Objective: To report that screw-in type pacing leads can be removed by screw retraction even after a significant anchoring period. Patient: A 78-year-old woman who visited our hospital for skin erosion over a pacemaker that had been implanted 3 years previously and had migrated from the subclavicular area to the axilla. Methods: Culture revealed a local staphylococcus infection. We placed a new pacemaker system in the contralateral (right) side, removed the old one, inserted a straight type stylet into the leads, and turned the rotator counterclockwise. Results: An image monitor confirmed complete retraction of the ventricular lead screw and partial retraction of the atrial lead screw, and we were able to pull out both leads without any resistance. The patient was given antibiotics and discharged 2 days after the surgery. No wound infection was evident at a 3-month follow-up examination. Conclusion: When a screw-in type pacemaker with a retractor must be removed long after its implantation, screw retraction should be tried before resorting to a removal kit or open heart surgery.

We report a case of massive, life-threatening from a varicose lesion of the right lower extremity. An 81-year-old lady was brought to the emergency room at our hospital because of massive bleeding from her right leg. She had had high ligation of the right saphenous vein at another hospital 2 years ago. After hemostat and transfusion, she recovered from hemorrhagic shock. Three-dimensional enhanced computed tomography angiography revealed a residual right great saphenous vein and recurrent varicose lesion. We performed high ligation of the great saphenous vein and closed all of the residual perforators. The patient was discharged hospital 10 days after the surgery and experienced no bleeding episodes within 8 months after the surgery. Certain high ligation and elimination of perforators of the great saphenous vein in surgery for varicose vein of leg is necessary to prevent lethal bleeding.

Objective: To asses the risk of acquired antithrombin III (AT III) deficit before heart surgery and consider countermeasures. Patient: A 50-year-old gentleman who suffered from congestive heart failure due to mitral valve regurgitation. Methods: We replaced the mitral valve with cardiopulmonary bypass. Activated clotting time (ACT) was not long enough even after general heparinization (300 U/Kg) for cardiopulmonary bypass. We measured the activity of antithrombin III and added a total 50000 units of heparin until ACT was over 400 sec. We noted low AT III activity (36.8%) and transfused 4 U of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) during surgery. Results: After administration of protamine (0.3 ml/Kg), ACT reached 137 sec. The hemostasis procedure was uneventful and the patient recovered well without a bleeding incident. Conclusion: Measurement of AT III activity just before the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass is necessary to avoid insufficient anticoagulation such as antithrombin III deficit.
Coagulation time, activated ; Mitral Valve ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Antithrombin III ; Replacement

Objective: The aim of this report was to discuss the type, timing, and surgical techniques of permanent pacemaker implantation in a juvenile patient.
Patients: A 17-year-old girl with Down syndrome and congenital heart defects comprised of ventricular septal defects (VSD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) suffered from postoperative complete atrioventricular block (AVB) when she was 7 months old.
Methods and Results: An epicardial pacemaker was implanted just after the occurrence of complete AVB. Due to the pacing threshold of a ventricular lead not being good, the battery showed rapid depletion. Her generator had to be exchanged under general anesthesia every 2–3 years. When she was 10 years old, we implanted a permanent pacemaker transvenously by using cutdown, screw-in and subpectoral pocket techniques. She has shown a satisfactory outcome since then.
Conclusion: Transvenous pacemaker implantation was safe and effective in our young patient without any complications. The timing of surgery and surgical technique are quite important for pacemaker implantation in juvenile patients.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to consider the importance of medical information obtained via the Internet for difficult cases in hospitals, especially in those located in rural areas. We report here a case of congenital arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in the upper extremities.
Patient: A 30-year-old lady was transported to our hospital by ambulance due to massive bleeding in her left hand. She was seen by our current cardiovascular surgery team for the first time, although she had been diagnosed with congenital AVF of the left arm 9 years previously. Because it was asymptomatic, she was followed up by observation. During 5 years of observation, symptoms such as cyanosis, pain, and refractory ulcers gradually developed. When she was 26 years old, she was referred to a university hospital in Akita, but surgery had already been judged to be impossible. When she was 30 years old, traumatic bleeding in her left hand and hemorrhagic shock led her to be taken to our hospital by ambulance. Using the Internet, we found an institution that had treated a large number of cases of AVF. After controlling the bleeding, we referred her to that institution. However, she could not be treated without an above-elbow amputation.
Conclusion: Congenital AVF in the upper extremities is a rare vascular anomaly and has been generally accepted to be an extremely difficult disease to treat. Treatment should be started as early as possible before the presence of any symptoms. When a specialist is not available near the hospital, precise information must be found using the Internet and the patient should be referred without any delay.

