Shin-ichi Ohki

Crutch-induced bilateral brachial artery aneurysms

A 57-year-old man, who was a chronic axillary crutch user as a result of childhood poliomyelitis, was referred to our hospital because of a sudden onset of right forearm ischemia. The right forearm had no pulse, and three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) showed an aneurysm of the right brachial artery associated with arterial occlusion. The thrombosed aneurysm of the brachial artery was resected and the brachial artery was successfully revascularized by interposing a saphenous vein graft. Postoperative 3DCT revealed an asymptomatic left brachial artery aneurysm. His postoperative course was uneventful under warfarin anticoagulation therapy.

Mycotic superior mesenteric pseudoaneurysm draining into a vein

A 46-year-old man with a medical history notable only for schizophrenia was admitted to hospital with complaints of general fatigue and high fever. Transthoracic echocardiography on day 6 after admission demonstrated a large vegetation (17 mm) on the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve with mild regurgitation and mild aortic regurgitation. The patient also complained of abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography showed a remarkable enlargement of the superior mesenteric artery aneurysm (SMAA). An excision of the SMAA and double valve replacement was performed, and the patient was administered a six-week course of intravenous antibiotic therapy.

Chylous Ascites after Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

A 73-year-old man was transferred for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm. He had no history of abdominal surgeries. Grafting between the infra-renal abdominal aorta and the bilateral common iliac arteries was performed. Proximal and distal cross clamps were applied for grafting. He developed chylous ascites on the 5th post-operative day, 2 days after initiation of oral intake. Fortunately, he responded to treatment with total parenteral hyper-alimentation for 10 days, followed by a low-fat diet. There was no recurrence of ascites.

Extraanatomical ascending-abdominal aorta bypass with stump closure for aortic graft infection

A 42-year-old man, who 25 years previously underwent grafting of the descending aorta because of traumatic rupture after a traffic accident, was admitted to our hospital complaining of fever and hemoptysis. Computed tomography (CT) scans showed a low density area around the prosthetic graft. We diagnosed a graft infection. We undertook extraanatomical ascending-abdominal aorta bypass with stump closure of the descending aorta, with omentopexy around the stump. Postoperative course was uneventful and he has been free from infection for one year. Extraanatomical bypass was an effective strategy for treatment of a graft infection.

Clinical features of third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position.

OBJECTIVE Recently, there has been an increase in case of repeated open-heart valve surgery and the clinical results of the second surgery are only slightly worse than those of the first surgery. However, clinical results of the third open-heart valve surgery at the same position are rarely reported. Clinical features of third open-heart valve surgery at the same position are discussed in this study. METHODS Between 1995 and 2004, 16 patients underwent third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position under cardiopulmonary bypass. The average age of the 16 patients, 12 females and 4 males, was 56 +/- 15 years. Clinical features of the 16 cases were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS Mechanical valve nonstructural dysfunction was the most common valve malady, followed by bioprosthetic valve dysfunction. The duration of surgery from skin incision to establishment of the cardiopulmonary bypass was 94 +/- 42 minutes. Myocardial ischemia time was 137 +/- 38 minutes and extracorporeal circulation time was 212 +/- 82 minutes. Early mortality was seen in 1 patient (6.25%) and late mortality was seen in 1 patient. CONCLUSION Mechanical valve nonstructural valve dysfunction leads to repeated valve surgery. The clinical results of the third open-heart valve surgery at the same valve position are acceptable, and the mid-term survival is excellent.

Aortogenic cerebrovascular accident

A 59-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of mural thrombus in the ascending aorta. He had suffered some neurological dysfunctions such as transient dysorientation. Electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm without premature beats. Trans-thoracic echocardiogram and three-dimensional CT showed a mobile mural mass sticking to the ascending aortic wall. No coagulopathy was detected in the patient. The mural masses were thought to be a possible cause of the repeated cerebro-vascular symptoms. Under cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac arrest, the masses were removed including the mass sticking to the aortic wall. Postoperative pathological findings showed the masses were organizing thrombi that had originated from the atherosclerotic aortic wall. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was doing well one year after the operation without neurological dysfunction.

Successful graft replacement of the descending aorta after an extended reconstruction of the ascending and transverse aorta in a patient with Marfan's syndrome.

A 27-year-old man with Marfan’s syndrome underwent a total aortic graft replacement in three separate stages. Initially the abdominal aorta was replaced, followed by the ascending aorta and aortic arch, and finally the residual portion. The extensive reconstruction of both the ascending and transverse aorta at the second operation, even though no dissection was present in the aortic arch, reduced the risk of the subsequent operation since the same surgical approach did not have to be used.

Chronic aortic dissection with tricuspid regurgitation: report of a case

Dilatation of aortic root may distort the tricuspid annulus. We experienced a case of chronic aortic dissection presented with tricuspid regurgitation. Chest computed tomography revealed an enlarged ascending aorta displacing the right heart. The patient successfully underwent replacement of the aorta and tricuspid annuloplasty with a prosthetic annulus.

A case of immunoglobulin G4-related aortic diseases

A 65‐year‐old man had histories of retroperitoneal fibrosis, membranous nephropathy, and acute coronary syndrome. Chest computed tomography showed an enlarged ascending aorta and type B aortic dissection, and he underwent ascending aorta and arch replacement. A pathological examination of the resected aorta showed immunoglobulin G4‐positive plasma cell infiltration.

Open Surgical Decompression Is Useful for the Prevention and Treatment of Abdominal Compartment Syndrome after the Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic and Iliac Artery Aneurysm

Objective: This study was performed to determine whether open surgical decompression (OSD) decreased the mortality associated with abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) following open repair (OR) of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and iliac aneurysm (rAAA), and to investigate the risk factors associated with OSD. Material and Methods: Total 113 consecutive patients with rAAA underwent OR in our institution. Ninety patients underwent primary abdominal closure; however, three of them developed ACS and required OSD. Prophylactic OSD was performed at the initial OR in 23 patients. Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was higher in those who underwent OSD than in those who did not undergo OSD [27.0% (7/26) vs. 6.9% (6/87), respectively; p=0.01]. However, no ACS-related death occurred in the OSD group. Multivariate analyses revealed that a preoperative/intraoperative base excess (BE)<−11 [p=0.045; odds ratio (OR), 3.33; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.021–10.850], performance of left thoracotomy (p=0.038; OR, 5.17; 95%CI, 1.098–24.357), and intraoperative blood transfusion >1,800 mL (p=0.012; OR, 4.30; 95%CI, 1.386–13.322) were associated with OSD. Conclusion: The prevalence and mortality rates of ACS were low at our institution. OSD is considered to be useful for the prevention and treatment of ACS after repair of rAAA. OSD should be considered in patients with the above-mentioned factors.