A 73-year-old man underwent ascending aortic replacement and F-F crossover bypass for acute aortic dissection with right leg ischemia. He was treated postoperatively for acute renal failure due to myonephropathic metabolic syndrome (MNMS) with continuous hemodiafiltration. He suffered from acute graft occlusion and brain infarction on postoperative day (POD) 3. Although recovery of organ functions was observed, an unexpected decrease in platelet count occurred rapidly below 1.1×10⁴/μl on POD 6. We suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and all heparin administration was halted and argatroban was initiated at a dose of 0.2 μg/kg/min, with titration to achieve an activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of 1.5-3.0 times the initial value not to exceed 100 sec. The platelet factor 4-reactive HIT antibody was positive and definite diagnosed of HIT was made. Administration of warfarin started after the platelet count recovered to 10.0× 10⁴/μl on POD 36. Awareness of the clinical features and different presentations of HIT are essential for preventing severe complications associated with this disease.

Since January, 1981 to December, 1990, eight patients (one male, 7 female) of Stanford A type aortic dissection underwent surgical treatments with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The average was age 59.6 years (range 50 to 72 years). All of them were diagnosed with UCG and/or CT before operation. Two cases had already been in shock state due to cardiac tamponade. Three cases had aortic insufficiency and one had neurological deficit. After median sternotomy, right atrial-femoral artery bypass was established. Right atrium was incised and coronary sinus was cannulated. Then retrograde coronary infusion of cardioplegic solution was employed at a continuous flow rate of 20ml/kg/hr. The mean rectal temperature was 19.6°C and the mean circulatory arrest time was 35.5min (22-58min). Two of eight cases died, because of DIC followed by necrotizing enteritis at 28th postoperative day, and prolonged shock state before operation. The rest were all survived without any neurological deficits. There were no severe complications related to deep hypothermia. We concluded that deep hypothermic arrest is safe and simple method, allows good inspection of operative field and makes it easier to repair the dissected aorta.

We experienced a surgically treated case of chronic contained rupture of a common iliac artery aneurysm. A large number of cases of chronic contained ruptures of the abdominal aorta have been reported; however, that of the common iliac artery is very rare. A 66-year-old man was injured in a bicycle accident. Three months later, the patient felt a dull abdominal pain and noticed a tumor in the left lower abdomen. On presenting computed tomography (CT) scan revealed an aneurysm of the left common iliac artery. After further examinations, a contained rupture of the left common iliac artery aneurysm was diagnosed. At operation, the main aneurysm, 7.5×6.5cm in size, was seen in the left common iliac artery, extending to the right common iliac artery and the infrarenal abdominal aorta. A 5.0×3.0cm tear, was found oil the posterior wall of the left common iliac aneurysm, surrounded by a huge hematoma. The aneurysm was resected and the abdominal aorta and the common iliac arteries were replaced with a Bard Albumin-coated DeBakey vascular bifurcated graft (16×8mm). The postoperative course was uneventful.