In the year 2000, the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database (JCVSD) was created with the support of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). STS database software was translated to Japanese with the same definitions and in 2001, the data entry of adult cardiac surgeries was initiated online using University Hospital Medical Information Network, UMIN. In 2008, entry of the data of congenital heart surgeries was initiated in the congenital section of JCVSD and preoperative expected mortality (JapanSCORE) in adult cardiovascular surgeries was first calculated using the risk model of JCVSD. In 2011, the Japan Surgical Board system merged with JCVSD and all cardiovascular surgical data could be registered in JCVSD from 2012. The reports resulting from the analyses of data from JCVSD (Current Status of Cardiovascular Surgery in Japan, 2013 and 2014 : A report based on the JCVSD) will encourage further improvements in the quality of cardiovascular surgeries, patient safety, and medical care for patients in Japan.

Objective and Methods : Data on isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) performed in 2013 and 2014, and registered in the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database were reviewed for preoperative characteristics, postoperative outcomes, and choice of graft material for the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Results : Isolated CABG was performed off-pump in 54.7% of cases, and graft material for the LAD was left internal thoracic artery in 74.3% and right internal thoracic artery in 15.6%. Operative mortality was 2.0% in elective cases, 8.2% in emergency cases, and 3.0% overall. In elective cases, operative mortality was 1.1% for off-pump CABG compared with 3.0% for on-pump CABG. Conclusions : Clinical results of our isolated CABG was reasonable and acceptable.

Objective : To demonstrate the mortality rate and the choice of surgical procedures, especially the selection of the valve prosthesis, in each position of the valve in each age of the patients and the effects of the preoperative complications to the mortality and prosthetic valve selection, the data from JCVSD in 2013 and 2014 are analyzed. Methods : The proportion of each surgical procedure is compared in each age of the patients in the aortic, the mitral and the tricuspid position. Results : The proportion of the mechanical valve prostheses was 23.1, 40.5 and 11.4% in the aortic, mitral and tricuspid position respectively and it was higher in hemodialysis patients than in non-hemodialysis patients. The operative mortality rate was 4.3, 11.7, 15.8 and 5.6% in all cases, the hemodialysis patients, the patients with liver dysfunction and the patients with atrial fibrillation and flutter, respectively in AVR, and 4.0, 14.4, 11.2 and 4.1%, respectively in each group listed above after mitral surgery. Conclusion : These results clarify the status of cardiac valvular surgery in Japan.

Background : Although open aortic repair (OAR) is still considered to be a standard treatment for thoracic aortic diseases, recently the indication of thoracic endovascular treatment (TEVAR) /hybrid aortic repair (HAR) is expanding. The purpose of this study is to review the current status of treatment of thoracic aortic diseases. Methods : The data concerning surgery for diseases in thoracic/thoracoabdominal aorta in 2013 and 2014 are extracted from the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database (JCVSD). The number of cases and operative mortality are evaluated for pathology (acute dissection, chronic dissection, ruptured aneurysm, un-ruptured aneurysm), treatment modality (OAR, HAR, TEVAR), JapanSCORE (＜5%, 5 to 10%, 10 to 15%, 15%≦) and their combination. Results : The total number of cases included in this study was 30,271 and the overall operative mortality was 5.9%. Among 3 types of treatment, 73.2% of patients underwent OAR (root, 98.3% ; ascending, 97.4% ; root to arch, 95.5% ; arch, 81.7% ; descending, 34.2% ; thoracoabdominal, 64.4%). Although the rate of OAR was in negative correlation with JapanSCORE (JS) in treatment for thoracoabdominal region (JS＜5%, 80.4% ; 5%≦JS＜10%, 67.6% ; 10%≦JS＜15%, 58.8% ; 15%≦JS, 55.7%), such relation was not observed in other regions. The operative mortality of OAR was well reflected by JS (JS＜5%, 2.1% ; 5%≦JS＜10%, 5.5% ; 10%≦JS＜15%, 10.2% ; 15%≦JS, 20.3%), however, those of TEVAR/HAR was less than the range of JS. Conclusions : The distribution of treatment differs depending on site of diseases and is not much influenced by JS. It has become clear that JapanSCORE is a reliable tool for estimating operative mortality in OAR. However, the observed operative mortality was lower than JS in TEVAR/HAR and a new risk score for TEVAR/HAR should be established.

