We report 4 cases of aortic graft replacement for Kommerell diverticulum (KD) and the aberrant subclavian artery (ASA). In two patients who had a right-sided aortic arch, KD and the left ASA, we performed descending aorta replacement and in-situ reconstruction of the left ASA via a right lateral thoracotomy. Third patient had a left-sided aortic arch, KD and the right ASA, in whom we performed descending aorta graft replacement via a left lateral thoracotomy with ostial closure of the right ASA. Fourth patient had a left-sided aortic arch, KD and the right ASA, and complicated by acute type A aortic dissection. We performed a total arch repair with frozen elephant trunk procedure via a median sternotomy. All 4 patients survived operations and discharged from the hospital with symptom relief. The choice of approach, a thoracotomy or a median sternotomy, should be based on patient-specific anatomy and extent of graft replacement.

We present herein a case of disc fracture of a Björk-Shiley valve prosthesis in the mitral position. A 69-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a sudden onset of dyspnea followed by deep shock. An echocardiography showed a severe degree of mitral regurgitation and moderate degree of tricuspid regurgitation. Forty-three years previously she had undergone a mitral valve replacement (MVR) for stenosis with the original version of a Björk-Shiley valve prosthesis in another institute. Emergency redo MVR was performed with a bioprosthesis and tricuspid annuloplasty with a semirigid ring. The disc of the extracted Björk-Shiley valve was found to have escaped from the metal housing with two intact struts. Although Björk-Shiley valve dysfunction due to Delrin disk abration has been rarely reported, complete disk fracuture is extremely rare. The important role of regular echocardiographic follow-up should be emphasized to prevent fatal valve fracture.

Cardiac leiomyosarcoma and atrial intramural hematoma are extremely rare. Here, we present the case of a 52-year-old woman with dyspnea. Echocardiography showed a large mass in the left atrium. Tumor resection was performed. A pathological diagnosis of intramural hematoma was made. Ten months later, she presented to our hospital again with dyspnea. Echocardiography and computed tomography showed recurrence of the left atrial tumor. Another tumor resection operation was performed. The tumor originated from the inferior wall of the left atrium, and it was surrounded by atrial wall thickening. Complete resection was not possible. Although postoperative chemotherapy was prescribed, the patient died of heart failure nine months after the second operation.

We describe a rare complication and treatment progression that occurred in a 64-year-old man with an aortic abdominal aneurysm (AAA) that had been treated by endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). He had undergone EVAR to treat an infra-renal type AAA 21 months previously and returned to the emergency department with back pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed acute type B aortic dissection, so he was admitted and conservative medical management was started. Acute stomachache and limb pain appeared on hospital day 7, which prevented him from moving his lower limbs. The main body of the stent graft had collapsed, blocking blood flow, and contrast was not found in arteries from the collapsed stent graft portion to the knee level on emergency contrast CT images of the leg. His legs were revascularized by an extra-anatomical right axial-bilateral external iliac bypass. His symptoms disappeared and reperfusion injury was avoided. The collapsed stent graft had retained its original shape at 11 and 18 days after surgery. Furthermore, follow-up CT 4.5 years later showed that the stent graft retained its original form.