Objective : Although an endoleak is the most common complication after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), the proper and noninvasive method for the detection of endoleaks is not established. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether plasma levels of D-dimer and fibrin degradation product (FDP) could be predictors of endoleaks after EVAR. Methods : Between June 2011 and January 2014, 65 consecutive patients underwent EVAR at our institution. We evaluated 55 patients excluding 10 patients pre-existing conditions such as aortic dissection, arterial or venous thrombosis, conversion to open surgery, and difficulties in making outpatient visits. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination was performed during 12 months after EVAR. Persistent endoleaks and maximum aneurysmal diameter were evaluated at each follow-up time. Patients were divided into groups according to CT findings at 12 months after EVAR. There were 26 patients with endoleaks vs. 29 non-endoleak patients, 34 with unchanged aneurysm findings vs. 21 with shrinkage. No patient showed aneurysmal enlargement. Plasma levels of D-dimer, FDP, counts of platelet, prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were also measured at the time of CT examinations. Results : There was no operative death and no major complication. Endoleaks in all patients were identified as type II. None of them required re-intervention. In the endoleak group, plasma levels of D-dimer and FDP were significantly higher than in the non-endoleak group in each postoperative period. In addition, postoperative counts of platelet were significantly lower in the endoleak group. PT and APTT test results showed no significant difference in the two groups. In the unchanged aneurysm group, postoperative D-dimer and FDP tended to be higher compared with the shrinkage group. Postoperative counts of platelet also tended to be lower in the unchanged group. There were no differences in PT and APTT test results. Conclusion : Plasma levels of D-dimer and FDP are potentially useful predictors of endoleaks after EVAR.

It seems obvious that artery grafts improve the long-term prognosis of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Besides, the superiority of using bilateral ITAs compared with a single ITA has been reported. An ultrasonic scalpel was introduced in our hospital in April 2001, and since then, we have harvested bilateral ITAs with it in a full skeletonized fashion, and as a result, we have been using bilateral ITAs for CABG routinely. In this study, we reviewed the surgical outcomes in 256 patients who underwent CABG alone, using bilateral ITAs harvested with ultrasonic scalpel between April, 2001 and December, 2012. Of these patients, 194 underwent off-pump CABG (8 were converted to on-pump CABG), and 38 required emergency surgery. One patient died from cerebral infarction within 30 days after the operation. Of all 256 patients, 234 underwent graftograms within 2 weeks after surgery, and 10 patients (4.3%) needed re-intervention including redo CABG or PCI in the early stage. None of these suffered mediastinitis. We also studied long-term outcomes. The follow-up rate was 100% and the mean follow-up period was 2.97±2.6 years. The survival rate was 81.8%, and 72.6% at 5 years, and 10 years, respectively. The freedom from redo CABG was 99.5%, and 99.3% at 5 years, and 10 years, respectively. The freedom from PCI was 96.3%, and 95.2% at 5 years, and 10 years, respectively. The freedom from MACE was 90.3%, and 81.2% at 5 years, and 10 years, respectively. Bilateral ITAs harvested with an ultrasonic scalpel can be used for CABG safely and with satisfactory long-term results.

A 62-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis underwent apicoaortic bypass grafting. The graft was implanted inversely at first ; on the next day, it was re-implanted in the right direction. She recovered once from heart failure ; however, on postoperative day (POD) 74, she died from respiratory failure. On POD 16, an in-house multidisciplinary investigatory commission reviewed the human factors that had led to the surgical error. Throughout the investigation, we provided relevant information about the event and explanations. We presented our apologies the patient's family and offered to compensate them for their losses.

We report the successful treatment of an 81-year-old woman after a difficult diagnosis of mitral valve regurgitation resulting from partial rupture of the posterior papillary muscle. The patient, with a chief complaint of dyspnea, was admitted to our hospital in October, 2010. Echocardiography revealed severe MR and an oscillating abnormal mass attached to the mitral posterior leaflet was assessed as vegetation. Her general condition worsened and coronary angiography revealed 90% stenosis at #6 and 99% stenosis at #12. Partial papillary muscle rupture of post acute myocardial infarction was ruled out. Urgent surgery was performed. It is found that tissue we had assessed as vegetation was a part of the posterior papillary muscle with no signs of infection. MVP with quadrangular resection (P3), annuloplasty and CABG (LITA-LAD, SVG-OM) was performed. The patient was discharged on the 28th postoperative day. Echocardiography showed no MR for four years after the surgery.

We report a case of pseudoaneurysm of the left internal iliac artery after intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) therapy for bladder cancer. A 75-year-old man was referred to us with lumbar pain and recurring fever. One year previously he was treated for bladder cancer with transurethral resection, followed by adjuvant intravesical BCG therapy lasting 11 months. Computed tomography scanning demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm and perianeurysmal inflammatory changes in the region of the left internal iliac artery. An emergency operation was performed under a diagnosis of impending rupture of the tuberculous left internal iliac arterial aneurysm. Because of the urinary tract stenosis, which was caused by the aneurysm, we inserted a ureteral stent preoperatively. We performed aneurysmectomy and femorofemoral cross over bypass. After 10 months of antituberculous chemotherapy, CT showed no recurrence of infectious aneurysm. Although intravesical BCG therapy is generally considered safe, serious complications including vascular complication have been reported. A mycotic origin should be considered when an aneurysm is discovered after BCG therapy. The prophylactic use of a ureteral stent in mycotic iliac arterial surgery may lead to minor complications.