Recently, the use of databases for clinical trials is being promoted. We used the Japan Adult Cardiovascular Surgery Database (JACVSD) data was used as a historical control in a clinical trial, and we analyzed following : the processes of using data and the efficiency of data collection, available variables for statistical analysis, and query functions for missing and invalid data. We chose available variables of JACVSD data and created rules for merging JACVSD data with interventional group data, in addition to analyzing the data collection processes for clinical trials. Subjects were selected from cases registered in the JACVSD. On statistical analysis, 63% of 76 variables were used ; variables related to the patients' symptoms had to be collected separately. Missing and invalid data were effectively excluded. We could conduct data collection efficiently by using the JACVSD as a historical control for clinical trials. Selecting subjects from the JACVSD could reduce the burden of selecting subjects from hospitals and prevent selection bias.

In Japan, few surveys have evaluated the structure and clinical process of cardiovascular surgery programs. We mailed a questionnaire to all 149 facilities participating in the Japan Adult Cardiovascular Database as of April 1st 2007. We received responses from 129 facilities (response rate 86.6%). For CABG surgery, many facilities regard “IMA use (95.3%) ” and “off-pump surgery” is the first choice as a facility and recommend “discharge antiplatelets (89.9%) ” and “discharge antilipid (47.3%) ”. On the other hand most facilities did not made any recommendation regarding “preoperative beta blockers (72.9%) ” and “discharge beta blockers (60.5%) ”. The usage rates of preoperative beta blockers and discharge beta blockers were very low in Japan though their usage rates were relatively high in the United States.

Objectives : We analyzed the mortality and morbidity of congenital heart surgery in Japan by using the Japan Cardiovascular Surgery Database (JCVSD). Methods : Data regarding congenital heart surgery performed between January 2013 and December 2014 were obtained from JCVSD. The 20 most frequent procedures were selected and the mortality rates and major morbidities were analyzed. Results : The mortality rates of atrial septal defect (ASD) repair and ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair were less than 1%, and the mortality rates of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair, complete atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) repair, bidirectional Glenn, and total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) were less than 2%. The mortality rates of the Norwood procedure and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) repair were more than 10%. The rates of unplanned reoperation, pacemaker implantation, chylothorax, deep sternal infection, phrenic nerve injury, and neurological deficit were shown for each procedure. Conclusion : Using JCVSD, the national data for congenital heart surgery, including postoperative complications, were analyzed. Further improvements of the database and feedback for clinical practice are required.

A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our department with a diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis was also diagnosed Inherited antithrombin deficiency was also diagnosed after she suffered from a pulmonary thromboembolic event 10 years previously and had been taking warfarin since then. On admission, her antithrombin activity was 53% of normal, and her PT-INR level was maintained around 2.5. Preoperative management of anticoagulation therapy included discontinuation of warfarin, and supplementation of antithrombin with heparin infusion. On the day of operation, antithrombin activity was maintained above 80% by administering antithrombin, and aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve prosthesis was carried out under standard cardiopulmonary bypass support using heparin. Heparin infusion was continued with antithrombin supplementation until PT-INR recovered to round 2.5 with warfarin. Her intra- and postoperative courses did not show any thromboembolic events, and she was discharged 14 days after the surgery.

A 44-year-old man who received left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation for end-stage heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy suffered from mediastinitis. Computed tomography confirmed mediastinitis. His mediastinum was reopened and irrigated. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was applied to the wound without closing the chest. This system enabled the patient to receive early physical rehabilitation. One year after LVAD implantation, under NPWT, the patient could walk in the general ward, and was waiting for cardiac transplantation. We used some useful materials for NPWT including a coatable non-alcoholic film, flexible sealing sheet, soft exudate absorber, in order to control wound clean, keep air-tight, prevent damage to the skin and to reduce mediastinal instability. LVAD implantation is usually performed as a bridge to transplantation or recovery. One of the most critical complications is intractable mediastinitis. We described a successful infection control of LVAD related mediastinitis with the NPWT.