An 85-year-old malnourished man was admitted with ischemia-induced necrosis of the right leg and high-risk factors, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, and infection of the necrotic leg. We controlled the infection and provided proper nutrition. Using light general anesthesia and a nerve block, we amputated the leg above the knee. The patient could eat and drink the same day following the surgery, and respiratory rehabilitation was begun the next day. His postoperative course was uneventful. Our case suggests that maintenance of good nutrition may play a key role for high-risk elders undergoing leg amputation.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to consider the importance of medical information obtained via the Internet for difficult cases in hospitals, especially in those located in rural areas. We report here a case of congenital arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in the upper extremities.
Patient: A 30-year-old lady was transported to our hospital by ambulance due to massive bleeding in her left hand. She was seen by our current cardiovascular surgery team for the first time, although she had been diagnosed with congenital AVF of the left arm 9 years previously. Because it was asymptomatic, she was followed up by observation. During 5 years of observation, symptoms such as cyanosis, pain, and refractory ulcers gradually developed. When she was 26 years old, she was referred to a university hospital in Akita, but surgery had already been judged to be impossible. When she was 30 years old, traumatic bleeding in her left hand and hemorrhagic shock led her to be taken to our hospital by ambulance. Using the Internet, we found an institution that had treated a large number of cases of AVF. After controlling the bleeding, we referred her to that institution. However, she could not be treated without an above-elbow amputation.
Conclusion: Congenital AVF in the upper extremities is a rare vascular anomaly and has been generally accepted to be an extremely difficult disease to treat. Treatment should be started as early as possible before the presence of any symptoms. When a specialist is not available near the hospital, precise information must be found using the Internet and the patient should be referred without any delay.

Objective: The aim of this report was to discuss the type, timing, and surgical techniques of permanent pacemaker implantation in a juvenile patient.
Patients: A 17-year-old girl with Down syndrome and congenital heart defects comprised of ventricular septal defects (VSD) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) suffered from postoperative complete atrioventricular block (AVB) when she was 7 months old.
Methods and Results: An epicardial pacemaker was implanted just after the occurrence of complete AVB. Due to the pacing threshold of a ventricular lead not being good, the battery showed rapid depletion. Her generator had to be exchanged under general anesthesia every 2–3 years. When she was 10 years old, we implanted a permanent pacemaker transvenously by using cutdown, screw-in and subpectoral pocket techniques. She has shown a satisfactory outcome since then.
Conclusion: Transvenous pacemaker implantation was safe and effective in our young patient without any complications. The timing of surgery and surgical technique are quite important for pacemaker implantation in juvenile patients.

An 85-year-old malnourished man was admitted with ischemia-induced necrosis of the rightleg and high-risk factors, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, andinfection of the necrotic leg. We controlled the infection and provided proper nutrition.Using light general anesthesia and a nerve block, we amputated the leg above the knee. Thepatient could eat and drink the same day following the surgery, and respiratoryrehabilitation was begun the next day. His postoperative course was uneventful. Our casesuggests that maintenance of good nutrition may play a key role for high-risk eldersundergoing leg amputation.

Objective: The aim of this report was to discuss validity of pacemaker surgery for elderly individuals over 90 years old.
Patient: We operated on 12 individuals over 90 years old who had syncope or congestive heart failure in association with bradycardia, between January 2005 and November 2012.
Methods: All 12 patients were referred to us by the cardiology department of our hospital for pacemaker surgery. We applied our routine technique: cutdown of the cephalic vein, creation of a subpectoral pocket, use of screw-in leads, and use of generators with an automatic output control system.
Results: All of the patients received a dual chamber system with atrial and ventricular leads and recovered uneventfully. The follow-up period was between 1 month and 7 years.
Conclusion: An advanced age over 90 years old is not a contraindication for pacemaker surgery.