Surgical Site Infection (SSI) is one of the most serious post-operative complications and therefore its prevention is extremely important. SSI risk factors were evaluated in 337 cardiac valvular surgical cases without concomitant CABG or the thoracic great vessels interventions which had been performed in our center between January 2008 and December 2010. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention definition of SSI was used for case determination. The SSI incidence was 4.7% (16 cases). Univariate analysis found statistical significance in history of cardiac surgery, LVEF, surgical procedures, operative time and morning glucose level on post-operative days (POD) 1 and 2. POD 1 morning glucose level higher than 150 mg/dl (odds ratio 4.2 ; 95% confidence interval 1.3-13.7) and operative time (odds ratio 2.0 ; 95% CI 1.2-3.5) were identified as independent factors by multiple logistic regression. According to SSI rate comparison by glucose-level, the incidence was higher when POD 2 morning glucose level exceeded 150 mg/dl as in the case of POD 1 (p<0.02). Longer operative time represented higher SSI rates in interquartile range-based comparison. This study suggested values of reducing surgical time and controlling POD 1 morning glucose level within 150 mg/dl.

A 53-year-old woman with von Recklinghausen's disease was admitted with severe pain and acute right leg swelling. The physical examination revealed neurofibromas and café-au-lait spots, typical of patients with von Recklinghausen's disease. Computed tomography and ultrasonography showed a rupture of a posterior tibial artery pseudoaneurysm. Since her complaint of pain was severe and because of the rapid progression of pseudoaneurysm, we performed an emergency operation. Under general anesthesia with the pneumatic tourniquet technique, both of the proximal and distal sides of the posterior tibial artery were ligated, and the pseudoaneurysm was resected. The postoperative course was uneventful. She was given an ambulatory discharge 26 days after operation. Histological examination revealed spindle-shaped cells infiltrating the aneurysmal wall. We diagnosed this is a vascular lesion of von Recklinghausen's disease.

Primary cardiac malignant tumors are relatively rare, and their prognosis is poor. We report a patient with sarcoma causing severe mitral regurgitation and stenosis due to rapid and specific infiltration into the mitral valve.

We report a case of left internal iliac aneurysm that ruptured into the left common iliac vein and formed an arteriovenous fistula. A 79-year-old man who had general fatigue was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of left internal iliac artery aneurysm, left hydronephrosis, dehydration and low renal function. After dehydration and low renal function resolved rapidly by medical treatment, an enhanced computed tomography was performed. This demonstrated a 69 by 67 mm diameter left internal iliac artery aneurysm with an arteriovenous fistula. During the operation, left common iliac artery and left external iliac artery were resected and the stumps sutured. External iliac-external iliac artery bypass was performed. An occlusive balloon catheter was inserted from the left femoral vein and the balloon was dilated to patch the fistula before opening the aneurysm. After clamping the proximal artery the aneurysm was opened. Bleeding from the fistula was controlled by this maneuver and digital compression of the left common iliac vein where was proximal side of fistula. An arteriovenous fistula with a 18 by 3 mm orifice was found between the left internal iliac artery and left common iliac vein. The fistula was closed from the inside of the aneurysm. His postoperative course was uneventful.

A 47-year-old man was found to have a thoracic aortic aneurysm. When the patient was 20 years old, he underwent aortic correction with Dacron graft for coarctation of the descending aorta. CT showed an enhanced true aneurysm and a pseudolumen in the proximal anastomotic site of the graft of the distal arch and an aneurysm in the left subclavian artery bifurcation. The operation was performed. Because we anticipated severe adhesion due to the preceding left thoracotomy, we approached by median sternotomy and the transmediastinal replacement method (pull-through method). Before cardio pulmonary bypass was started, an 8-mm Dacron graft was anastomosed to the left subclavian artery via a subclavian incision. The patient was given heparin and we cannulated the ascending aorta via the right femoral artery. A venous cannula was placed in the superior and inferior vena cava and patent left superior vena cava confirmed during operation. Antegrade cardioplegia was initially administered. During deep hypotheremic circulatory arrest antegrade cerebral perfusion was employed. The heart was retracted and the descending aorta was exposed through the posterior pericardium. The old graft was excised and a new Dacron graft was pulled down into the descending aorta from the distal arch. The graft was anastomosed to the descending aorta. After we repaired the other aortic arch branch and ascending aorta, the left subclavian graft and graft branch were anastomosed. There was no bleeding or other complication and the patient was discharged. The pull-through method should be considered for such descending aortic aneurysm cases.

