Noboru Wakita

Surgical treatment of an aneurysm in the right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery

A saccular aneurysm in the right-sided aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery is an uncommon disease, and surgical treatment is complicated. Three patients with Edwards type III-B right aortic arch and enlargement of the Kommerells diverticulum underwent operations. Right thoracotomy was the preferred approach for this lesion and partial cardiopulmonary bypass is a safe and simple procedure when the aortic arch has mild atherosclerosis.

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.

Primary osteosarcoma of heart with severe congestive heart failure

We present a case report on a 54-year-old woman with extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the left atrium featuring severe congestive heart failure. We resected the tumor, which occupied the left atrium and had widely infiltrated the atrial wall, but the patients died of the tumor 9 months after surgery. This is to our knowledge the 32nd case of cardiac osteosarcoma ever reported.

Evidence of Apoptosis Induced by Myocardial Ischemia: A Case of Ventricular Septal Rupture following Acute Myocardial Infarction

Recent studies have reported that apoptosis may be induced by reperfusion injury following ischemia in cardiomyocytes. We present a case with evidence of apoptosis induced by myocardial ischemia without reperfusion. DNA fragmentation was demonstrated in the nuclei of the myocardial cells surrounding the ventricular septal rupture following acute myocardial infarction without reperfusion in the infarct-related left anterior descending coronary artery. This finding suggests that ischemia without reperfusion may induce apoptosis in myocardial cells.

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 Takayasus 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 patients amaurosis subsided and brain bloodstream scintigraphy showed no abnormalities. We resected the aneurysm instead of using Bentalls operation. Following an uncomplicated postoperative course, the patient was discharged 21 days after surgery and echocardiography has shown no perivalvular leakage to date.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Impending rupture in an aortic arch aneurysm by Candida infection

A 68-year-old man was hospitalized with the complaints of left back pain and fever. He had a history of using steroids to treat uveitis for about thirty years. Computed tomography on the chest demonstrated an impending rupture in an aortic arch aneurysm, which was consequently surgically excised. Candida albicans was identified in the wall of the aneurysm, so fluconazole and itraconazole were administered. The patient was discharged at 120 days after surgery without recrudescence of the candida. To our knowledge, this is the fifteenth case of a successfully treated aneurysm caused by candida infection.