Primary cardiac lymphomas are rare cardiac neoplasms with poor prognoses. We report a 61-year-old man who presented with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. Trans-thoracic echocardiography showed a 77×91-mm mass occupying the right atrium. The tumor obstructed the SVC. The deteriorating hemodynamics of our patient prompted a surgical intervention. We resected as much of the tumor as possible under cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the SVC syndrome disappeared. Pathological examination was consistent with malignant lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell type. After cardiac operation, the patient was treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamaide, adriamycin, vincristin, and prednisone (CHOP-R). The patient has been in good health for 30 months without signs of recurrence.

In this study, the author evaluated surgical results in 4 patients over 80 years old (3 males and one female) who were among 24 patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) who underwent operation at our medical center between November, 1985 and June, 1992. While three patients survived, one, who had preoperative profound shock, died due to mutiple organ failure. The post-operative course of two of the survivors was uneventful, and the other developed non-oliguric renal failure but recovered without hemodialysis. The Fitzgerald classification of the RAAA in the non-survivor was group 4 and that in the 3 survivors was group 2 or 3. The extent of preoperative shock and volume of blood loss were associated with increased operative risk. In conclusion, aggressive resection of RAAA should be performed not only in younger parients but also in elderly patients such as those over eighty years old.

Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAA) can be lethal unless appropriate diagnosis and immediate repair are made. Since advanced age is a surgical risk, however, octogenarians are considered as poorer candidates for elective surgical intervention before rupture. The aims of this study were to clarify the problems and factors that are associated with mortality from RAAA in elderly patients. A retrospective study of all infrarenal RAAA patients (n=126) who presented at our center between 1985 and 2003 is presented. The patients were classified into 2 groups, Group O included 37 RAAA patients (male:female=22:15) aged 80 years old or over, and Group Y included 89 RAAA patients (male:female=70:19) under 80 years old. We analyzed and compared preoperative, operative, and postoperative states between groups. The percentage of cardiopulmonary arrests (CPA) was significantly higher in Group O (14/37, 38%) than in Group Y (24/89, 27%). The other preoperative factors (time to reach hospital, time in shock, blood pressure, base excess, hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aneurysmal size) were not significantly different between the groups. The operative factors (operation time, aortic clamp time, the amounts of urine output and bleeding during the operation) were not significantly different between the groups. The rates of postoperative complications did not significantly differ between the groups. In a comparison of all cases, including patients with CPA, the survival rate was significantly lower in Group O (14/37, 37.8%) compared with Group Y (55/89, 61.8%). On the other hand, for the patients who underwent prosthetic graft replacement, the survival rate was equivalent in Group O (14/18, 77.8%) and Group Y (55/75, 73.3%). The mortality rate and percentage of CPA in Group O were significantly higher than in Group Y although the preoperative, operative and postoperative statistics are not significantly different. For patients who undergo prosthetic graft replacement, the survival rate is equivalent. These findings suggest that octogenarian patients cannot withstand the hypovolemic shock that is due to RAAA. We recommend elective operation before rupture in elderly patients with AAA.

Case : A 75-year-old man was brought to our hospital by ambulance with dorsal pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed acute communicating aortic dissection (Stanford type B) complicated by an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSCA). Under a diagnosis of type B dissection, conservative treatment by hypotensive therapy and resting was performed. One month after onset, contrast-enhanced CT showed the expansion of the false lumen, and intermittent abdominal pain persisted. To close the entry of the distal arch and reconstruct the ARSCA route, right common carotid artery-right axillary artery bypass, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), and coil embolization of the ARSCA were performed. Five days after surgery, contrast-enhanced CT revealed the expansion of a false abdominal lumen. Abdominal endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) was additionally conducted, leading to the disappearance of false lumen blood flow. ARSCA is a congenital arch vessel abnormality. It may cause obstruction of the esophagus/trachea, aortic aneurysm/dissection of an adjacent area, or aneurysmal changes/rupture of the ARSCA. Various techniques have been reported ; reconstruction of the ARSCA route and closure of the false lumen by de-branch TEVAR may be effective for acute communicating aortic dissection with an ARSCA.

A 22-year-old man was referred to our medical center with an impending rupture of an aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta. Blood pressure was 180/110mmHg in the right arm but 110/60mmHg in the right foot. The diagnosis was confirmed by chest Xray, enchanced computed tomography and aortogram. Five days later, the chest Xray showed massive effusion in the left pleural cavity. Surgery was immediately performed via a left thoracotomy. Five hundred ml of bloody fluid was found in the pleural cavity but the site of bleeding could not be identified. The aneurysm was 7×10cm in size. Under percutaneous cardio pulmonary support, the aneurysm was replaced by a 22mm Gel-Seal Dacron vascular graft. The intima and the media of the aneurysm were lacerated longitudinally at the region receiving jet flow from isthmus, There was blood coagula between the media and adventitia. During replacement, activated clotting time was maintained at 200∼300sec. As a result, bleeding was limited to 200ml. The postoperative course was uneventful with little difference in pressure between the right arm and right foot.

The hospital records of 50 patients treated for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms during the past ten years were reviewed. Nine patients in cardio-pulmonary arrest on arrival at our emergency room and 3 resuscitated patients were included in this study. The patients were classified into four groups: the non-shock group (17 cases), shock group (21 cases), post-cardiac resuscitation group (3 cases) and the cardio-pulmonary arrest on arrival (CAPOA) group (9 cases). The mortality rates including preoperative death in each group were 5.9% (non-shock), 57.1% (shock), 66.7% (post resuscitation) and 88.9% (CPAOA). The overall mortality rate was 46%, although the mortality rate in patients receiving graft replacement was 35.6%. The mortality in the non-shock group was significantly lower than in the other three groups. Longer duration of shock, lower preoperative systolic blood pressure level, longer operative time, greater blood loss and greater amount of blood transfused were risk factors in cases of graft replacement. The risk factors associated with preoperative death were advanced age and acidosis due to severe shock. The correct initial diagnoses were made in prior hospital in 28 cases. Incorrect diagnoses, which were made more often in non-shock patients than in patients in shock, were abdominal pain of unknown origin in 6, ureterolithiasis in 4, lumbago, appendicitis and gastritis in 2 cases each. The delayed diagnosis might have resulted in more severe shock or cardiac arrest. In conclusion, to reduce the mortality of ruptured AAA, correct initial diagnosis and expeditious preoperative management are most important.

The hospital records of 59 patients treated for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms during the past eleven years were reviewed. The patients were classified into two groups: an elderly group aged 80 years old or wore (18 cases) and a control group aged under 80 years old (41 cases). Previous diagnoses of abdominal aortic aneurysm had been made more frequently in the aged group (44.4%) than in the control group (22%). Of the patients who fell into shock preoperatively, only 6 patients (60%) received graft replacements in the aged group, but all patients received graft replacements in the control group. Graft replacements were performed as safely in non-shock patients in the elderly group as in cases of non-ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. The overall survival rate including non-operative cases in the elderly group (38.9%) was lower than that in the control group (61%). The survival rates in patients receiving graft replacemes showed no significant difference between the elderly group (63.3%) and the control group (67.6%). Many of the aged patients who fell into shock due to aortic rupture died without receiving surgery. Hypovolemic shock which results in ischemia in vital organs is the most likely major cause of death in patients of advanced age. In conclusion, graft replacements should be performed electively and safely before aneurysmal rupture, particularly in elderly patients.

A 70-year-old man was admitted suffering from chest and back pain. He was assessed by enhanced computed tomography (eCT) and a thrombosed acute DeBakey type IIIb aortic dissection with an ulcer like projection (ULP) was diagnosed and treated medically. Five days later, he complained suddenly of dyspnea and was diagnosed by eCT as having a pulmonary thromboembolism. Anticoagulant therapy was started reluctantly. The patient's symptoms improved, however, 16 days later he complained of severe chest and back pain. Enhanced CT showed enlargement of the ULP, which was diagnosed as an impending aortic rupture. Open stent-grafting was selected as a less-invasive treatment method. A stent-graft was introduced into the descending aorta via the transected aortic arch and the entry of the ULP was closed. Postoperative course was smooth and uneventful. We consider that open stent-grafting via the aortic arch is an alternative method for repair of acute type B aortic dissection with an ULP in the descending aorta, in cases where direct closure of the intimal tear is difficult.

A 69-year-old woman, who had undergone a right nephrectomy for renal tuberculosis in her teens, was admitted with a low grade fever, anorexia and progressive dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography showed cardiac tamponade and chest CT revealed an enlarged ascending aorta. She was treated with pericardiocentesis. Specimens of pericardial effusion failed to demonstrate any acid-fast bacilli, but they did reveal a high level of adnosine deaminase (72 IU/l). A diagnosis of tuberculous pericarditis was considered, and antituberculous chemotherapy was started. However, he presented with severe back pain 32 days later and CT revealed type A acute aortic dissection. We therefore replaced the ascending aorta and aortic root. A histopathological examination of the ascending aorta revealed evidence of a granulomatous inflammatory reaction with Langhans giant cells. She thereafter received antituberculous chemotherapy with 4 drugs for 2 months, with continued rifampicin and isoniazid treatment. There was no evidence of any graft infection after 70 days.

Stanford type B acute aortic dissection without complications has been considered to be an indication for medical rather than surgical treatment. To investigate the availability of medical treatment and early rehabilitation, we evaluated 90 cases treated between 1986 and 1999 with type B acute aortic dissection. These consisted of 79 nonruptured cases and 11 ruptured cases at the beginning of treatment in our medical center. No surgery was performed in any of the nonruptured cases but surgery was performed in 8 of 11 ruptured cases. Surgical mortality in the rupture type was 12.5% (1/8). During medical treatment of the nonrupture type, 3 patients died of sudden rupture (1 case) and bowel ischemia (2 cases). An early rehabilitation program in which the goal was for the patient to walk around the ward within 2 weeks was performed for 31 consecutive cases of nonrupture type without vascular complications. Mortality was not significantly different between the early and conventional rehabilitation groups. The incidence of pneumonia and ICU syndrome during medical treatment was 13.0% (6/46) and 37% (17/46), respectively in the conventional group and 0% and 12.9% (4/31), respectively in the early group. The incidence of ICU syndrome was significantly lower in the early group than in the conventional group. Despite the limitations of this study, medical treatment and early rehabilitation showed good results in cases of uncomplicated type B acute aortic dissection.