Between 1987 and 2002, 22 internal iliac artery aneurysms in 14 patients were repaired. In 13 we performed aneurysm excision or reconstruction. There were 3 cases in which simple proximal ligation of the internal iliac artery was performed; in 2 of these CT scans confirmed that the reduction of the internal iliac artery aneurysms was not recognized, but blood flow was not shown in the aneurysm. However, 6 years postoperatively 1 patient was confirmed with an expansion of the aneurysm, and blood flow was seen on a CT scan. In the 2 latest patients, the blood pressure of the internal iliac artery was measured before and after proximal clamping of the internal iliac artery, but the blood pressure of aneurysms could not be fully lowered by proximal ligation of the internal iliac artery. Therefore, endoaneurysmorrhaphy seemed to be the operative method of choice for treatment of the internal iliac artery aneurysms.

The extremely rare occurrence of a case of spontaneous rupture of the aortic arch is reported. The patient was a 55-year-old woman who underwent a medical examination at a hospital following a sudden onset of chest pain. After a diagnosis of having cardiac tamponade was established, she was transferred to our hospital. She was in a state of shock with systolic blood pressure recorded at 70mmHg. Computerized tomographic findings indicated cardiac tamponade and hematoma around the ascending aortic arch but no aortic dissection. She was diagnosed as having a ruptured aortic arch and an emergency operation was performed. Apertures were observed on the anterior arch and were closed by a suture under halted circulation. Transesophageal echography was used to correctly identify the aperture on the rupture during the operation. Pathologic findings also indicated only extramural hematoma on the ascending aortic arch without the dissection. The patient's postoperative progress was satisfactory, and she was discharged after spending 16 days in the hospital. Spontaneous rupture of the thoracic aorta is extremely rare; it cannot be accurately diagnosed and leads to poor prognosis. Even in a case without trauma and aortic aneurysm, this disease should be diagnosed through rapid and detailed examination using computed tomography, and aggressive surgical treatment should be performed.

A 63-year-old woman underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and mitral annuloplasty 4 years previously. She was readmitted owing to heart failure. Cardiac catheterization revealed worsened mitral regurgitation, although the internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft had good patency. Reoperation was performed by median resternotomy and continuous retrograde cardioplegia without clamping the ITA graft. The mitral valve had a perforation in the anterior leaflet, and was replaced by a 29mm Carbo-Medicus valve. The patient was discharged with transient myocardial ischemia. Although median resternotomy and continuous retrograde cardioplegia at reoperation provided on excellent view and myocardial protection, myocardial ischemia in the region perfused by the ITA graft may occur when the ITA graft cannot be clamped during continuous retrograde cardioplegia.