A 50-year-old man who had coronary artery bypass grafting (LITA-LAD, RA-RCA, SVG-OM-PL) 6 years previously was admitted with acute dissection of the aorta (DeBakey type I). Preoperative computed tomography showed that all coronary bypass grafts were patent. We replaced the graft of the ascending aorta and reconstructed the coronary artery bypass by re-sternotomy, circulatory arrest (rectal temperature: 23.6°C), retrograde cerebral perfusion, and intermittent retrograde cardioplegia. Because a radial artery (RA) graft and a saphenous vein graft (SVG) each had intact orifices, we detached them together and attached the grafts back to the aortic graft wall. He was weaned successfully from cardiopulmonary bypass without difficulty and postoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed good left ventricle (LV) function. Postoperative multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) showed that the RA graft and SVG were patent. By performing circulatory arrest and intermittent retrograde cardioplegia, we successfully protected the myocardial function of a patient with acute aorta dissection after a CABG and we reconstructed the graft without needing further coronary anastomosis.

Aneurysms of the inferior left ventricular wall comprise only a small fraction of all aneurysms that have been reported in surgical series. Pseudo-false ventricular aneurysm is very rare and communicates with the left ventricule through a small orifice, and its wall contains myocardial tissue, unlike false ventricular aneurysm. A 53-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with chest pain. Echocardiography revealed left ventricular aneurysm, and the coronary arteriography subsequently revealed a complete occlusion of right coronary #2 and 75% and 90% stenosis of left anterior descending artery #7 and #8, respectively. Left ventriculography revealed an aneurysm of the inferior left ventricular wall, which communicated with the left ventricle through a small orifice and exhibited contraction. Surgical repair was indicated. Endoventricular circular patch repair (Dor operation) of the aneurysm of the inferior left ventricular wall and coronary artery bypass grafting to the left anterior descending artery and the right coronary artery were simultaneously performed under cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 22th day after surgery. Pseudo-false ventricular aneurysm of the inferior left ventricular wall was diagnosed by pathologic examination.

Background : Left atrial reverse remodeling occurs when the left atrial load is reduced after mitral valve repair for mitral valve regurgitation. However, several reports demonstrate mitral valve stenosis after mitral valve repair with a mitral ring, which leads to impaired left atrial reverse remodeling. Objective : To examine the effect of ring size and body size on left atrial reverse remodeling after mitral valve repair. Patients and Methods : Sixty patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography before and after mitral valve repair for mitral valve regurgitation in our hospital. The left atrial volume (LAV) was compared pre- and postoperatively. Ring-size/BSA (mm/m2) was defined as values to express the mismatch between ring-size and body size after mitral valve repair with a mitral ring. In addition, we examined which factors correlated with the left atrial volume reduction rate including ring-size/BSA. The mean ring size was 28 mm. The study interval was 17±6 months. Result : LAV changed from 82±37 ml to 47±20 ml postoperatively. The left atrial volume reduction rate was 39.8±18.6%. The peak pressure gradient measured from the transmitral flow (TMF p-PG) was 7.5±3.0 mmHg. Ring size showed a stronger correlation with body height than BSA. The ring-size/BSA was 17.7±2.1 mm/m2. Multivariate analysis shows that correlates of the LAV reduction rate were ring-size/BSA, pre LAV and age. Ring-size, TMF p-PG, ring annuloplasty only and postoperative TRPG did not show a strong correlation with the LAV reduction rate. Conclusion : A mismatch between body size and ring size is a negative factor for left atrial reverse remodeling after mitral valve repair with a mitral ring. The ring-size/BSA may be a useful factor to express grade of the mismatch.