Tomokuni Furukawa

Preoperative evaluation of patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing open heart surgery

ObjectiveClinical outcomes after open heart surgery in patients with liver cirrhosis are not satisfactory. For evaluating hepatic function, the Child-Pugh classification has been widely used. It has been reported that open heart surgery can be performed safely in patients with mild liver cirrhosis. In this study, we examined the clinical outcomes after open heart surgery in patients with liver cirrhosis and evaluated the usefulness of the Child-Pugh classification.MethodsThere were 12 liver cirrhosis patients who underwent open heart surgery between January 2002 and December 2006 at our institution. The severity of cirrhosis was graded according to the Child-Pugh classification. We reviewed clinical outcomes, such as postoperative mortality and morbidity, and tried to determine the risk factors. Finally, we assessed the usefulness of the Child-Pugh classification.ResultsSix patients were classified as having Child class A, and the other six patients were classified as B. The overall mortality of group A was 50%, and that of group B was 17%. Postoperative major morbidities occurred in half of the patients of Child class A and in all of the patients of Child class B. Patients who experienced major morbidities had markedly lower levels of serum cholinesterase (106 ± 46 vs. 199 ± 72 IU/l; P = 0.02) and lower platelet level (7.5 ± 2.9 vs. 11.9 ± 3.6 × 104/μl; P = 0.04).ConclusionThe mortality and morbidity rates were high even in the Child class A patients. The Child classification may be an insufficient method for evaluating hepatic function. We have to assess other factors, such as the serum cholinesterase level or the platelet count.

Early- and mid-term aortic remodelling after the frozen elephant trunk technique for retrograde type A acute aortic dissection using the new Japanese J Graft open stent graft

OBJECTIVES We previously performed the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique for acute type A aortic dissection to try to improve the long-term prognosis. In this study, we report the mid-term results of the FET technique for treating retrograde type A acute aortic dissection using a new device, the J Graft open stent graft (JOSG). METHODS Between January 2008 and December 2015, 24 patients (mean age: 59.3 ± 13.9 years) underwent total arch replacement with the FET technique using the JOSG for retrograde type A acute aortic dissection. All patients had at least 1 year of follow-up imaging. RESULTS The average outer diameter of the JOSG was 28 ± 2.8 mm (range: 25-35 mm). The average position of the distal edge of the JOSG was Th 6.6 ± 1.1. The cumulative survival rate at 1 year was 91.6%. Postoperative computed tomography 1 year after surgery showed that complete thrombosis was present in all patients at the level of the distal edge of the stent graft and the aortic valve. At the diaphragmatic level, complete thrombosis was seen in 14 (70%) patients, the false lumen was patent in most patients (90%) at the superior mesenteric artery level. CONCLUSIONS The use of the FET technique with the JOSG for retrograde type A acute aortic dissection provides good outcomes. With the proper use of the JOSG, it is possible to expand the true lumen and eliminate antegrade false-lumen flow, resulting in good aortic remodelling. Furthermore, there should be obliteration of the false lumen from the stent graft to the aortic valve, and this might reduce long-term complications.

A pitfall of false lumen embolization in chronic aortic dissection: intimal injury caused by the embolization device edge

We report a case of intimal injury caused by the occluder device in the false lumen (FL) after treatment of refractory chronic aortic dissection with FL embolization. We speculate that the intimal injury was due to the disproportionate stress from the FL. We covered the new entry by an additional stent graft in the true lumen. The deployment of a stent device in both lumens at the level of embolization might be indispensable for FL embolization.

Management of cerebral malperfusion in surgical repair of acute type A aortic dissection

OBJECTIVES Cerebral malperfusion for patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) remains an unsolved problem. The present study aimed to evaluate our management of cerebral perfusion and identify predictors of perioperative cerebral malperfusion in patients undergoing surgical repair of AAAD. METHODS Between January 2004 and December 2015, 137 consecutive patients with AAAD underwent aortic replacement at Tsuchiya General Hospital. The status of the dissected supra-aortic branch vessels (SABVs) was classified as patent or thrombosis by preoperative computed tomographic angiography. Intraoperative cerebral perfusion was monitored by transcutaneous carotid echo and regional oxygen saturation. In cases with neurological symptoms or cerebral malperfusion, quick cerebral perfusion was immediately started using a quick cutdown technique. We assessed clinical outcomes, including mortality and complications, and analysed predictors of early mortality and cerebral malperfusion. RESULTS The early mortality rate was 8.0%. Postoperative cerebral injury was observed in 4 patients (2.9%). Nineteen patients had perioperative cerebral malperfusion. There were no postoperative cerebral injuries in the patients in whom intraoperative cerebral malperfusion was corrected. Multivariable analysis revealed that preoperative shock (odds ratio [OR] 22.60, P  < 0.0001) and extension of dissection to the abdominal aorta (OR 9.31, P  = 0.0064) were significant risk factors for early mortality. Preoperative neurological symptoms (OR 12.40, P  = 0.0006) and partial or complete thrombosis of the SABV (OR 64.10, P  < 0.0001) were identified as independent predictors of perioperative cerebral malperfusion. CONCLUSIONS Perioperative cerebral perfusion should be carefully managed, especially in the patients with preoperative neurological symptoms or partial or complete thrombosis of the SABV.