A 74-year-old woman underwent a triple CABG with saphenous vein grafts to the left anterior descending artery, left circumflex artery and right coronary artery (RCA) 17 years previously. Periodic echocardiography by primary care doctor showed a mediastinal mass. She was referred to our hospital and we diagnosed saphenous vein graft aneurysm (SVGA) by enhanced computed tomography. The aneurysm was 60 mm in diameter and originated from the SVG, extending to the RCA. Only around the proximal anastomosis was enhanced, while the other part of the aneurysm was filled with thrombus. Coronary angiography showed collateral circulation to RCA and the other 2 grafts were patent. Resternotomy was done under cardiopulmonary bypass and closure of the proximal anastomosis with aneurysm excision was successfully performed. The postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged on the 26th post-operative day. We report our surgical strategy in this case.

The patient was a 37 year-old man. We diagnosed Loeys-Dietz syndrome based on his physical characteristics that were widely spaced eyes and brachycephaly etc. Since he developed De Bakey III b aortic dissection 3 months later, he needed surgical repair for saccular-shaped distal arch aortic aneurysm. We performed total aortic arch replacement for the aneurysm and valve-sparing aortic root reconstruction for dilatation of the Valsalva sinus. Furthermore we performed the frozen elephant trunk technique for residual aortic dissection at the same time. After 18 months from the operation, we were able to recognize by computed tomography that the false lumen of the aorta next to the stent graft was thrombosed and absorbed and finally disappeared. The stent graft treatment for patients with connective tissue disease might be an effective method and deserves more attention.

The mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIF) is a fibrous skeleton between the mitral and aortic valves. We describe a case of a pseudoaneurysm of MAIF (MAIFPsA) 3 months after an aortic valve replacement. A 75-year-old man had undergone aortic valve replacement using a bioprosthesis (SJM Trifecta 23 mm). He developed congestive heart failure 3 months after surgery. Trans-esophageal echocardiography and multi-detector computed tomography detected a MAIFPsA and severe paravalvular leakage. The patient underwent a new operation. After the aortic prosthesis was removed, an orifice of the pseudoaneurysm, which was composed of the anterior mitral leaflet and the aortic annulus, were revealed. The defect was repaired with a bovine pericardial patch, sutured to the anterior mitral leaflet and aortic annulus. A new bioprosthesis (Carpentier-Edwards PERIMOUNT 21 mm) was implanted in the supra-annular position. His postoperative course was uneventful.

Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is the second most common type of benign cardiac tumor after myxoma, and is most commonly found in the left side of the heart. In this study, we report a case of PFE located in the tricuspid valve chordae. The patient was a 65-year-old woman in whom a heart murmur was detected during a routine medical examination. A follow-up examination identified a cardiac tumor, and she was subsequently referred to our medical department. Echocardiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography indicated a mobile mass of approximately 1 cm in the right ventricle, and she was determined to be a candidate for surgery. After cardiopulmonary bypass, we instigated cardioplegic arrest, made an incision in the right atrium, and observed the right ventricle through the tricuspid valve. We observed a yellowish sea-anemone-like mass approximately 9 mm from the chordae of the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve. Thus, the mass was resected with the chordae and tricuspid annuloplasty. Postoperative progress was satisfactory, and the subject was discharged on the 19th day of hospitalization. Histopathological examination indicated a mixture of thick fibrous and adipose tissues, which led to the diagnosis of PFE. PFE is a relatively rare disease that comprises 8% of primary cardiac tumors. IA often occurs in the left heart and can cause cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, and other symptoms of embolism. However, because small masses and those that occur in the right heart are not accompanied by clinical symptoms, such cases are often discovered during routine echocardiography. The present study reports a case of PFE that occurred in the tricuspid valve chordae that was diagnosed via echocardiography.

Aplastic anemia is a syndrome characterized by pancytopenia, and performing an open heart operation for patients with this syndrome may be associated with an increased surgical risk for both bleeding and post-surgical infection. We report a case of mitral regurgitation complicated with aplastic anemia that underwent a mitral valve repair via a right lateral minithoracotomy. The patient was a 70-year-old woman who presented with shortness of breath on exertion. She was found to have aplastic anemia based on pancytopenia (WBC 2,150/µl, Hgb 8.8 g/dl, PLT 5.0×10⁴/µl) and the results of a bone marrow biopsy. Echocardiography showed severe mitral valve insufficiency at the same time, and the patient was referred for surgery. To deal with the decrease in white blood cells and platelets, prior to surgery, a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was administered, 30 units of platelet concentrate were transfused during the operation, and mitral valve repair via a right lateral minithoracotomy was performed. After surgery, there were no complications due to infection or bleeding, and the subsequent course was favorable. Several studies have reported the advantages in right minithoracotomy of less intraoperative bleeding and a lower infection rate compared with full sternotomy. In cases of this kind, in which there is a tendency toward bleeding and ease of infection, we believe that right lateral minithoracotomy may be a useful option to consider.