We have operated upon 17 cases of distal arch aneurysm, including 3 cases of rupture, during the past 6 years. Operative adjuncts during aortic cross clamping were left heart bypass with a centrifugal pump (LHB, 6 cases), retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP, 5 cases) and selective cerebral perfusion (SCP, 6 cases). LHB was applied to localized, the aneurysm apart from the left subclavian artery. It was safely performed during operation, but cerebral embolism happened in 2 cases with aortic cross clamping. RCP was performed in emergency cases of rupture or impending rupture. Recently 3 cases were operated by left thoracotomy under RCP. One case, an 85-year-old female, was perfused for 100min by RCP, became unconsciousness and died by multiple organ failure. Although this method was simple and easy to prepare, the efficacy of cerebral perfusion is unclear and a perfusion time of less than 90min is thought to be safe. SCP was performed in 6 cases of large aneurysm, including four cases of total arch replacement. There was one operative death, but minimum complications in the survivors. Distal arch aneurysm varies in shape, location and size. Operative adjunct must be selected based on the condition of the aneurysm.

A 59-year-old male suffered dyspnea and ischemia of the lower limbs due to myocardial infarction (occlusion of the right coronary artery and 99% stenosis with delay in the left anterior descending artery) and juxtarenal aortic occlusion, respectively. Juxtarenal aorto-femoral bypass operation using a Y-shaped prosthesis and coronary arterial bypass grafting using the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) and right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) were performed simultaneously. As the left internal thoracic artery was the route of collateral blood flow to the left lower limb, aorto-femoral bypass was initially made prior to aorto-coronary bypass operation. Because of complete obstruction of the abdominal aorta and juxtarenal lumbar arteries, neither hemodynamic changes nor bleeding occurred during the reconstruction of the abdominal aortic occlusion in spite of severe coronary disease. This procedure was useful for protection of limb ischemia and shortage of extracorporeal circulation time, in addition to producing a route for insertion of an intraaortic balloon pumping catheter.

The collagen gel droplet-embedded culture drug sensitivity test (CD-DST) identifies effective anticancer drug using resected tumor specimen, enabling tailor-made chemotherapy for a rare tumor. We report a case of the patient with leiomyosarcoma originating in the inferior vena cava, to which CD-DST was applied. This application has not been previously reported to the best of our knowledge. A 61-year-old woman consulted a nearby hospital because of abdominal pain. Computed tomography revealed an inferior vena cava tumor. The tumor was resected with the inferior vena cava, which was reconstructed with a 16 mm ePTFE graft. The tumor was diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma histopathologically. CDDP, VP-16, ADR, and VDS were CD-DST showed the tumor to be sensitive. Her postoperative course has been good without recurrence of tumor for 6 months, and the results of CD-DST may be helpful for chemotherapy strategy in case of recurrence.

The saphenopopliteal junction (SPJ) is found at various levels and has various patterns compared with the saphenofemoral junction. Although this can cause difficulty in the surgical treatment of varicose veins and affect the outcome, there have been few reports on preoperative assessment of the small saphenous vein (SSV) regarding this point. This study was undertaken to evaluate three-dimensional CT venography with dual-route injection for the preoperative assessment of a small saphenous-type varicose vein. We examined a total of 15 legs in 15 patients with a small saphenous-type varicose vein, which were preoperatively evaluated by CT venography and then surgically treated. The patients included 4 men and 11 women with ages ranging from 50 to 80 years old (mean age, 66 years). The grading of varicose veins according to the CEAP classification was C2, C3, C4, and C5 in 3, 4, 6 and 2 legs, respectively. The CT imaging was performed with contrast medium diluted ten-fold, which was injected into the great and small saphenous veins simultaneously. CT venography clearly visualized the lower extremity veins. Whereas the popliteal vein coursed deep above the level of the femoral intercondylar groove, it followed a shallow course below the level of the knee joint. In 11 legs (74%), the SPJ was located in the shallow portion, whereas it was in the deep portion in 4 legs (26%). Among the former group, the SSV was connected to the great saphenous vein via the Giacomini vein in 2 cases, and the gastrocnemius vein was connected to the SSV before the SPJ in 3 cases. Among the latter group, a localized large venous aneurysm with thrombus before its termination was found in one case. In another case, the SSV showed branched termination in the deep portion. Our three-dimensional CT venography with dual-route injection provides more accurate information on venous anatomy in the lower extremity. The accuracy of images acquired by CT venography with dual-route injection was verified by intraoperative findings. Although Doppler ultrasound is essential for examining the presence of regurgitation in the veins and locating the course of a varicose vein in the surgical field, all 15 cases had scheduled surgery under local anesthesia based on accurate preoperative diagnosis. This study suggests that CT venography with dual-route injection is beneficial in preventing undesired complications during surgery and avoiding additional procedures for recurrent varicose veins.

