We encountered a very rare case of a patient with hereditary protein S deficiency who underwent successful coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). A 38-year-old man was admitted for scheduled coronary artery bypass grafting. Preoperative investigation showed protein S deficiency. He underwent two-vessel CABG surgery with regular cardiopulmonary bypass. After hemostasis, intravenous heparin was started. The dose of warfarin was gradually increased until the INR reached about 2.5. Then heparin was stopped. His postoperative course was uneventful. There was no thromboembolic event. Both grafts were patent.

A 58-year-old man was admitted with a complaint of exertional chest discomfort. A mass, 53×55×66 mm in size, was detected in the transverse sinus of the pericardium, just cranial to the inter-atrial septum with enhanced chest CT. We performed resection of the tumor under cardiopulmonary bypass. Histopathological findings showed that the tumor was angiomyolipoma originated from the heart. Angiomyolipoma is a benign tumor, most frequently found in the kidney or liver and usually associated with tuberous sclerosis. Extra-cardiac growth of the cardiac angiomyolipoma is extremely rare, and only few have been reported previously.

A 64-year-old man who had chronic aortic dissecting aneurysm with true lumen obstruction of the abdominal aorta was referred to our hospital for surgery. He underwent total aortic arch replacement with the elephant trunk technique using an aortofemoral artery bypass as a first-stage operation. Reconstruction of the thoracic aortic descending aneurysm using the previous elephant trunk graft in a second-stage operation was feasible. His perioperative course was uneventful and he had no neurologic complications.

Prosthetic graft infection after arch replacement surgery is a serious complication that is often resistant to antibiotics. However, graft replacement is difficult and is very invasive. We performed anterior small thoracotomy drainage and intermittent lavage in 2 patients. First, the prosthetic graft was approached via a left third intercostal thoracotomy. After the ablation of infected tissues and cleansing with saline, drains were placed both proximally and distally to the vascular graft. An irrigation withdrawal drain was then implanted in the left thoracic cavity. After surgery, diluted povidone iodine solution, pyoktanin solution, and saline were used for pleural lavage. Case 1 : An 82-year-old man underwent arch replacement for a ruptured aortic arch aneurysm in November 2005. He suffered from high-grade fever from March 2008 and was referred to our hospital from another hospital with a diagnosis of vascular graft infection. A small anterior thoracotomy and drainage were performed on April 9. Pleural lavage with povidone iodine solution was performed 9 days after surgery, then was performed with saline from days 10-13 after surgery. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 30. Case 2 : A 58-year-old man complained of high-grade fever from March 16, 2009. He had undergone arch replacement for an aortic arch aneurysm in 1997. He consulted a physician and was referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of vascular graft infection. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was identified by blood culture. A small anterior thoracotomy and drainage were performed on March 24. Immediately after surgery pleural lavage was performed with pyoktanin blue solution changing to povidone iodine on postoperative day 10. Pleural lavage was continued until day 34, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 64. In both cases, drainage and pleural lavage with antibiotic solutions improved the patients' general condition. The infections have not recurred since discharge. Small anterior thoracotomy for graft infection after arch replacement, in addition to being minimally invasive, can avoid the need for a second median sternotomy, and can provide an adequate view of the full length of the arch prosthetic graft.

Mitral valve replacement (MVR) is an effective method to treat mitral valve regurgitation (MR) associated with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) because of systolic anterior movement (SAM) of anterior leaflet. We retrospectively investigated results of mitral valve surgery concomitant with septal myectomy for MR with HOCM. Between August 2008 to July 2009, 7 patients underwent septal myectomy. Among them, 6 patients who had moderate or severe MR preoperatively were objects of this study. Pre and post operative clinical conditions, findings of echocardiogram, and operative techniques employed in each patient were reviewed. Four patient successfully underwent mitral valve plasty (MVP) with septal myectomy. One patient needed only septal myectomy because MR subsequently disappeared with resolution of SAM. One patient resulted in MVR after attempted mitral valve plasty (MVP). SAM disappeared in all patients who had MVP, and residual MR was mild or less. Pressure gradient of left ventricular outflow significantly decreased in all cases. All patients discharged hospital uneventfully. Plication of posterior leaflet, anterior leaflet augmentation if necessary, and prudent use of annuloplasty ring seemed to be effective for successful MVP in HOCM patients. MVP is feasible even in patients with MR derived from HOCM.

Minimally invasive surgery is associated with a faster postoperative recovery because of reduced postoperative pain and improved respiratory function, especially in elderly patients. We began using a minimally invasive approach (small parasternal incision) for isolated aortic valve replacement (MICS AVR) from January 2011. Between January 2011 and February 2012, 32 patients underwent MICS AVR surgery. The mean age was 73 years (range 57-85 years) ; 69% were women. MICS AVR was performed through a skin incision of 6.5±0.5 cm along the third intercostal space. Cardiopulmonary bypass was established through the right femoral artery and vein. The patients were cooled to 28°C, the aorta was crossclamped with a flex clamp, and antegrade cardioplegic solution was given into the aortic root or selectively into the coronary ostia. The aortic valve procedure was performed in a standard fashion. If the distance to the aortic valve was too far, we used surgical instruments for minimally invasive surgery. Conversion to a conventional approach was not necessary in any patient. Mean overall operative time was 250±49 min, cardiopulmonary bypass 140±34 min, and crossclamp time 99±22 min. Mean ICU stay was 1.2±0.5 days and length of hospital stay was 10.3±2.2 days. There was no re-operation for bleeding or surgical site infection. MICS AVR was safe and feasible with excellent outcome. The advantages of this procedure include reduced bed rest, decreased postoperative pain, avoidance of deep sternal wound infection, and cosmetically attractive results. We now use the minimally invasive approach whenever possible. We report an early outcome, experience, strategy, and surgical technique.

A 15-year-old boy with coronary sinus type atrial septal defect (CS-ASD) was surgically treated with 3-port totally endoscopic technique. The patient was set in a left semi-lateral position. A 3 cm skin incision retracted by a small wound protector, a trocar for the endoscope, and a trocar for left-handed instruments were placed in the right antero-lateral chest. Cardio-pulmonary bypass was established via groin cannulation. After cardioplegic arrest, the CS-ASD was favorably exposed through the left atriotomy, and closed using a bovine pericardial patch. The total operation time was 112 min. The post-operative course was uneventful. Instead of the traditional median sternotomy and right atriotomy, small right thoracotomy and left atriotomy may be a promising alternative for closure of CS-ASD.

A 68-year-old man was referred to our hospital for mitral valve stenosis, tricuspid valve insufficiency and atrial fibrillation. We performed mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valve plasty, and the MAZE operation through a right small thoracotomy under endoscopic assistance. He was discharged uneventfully 7 days after the operation. However, about 2 months later, he developed pericardial effusion, right pleural effusion, and leg edema implying as having right heart failure. Although he was treated with diuretics and steroids, improvement was temporary and he was hospitalized repeatedly. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated dip and plateau pattern of the right ventricular pressure curve. We diagnosed that he has constrictive pericarditis, although the finding of the chest CT was non-specific without remarkable thickening or calcification of the pericardium. We performed pericardiectomy through median sternotomy without pump assist. Leather-like thickening of the pericardium was recognized in the right, anterior, and inferior portion. Resection of the thickened pericardium led to instantaneous improvement of right ventricular motion and drop of central venous pressure. The patient is in NYHA Class I, one year after pericardiectomy. Constrictive pericarditis could occur even after minimally invasive surgery, and that possibility should be kept in mind if intractable right heart failure persists.