in E-G. No significant differences were found in the intraoperative factors except for the number of distal anastomoses (2.5 in E-G vs. 3.1 in U-G, p=0.01). The hospital mortality was 9.1% in E-G, and 2.9% in U-G, with no significant difference between the groups. Moreover, no patient in U-G necessitated emergency CABG while waiting for surgery. The patency rate of the grafts was 100% in E-G, and 96.2% in U-G. The 5-year survival rate excluding in-hospital death was 80.3% in E-G, and 78% in U-G (p>0.05). The 5-year cardiac event-free rate was 80.3% in E-G, and 80.9% in U-G (p>0.05). CONCLUSION An emergency CABG can be reserved for ACS patients when symptoms and hemodynamic state are stabilized with medical therapies. Improvements in long-term results can be expected after high quality and complete surgical revascularization.

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.

Impact of transapical aortic cannulation for acute type A aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE Early and mid-term result of transapical aortic (TAA) cannulation technique was evaluated compared with femoral artery (FA) cannulation in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection(AAAD). METHODS From January 2000 to October 2013, 80 consecutive patients with AAAD were underwent the ascending aortic replacement at Nagasaki Kouseikai Hospital. These patients were divided into two groups according to the cannulation site, FA cannulation (n = 34) and TAA cannulation (n = 46). Early and mid-term outcomes were compared between two groups. RESULT Preoperative patient characteristics were almost comparable between groups. The time from skin incision to starting cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was significantly shorter in the TAA group (45 ± 16 vs 23 ± 5.1 min; P <0.001). There were no significant differences in post-operative cerebral infarction in two groups (17% versus 11%; P = NS). The operative mortality rate was 8.8% in FA group and 4.3% in TAA group (P = NS). During follow up (mean, 6.8 years), survival at 3 years and 5 years was 77.4% and 71.9% in TAA group and 76.3% and 73.8% in FA group, respectively. CONCLUSION The postoperative morbidity and mortality between the two groups were almost the same. TAA cannulation for acute Type A aortic dissection is faster, easy and safe with acceptable early and mid-term outcome.

Surgical Technique for Massive Mural Thrombus in the Left Atrium

Abstract  A surgical case of a massive mural thrombus in the left atrium associated with valvular heart disease is herein presented. The fresh autologous pericardium was used to cover the roughened left atrial endocardium after the removal of the mural thrombus. This procedure seems useful to prevent not only the perioperative thromboembolism caused by the dislodgement of the fragmented small thrombus but also any long‐term future thrombus formation by creating a smooth surface layer with the autologous pericardium.

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.

Safety and Efficacy of Low-Dose Continuous Infusion of Landiolol, an Ultra-Short-Acting β-blocker, in Cardiac Surgery

Introduction: Landiolol hydrochloride is an ultra‐short‐acting β‐blocker that is administered intravenously and has many advantages in cardiac surgery. This study was performed to examine the safety and efficacy of low‐dose landiolol continuous infusion in cardiac surgery.

Aortic dissection late after aortic valve replacement

We experienced 3 cases of an aortic dissection occurring late after an aortic valve replacement, and successfully treated by an aortic root replacement. An aortic dissection involving the ascending aorta can develop late after an aortic valve replacement, and such an occurrence is associated with a high mortality and morbidity. The development of effective surgical strategies at the initial aortic valve surgery, strict control of blood pressure after aortic valve replacement, serial evaluations of aortic size, and the prophylactic replacement of the ascending aorta for patients with aortic dilatation after aortic valve replacement, all play clinically important roles in preventing an aortic dissection after aortic valve replacement. When an aortic dissection occurs in patients with a previous aortic valve replacement, an aortic root replacement should be performed in order to avoid leaving the fragile diseased aortic wall including the sinus of Valsalva.

An evaluation of coronary artery bypass grafting without aortic cross-clamping due to severely atherosclerotic ascending aorta.

OBJECTIVES We evaluated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in which aortic cross-clamping is not done due to severe atherosclerosis of the ascending aorta. METHODS Subjects were 51 patients undergoing CABG without aortic cross-clamping during cardiopulmonary bypass under moderately hypothermic ventricular fibrillation in the 12 years from June 1988 to October 1999 (Group N). In some cases, empty beating or moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest was used. We compared these 51 with 1104 subjects undergoing conventional CABG with aortic cross-clamping and cardioplegic cardiac arrest in the 9 years from June 1988 to December 1997 (Group A). RESULTS In all 6 cases with neurologic deficits, moderately hypothermic circulatory arrest was used during proximal anastomosis of saphenous vein grafts. Postoperative computed tomography scan showed them to have suffered infarction due to embolization. Multivariate analysis identified proximal saphenous vein grafting under moderately hypothermic circulatory arrest as a predictor of neurologic deficit. Complete revascularization was significantly lower in Group N. Actual survival and freedom from cardiac death were significantly lower in Group N. CONCLUSION Manipulation of the atherosclerotic ascending aorta under moderately hypothermic circulatory arrest or ventricular fibrillation generates the highest risk of perioperative neurologic deficit and should thus be avoided. In-situ arterial grafting should be conducted with utmost care.