Endovascular repair for three-channelled aortic dissection

Surgical repair of extensive thoracic aortic disease induced by repeated aortic dissection is challenging due to its invasive nature in some cases. We report a rare case of successful endovascular repair of a dissected 3-channelled thoracic aortic aneurysm using the PETTICOAT (provisional extension to induce complete attachment) technique and false-lumen embolization (the candy-plug technique). The PETTICOAT technique improved visceral flow, and the false lumen of the aneurysm was completely thrombosed by the candy-plug technique. This minimally invasive combination technique might be a good option for the treatment of complex dissected thoracic aorta.

Stented balloon fenestration before entry repair using the frozen elephant trunk technique for chronic aortic dissection

Endovascular fenestration on the abdominal aorta is effective for preventing visceral malperfusion in aortic dissection. We report a case of stented balloon fenestration before residual entry repair using the frozen elephant trunk technique for chronic aneurysmal dissection after ascending aortic replacement for DeBakey I aortic dissection. We recognized poor communication between the true lumen and false lumen in the abdominal aorta, and visceral perfusion depended almost entirely on the proximal large entry. Therefore, we scheduled catheter angioplasty on the small re-entry before upstream entry closure. After balloon angioplasty using a PTA catheter, a 10-mm × 4-cm self-expandable stent was deployed at the re-entry. We performed open surgery 5 days after angioplasty. Computed tomography after entry repair showed complete thrombosis of the false lumen on the descending aorta, and the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries were supplied via the abdominal re-entry stent. Stented balloon fenestration before entry repair using frozen elephant trunk with chronic aortic dissection was effective for preventing visceral malperfusion.

Successful endovascular repair of spontaneous aortic rupture early postpartum

Endovascular repair of pregnancy-associated aortic disease is controversial because the long-term result is still unclear. We report a rare case of early postpartum spontaneous aortic rupture that was successfully treated by endovascular repair, with a good midterm result. Multiangle thin-slice images of contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a very small rupture point. It was successfully repaired by minimally invasive treatment.

Left coronary artery stricture cause by a huge sinus of Valsalva aneurysm

A 67-year-old female presented with one week of chest pain. An electrocardiogram showed ST-segment depression in the chest leads, and echocardiography showed decreased cardiac wall motion in the left coronary artery region. Enhanced computed tomography revealed a huge sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with a diameter of 8 cm. It contacted the left coronary artery, resulting in constriction of that vessel (Figure 1). Transesophageal echocardiography showed that the aneurysm arose from the sinus of Valsalva. We occluded the aperture with a polytetrafluorethylene patch and performed aneurysmorrhaphy. In addition, we performed coronary artery bypass grafting to the left anterior descending artery and left circumflex artery. Cardiac wall motion improved after the operation. Follow-up enhanced computed tomography 1 year after the operation showed that the left coronary artery had expanded to a normal diameter.

Single-Stage Surgical Repair of Kommerell Diverticulum with Annuloaortic Ectasia via a Median Sternotomy: Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique with an Antler-Like Shape Reconstruction of Arch Branches

We present here a case of Kommerell diverticulum (KD) with annuloaortic ectasia, in which single-stage surgical repair was performed via a median sternotomy using frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique. We used this technique for the following reasons: firstly, we could perform surgery only via a median sternotomy without thoracotomy; secondly, we were able to deliver the FET using a guidewire through the severely angulated aortic arch. We here investigate this technique as it could potentially be a good treatment option of KD.

Hybrid Repair for Ruptured Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm: Frozen Elephant Trunk Technique with Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair

We present a case of ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) with type B aortic dissection in which hybrid repair, namely, the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique with thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), was performed. The TAA extended to the proximal descending aorta at the level of the pulmonary trunk bifurcation. We thus employed the FET technique to control the blood flow into the TAA. After performing the FET technique, intraoperative catheter aortography revealed slight type 1B endoleak. We therefore performed additional TEVAR to control the blood flow into the TAA. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful.