Yuta Sukehiro

Endoscopic Radial Artery Harvesting for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: The Initial Clinical Experience and Results of the First 50 Patients

BACKGROUNDnThe radial artery (RA) is a commonly used arterial conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Traditional open-vessel harvest often leads to postoperative wound complications and cosmetic problems. Endoscopic RA harvesting (ERAH) has been widely used to prevent these problems. The purpose of this study was to assess these problems and graft patency in the first 50 patients who underwent ERAH.nnnMETHODSnBetween February 2006 and October 2007, 50 patients underwent ERAH with the VasoView system (Boston Scientific). These patients were compared with 50 patients who underwent the traditional open technique.nnnRESULTSnThe mean age was 62.8 years in both groups. All RAs were successfully harvested. No conversion was made from ERAH to the traditional open technique. The mean harvesting time (forearm ischemic time) was 27.4 + or - 6.5 minutes, and the mean length of the RA in the ERAH group was 18.5 cm. Neither wound complications, such as wound infection and skin necrosis, nor severe neurologic complications were recorded. The patency rate was 95.9% (95/99) in the ERAH group and 94% (94/100) in the open group.nnnCONCLUSIONnERAH can be performed safely, and the early results are satisfactory. Endoscopic vessel harvesting is therefore recommended as the technique of choice for RA harvesting.

Segmental arterial mediolysis accompanied by renal infarction and pancreatic enlargement: a case report

IntroductionDue to recent advances in imaging diagnostic techniques, there are an increasing number of case reports of segmental arterial mediolysis. However, there are only a limited number of reports on segmental arterial mediolysis-related abnormalities of abdominal organs other than the intestine. This report describes a case of segmental arterial mediolysis accompanied by abnormalities of abdominal organs without clinical symptoms.Case presentationA 52-year-old Japanese man with hematuria and no prior medical history was referred to a urologist and was diagnosed as having urinary bladder cancer. He underwent trans-urethral resection of the bladder tumor and intra-vesical instillation therapy, which was followed by observation. During follow-up, although no abdominal symptoms were observed, an abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a dissection of the superior mesenteric artery. A false lumen partially occluded by a thrombus was located distal to this occlusion. The lumen was irregularly shaped with narrow and wide sections. Similar irregularities were also observed in the wall of the inferior mesenteric artery. Arterial dissection with thromboembolism in the left renal artery and renal infarction was also observed. Follow-up computed tomography after two months revealed an enlargement of the pancreatic tail adjacent to the splenic artery. Follow-up three-dimensional computed tomography showed gradual re-expansion of the true lumen of the superior mesenteric artery, improvement in arterial wall irregularities, and a reduction in the pancreas enlargement and renal infarction. Over the following 15 months, these changes gradually normalized. On the basis of the vascular changes in multiple arterial systems that resolved spontaneously, we considered that the lesions were associated with segmental arterial mediolysis.ConclusionsWe present a rare case of segmental arterial mediolysis accompanied by abnormalities of abdominal organs without clinical symptoms. Three-dimensional computed tomography was useful for follow-up evaluation in our patient.

Safety and Efficacy of an Ultrashort-Acting β1-Blocker on Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Landiolol hydrochloride, an ultrashort-acting β1-selective blocker, is a highly regulated drug. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of this drug for cases of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with left ventricular dysfunction. Between September 2006 and August 2009, 32 patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction of <40% underwent CABG. Two groups of patients, a group administered landiolol hydrochloride and a control group not administered this drug, were compared. The administration of landiolol hydrochloride was initiated at 1 μg/kg per minute (γ) after cardiopulmonary bypass in on-pump cases and after completion of all the distal anastomoses in off-pump cases. We observed no significant differences between the groups with respect to preoperative patient background or incidences of complications, except for postoperative atrial fibrillation. The heart rate decreased significantly 30 minutes after landiolol hydrochloride administration, but no change was observed in arterial pressure. No change was observed in other parameters; the hemodynamics were stable. The occurrence of atrial fibrillation during the intensive care unit stay (during landiolol hydrochloride administration) was significantly lower in the administration group. The difference remained significant after multiple logistic regression analysis; landiolol hydrochloride was the sole inhibitory factor.

Efficacy of Propafenone Hydrochloride in Preventing Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

BACKGROUNDnAtrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common complications after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and the incidence of postoperative AF (PAF) is estimated to range from 10% to 40%. PAF is a serious complication that is related to unstable hemodynamics, development of embolisms, patient discomfort, and increased medical costs associated with the prolongation of hospital stay. Sometimes, immediate attention is also necessary. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of treatment with the antiarrhythmic drug propafenone hydrochloride, which was administered in the early postoperative period, in preventing the development of PAF, and we attempted to identify risk factors for PAF.nnnMATERIALS AND METHODSnThe subjects were 78 patients who underwent isolated off-pump CABG between July 2007 and October 2008. We conducted the study by dividing the patients into 2 groups, a group of 26 patients who received propafenone hydrochloride (P group) and a control group of 52 patients who did not receive this drug (C group). The patients in the P group were given propafenone hydrochloride (150-450 mg/day orally) for 10 days, starting on the day after surgery, and were observed for the development of AF by means of continuous 12-lead electrocardiographic monitoring. Development of AF was defined as AF that lasted <or=30 minutes or as supraventricular arrhythmia that required new treatment even though it did not persist for 30 minutes.nnnRESULTSnThe background factors of the patients in the P and C groups were similar. The operation times and the numbers of distal anastomoses in the 2 groups were similar, and there were no particular differences between the 2 groups with respect to postoperative factors. The incidence of PAF was 35% in the C group and significantly lower in the P group (12%, P = .0337). Moreover, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that propafenone hydrochloride was the sole factor that prevented the development of PAF (odds ratio, 0.207; 95% confidence interval, 0.053-0.804; P = .0229).nnnCONCLUSIONnCases must be carefully considered before administering propafenone hydrochloride, but the results of this study indicate that propafenone hydrochloride may prevent the development of PAF.

Four-Stitch Side-to-Side Anastomosis for Sequential Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Sequential bypass (SB) is an effective method of implementing complete myocardial revascularization of complex coronary stenoses. The SB allows a single graft to be used for bypass in several locations, which facilitates multi-branch revascularization. We have developed a simple SB technique, four-stitch side-to-side anastomosis, and report its clinical effectiveness in 428 patients.

Safety and efficacy of ascending aorta cannulation during repair of acute type A aortic dissection (PA29-04): “Presented at the 65th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Association for Thoracic Surgery”

ObjectiveAntegrade central perfusion for acute Stanford type A aortic dissection prevents malperfusion and retrograde cerebral embolism during cardiopulmonary bypass. Prompt establishment of antegrade perfusion via the ascending aorta may improve surgical results of type A dissections, especially in situations of hemodynamic instability. Thus, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of cannulation of the dissected ascending aorta in acute type A dissection.MethodsWe reviewed the medical charts of patients undergoing repair of acute ascending aortic dissection (nxa0=xa052) from April 2010 to April 2013. Cannulation was accomplished in 29 patients via the ascending aorta (central) and in 23 patients via the femoral or axillary artery (peripheral). The ascending aorta was routinely cannulated using Seldinger technique under epiaortic ultrasound guidance. Comorbidities, mortality, complications, and durations of hospital stays were compared for the groups.ResultsIn all cases, routine cannulation of the ascending aorta was safely performed with no resultant malperfusion or thromboembolism. Mean operative duration, cardiopulmonary bypass time, intubation time, and intensive care unit stay were significantly shorter in the central group. Two patients (6.8xa0%) in the central group died compared with four patients (17.3xa0%) in the peripheral group (Pxa0=xa00.005).ConclusionsAntegrade central perfusion via the ascending aorta, a simple and safe technique that enables rapid establishment of antegrade systemic perfusion, was as safe as peripheral cannulation in patients with type A acute aortic dissection.

A Case of Type-2 Endoleak from a Bronchial Artery after Endovascular Aortic Repair for Kommerell Diverticulum

We describe a case of type-2 bronchial artery endoleak after endovascular aortic repair of Kommerell diverticulum (KD) involving right-sided aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery (LSA). A 68-year-old woman underwent an endovascular repair of KD with an aberrant LSA in our hospital. Follow-up computed tomography (CT) at 6 months after the procedure showed an endoleak. Digital subtraction angiography revealed a type-2 endoleak from a bronchial artery, but no type-1 or type-2 endoleak from the aberrant left subclavian artery. We performed coil embolization of the KD and the left subclavian artery. The endoleak disappeared in the postoperative CT.

A Case of Re-Endovascular Repair in Acute Phase after EndovascularAortic Repair for Acute Type B Aortic Dissection Complicated by Visceral,Renal and Lower Limb Malperfusion

We describe a case of re-endovascular aortic repair after endovascular aortic repair for acute type B aortic dissection, complicated by visceral, renal, and leg malperfusion. We performed endovascular aortic repair to cover the primary entry tear at the distal thoracic aortic arch in a 62-year-old male with visceral, renal, and leg malperfusion, after 4 days of conservative therapy. After the first operation, the pressure differential between upper and lower limbs disappeared. However, bilateral leg ischemia appeared at postoperative day 2. CT showed that the true lumen was severely compressed again by a thrombosed false lumen and two re-entries appeared at the level of the proximal celiac artery and infra-renal abdominal artery, respectively. The distal edge of the stent graft was intact with no new stent graft-induced entry. We once again performed endovascular aortic repair by means of thoracic and abdominal stent grafts covering the re-entry tears at the level of proximal celiac artery and infra-renal abdominal artery. After the procedure, the leg ischemia, renal ischemia and mesenteric ischemia improved, and the patient was transferred back to the local hospital without paraplegia.