A 66-year-old woman who had percutaneous mitral valve commissurotomy 12 years before was admitted complaining of dyspnea on effort. Echocardiography showed severe mitral stenosis and regurgitation, and moderate tricuspid regurgitation associated with atrial fibrillation. Based on her past history we suspected allergy to metal, and skin patch tests showed a positive reaction to zinc, manganese, nickel, cobalt, dichromate, stainless steel, titanium alloys, and nickel-chromium-cobalt alloys. We selected an artificial organ which would not cause an allergic reaction. The St. Jude Medical standard cuff mechanical valve was the only compatible prosthetic valve. Anterolateral right thoracotomy, instead of median sternotomy, was selected. Mitral valve replacement with a 27-mm St. Jude Medical standard cuff mechanical valve and tricuspid valve annuloplasty with a 27-mm Duran flexible band were performed. Her postoperative course was uneventful. She is doing well without any allergic symptom 18 months after the surgery.

Postoperative infections should be comprehensively controlled in the context of infection control, rather than as activities of individual surgeons. We started a surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance program in 2009 in which prophylactic measures for preventing SSIs were applied. These measures were as follows : 1) screening for nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; 2) dental checks and oral screening ; 3) antibiotic prophylaxis in the intra- and postoperative period ; 4) control of glucose levels to ≤160 mg/dl in the immediate postoperative period ; and 5) early removal of surgical drain. After the introduction of prophylactic measures, we reexamined SSI surveillance and added the following prophylactic measures at the beginning of 2011 : 6) data concerning SSI and compliance with prophylactic measures for all surgical and ward staff were published monthly, and the Infection Control Team (ICT) and surgeons performed weekly ward visits to assess SSIs ; 7) recommendations were made for wearing two pairs of gloves and surgical hoods to cover the hair, scalp, ears and neck ; and 8) collaboration with diabetologists was implemented to control glucose levels in diabetics. We compared incidences of SSI in cardiovascular surgery from the periods before (469 cases, Group B) and after (118 cases, Group A) introduction of the additional prophylactic measures. Clinical characteristics of patients in each group did not differ significantly. Operative time was significantly shorter in Group A (400±116 min) than in Group B (434±145 min). Compliance with antibiotic prophylaxis in the intraoperative period improved progressively from 93% in Group B to 99% in Group A. Compliance with control of glucose levels to ≤160 mg/dl on postoperative day 1 improved progressively from 71% in Group B to 81% in Group A. Duration of drain placement was significantly shorter in Group A (2.9±1.8 days) than in Group B (3.6±2.9 days). Incidence of SSI decreased significantly from 6.0% in Group B to 0.8% in Group A. Revision of preventive measures based on the results of surveillance and enhancement of cooperation between the ICT and surgeons could help to decrease the incidence of SSI.

A 73-year-old woman was diagnosed with coronary artery aneurysms associated with coronary-pulmonary arterial fistula in a preoperative examination for transverse colon cancer. One of the aneurysms (28 mm) originated from a branch of the right coronary artery and the other two (16 and 12 mm) originated from a branch of the left coronary artery. We performed surgery to prevent their rupture because the right coronary artery aneurysm showed a tendency to enlarge. Surgery was performed through a median sternotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass. Suture closure of the inflow and outflow of the aneurysm was performed. The coronary-pulmonary arterial fistula was ligated. In addition, suture closure of the outflow of the coronary-pulmonary artery fistula into the pulmonary artery was performed, under direct view after incision of the pulmonary trunk. No residual shunt blood flow in the coronary-pulmonary arterial fistula was observed on postoperative echocardiography. Furthermore, no coronary aneurysm and coronary-pulmonary arterial fistula was recognized on postoperative coronary computed tomography. The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 12.