Two cases of blue toe syndrome were effectively treated by PGE1. Case 1 was an 80-year-old man who had an ulcer lesion of the 5th toe. Angiography indicated the symptoms were caused by microemboli from an extended lesion of the aorta and iliac artery. The wound was healed by lipo PGE1 (10μg×30 days). Case 2 was a 54-year-old man who had dull pain and skin color change of the 3rd and 4th fingers. A thrombus could not be detected by transthoracic echocardiography, but was found by transesophageal echocardiography. The symptoms improved by PGE1 (60μg×20days). Blue toe syndrome is induced by a microembolism in the peripheral arteries, and thus the conventional treatment has been the administration of fibrinolysins and anticoagulants. PGE1 was used in this study for the first time in consideration of its vasodilating effect on the collateral circulation and to prevent a secondary thrombus by inhibiting platelet aggregation.

This is a rare case of abdominal apoplexy encountered in a 50-year-old man who had aortic and mitral valve replacement due to dominant regurgitation resulting from infective eneocarditis. On the 4th day after the operation, retroperitoneal bleeding, probably due to rupture of the splenic artery aneurysm, occurred and he developed shock. On the 28th day, there was bleeding in the digestive tract and blood pressure was low, probably due to rupture of the microaneurysm of the small artery distributing to the ileum. Rupture of an abdominal vessel without a recognizable external cause is called abdominal apoplexy, and our case was caused by mycotic aneurysm caused by infective endocarditis. Angiography facilitated the accurate diagnosis.

Between 1988 and 1992, we experienced 4 cases of removal of renal or hepatic cell carcinoma tumor thrombi extending into the inferior vena cava and the right atrium, under cardiopulmonary bypass. We operated on 3 cases using profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest, and 1 case using moderate hypothermia and the Pringle maneuver. One case developed acute massive pulmonary embolism followed by cardiac arrest during the procedure of freeing the inferior vena cava and died on the second postoperative day due to low output syndrome. The postoperative courses of the other 3 cases were uneventful, and there was no major complication due to surgery. They were discharged and enjoyed normal daily lives. Two cases died due to recurrence of the tumor, 6 and 7 months after the operation, respectively. The merits and demerits of these two surgical methods were discussed. Appropriate selection of these methods and subjects allows safe and complete excision of tumor thrombi with satisfactory operative results.

Twelve cases of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) were treated during 5 years. Nine showed severe hypotension (systolic pressure below 70mmHg) and three required cardiac massage prior to operation. At the beginning of this study, direct laparotomy was conducted on 4 cases but mortality was high mortality (75%). Left thoracotomy with antero-lateral incision through the 7th intercostal space was carried out to access the thoracic aorta for clamping before laparotomy, since the major mortality of this disease is due to abrupt bleeding following anesthesia and operation. Left thoracotomy before laparotomy was conducted on 8 cases, half of whom required aortic clamping during operation (clamping time 21min). Operative mortality following thoracotomy decreased (12.5%). The aneurysm size and the time of operation for the groups with or without thoracotomy were the same, though the degree of bleeding significantly differed (3, 925ml in the group with thoracotomy, 7, 193ml in the group without thoracotomy). Left thoracotomy befor laparotomy obtained good results in case of RAAA.

Atrial fibrillation is common in adults with atrial septal defect. A right atrial separation procedure was performed for the ablation of atrial fibrillation during the concomitant repair of atrial septal defect. The operation was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass. A Y-shape incision was made in the right atrium, followed by cryoablation of the tricuspid annulus and the atrial septum. After the operation, all three patients recovered and maintained a normal sinus rhythm during follow-up periods of 12, 4, and 1 months. This is a simple and effective procedure for the elimination of chronic atrial fibrillation associated with atrial septal defects in adults.

A 34-year-old woman was referred to us because of severe aortic regurgitation and annuloaortic ectasia. She also showed a high level of CRP and stenosis of cervical arteries and aortitis syndrome was diagnosed. A translocated Bentall's procedure was performed after administration of corticosteroid. An SJM valve prosthesis was translocated from 1cm above the distal end of the graft and this composite graft was anastomosed to the aortic annulus with buttress sutures reinforced with Dacron felt. Both coronary orifices were reconstructed with small sized Dacron grafts, interposed from the coronary orifices to the composite graft. There was not any complication postoperatively. This procedure is preferable in cases with aortitis syndrome, because it decreases risk of prosthetic detachment in the aortic valve position.