During the last 15 years, isolated aortic valve replacement was performed in 122 patients, 12 of whom had severe elevated pulmonary systolic pressure (PAS) of 50mmHg or over. A comparative study of preoperative and postoperative data was done between two groups; group I (n=12), with a pulmonary systolic pressure 50mmHg or over, and group II, with a value of under 50 mmHg (n=45). On preoperative evaluation, cardiomegaly and constrictive pulmonary dysfunction were found in group I and also PAWP, mean pressure of PA, PAS, LVEDP and RVEDP were of a higher value in group I than group II. The LVEDP was high in group I and correlated well with PAS preoperatively, suggesting that pulmonary hypertension was a consequence of severe LV dysfunction. There was no difference in the operative mortality and postoperative complication between these two groups. CTR, PAWP, mPA and PAS decreased to within the normal range postoperatively. It was concluded that pulmonary hypertension does not adversely effect the operative mortality and postoperaive complications of AVR, and the cause of the elevated pulmonary pressure was thought to be due to the impaired LV function.

Primary abdominal aortic dissection occurs infrequently. We experienced aortic dissection originating at the level of the right renal artery, for which graft replacement and reconstruction of the aorta and also the celiac, superior mesenteric and both renal arteries were performed. A 44-year-old woman with severe back pain was admitted to our hospital. CT and aortogram revealed primary abdominal aortic dissection. The abdominal aorta was replaced with a trunk prosthetic graft, to which were connected smaller grafts for the four abdominal visceral and also lumbar arteries. The intercostal artery was preserved by a diagonal trasection at the upper end of the graft site. To prevent ischemia of the visceral organs, we used a selective perfusion technique to the superior mesenteric artery and both renal arteries. The postoperative course was uneventful. The postoperative aortogram demonstrated good patency and function of the trunk graft and reconstructed visceral arteries

We present a rare case of tuberculous thoracic aneurysm which ruptured into the lung. A 66-year-old woman who has been treated for lung tuberculosis and spondylocace was referred to our hospital for treatment of a descending thoracic aneurym confirmed by enhanced CT scan. On the 6th hospital day, she had massive hemoptysis and her systolic pressure dropped to 70mmHg. Emergency operation was performed under an F-F bypass. The saccular aneurysm was excised and surrounding infected tissue was debrided. UBE graft was inserted in situ and totally covered with omentum. The pathological diagnosis of the specimen was tuberculous aortic aneurysm. The postoperative course was uneventful. Good reconstruction and omental vessels around the replaced graft were revealed by postoperative angiogram. Two years later she is well. The omental covering of the replaced graft was a useful method for preventing graft infection.

Use of the internal thoracic artery for myocardial revascularization has regained general acceptance because it offers better long-term results than do venous conduits. However, according to angiographic studies, it has been reported that atherosclerotic changes in the internal thoracic artery occurred in 1-5% of patients with coronary artery disease, although, generally, it is considered that atherosclerotic changes in internal thoracic artery are rare. From January 1998 to August 2001, of the 274 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, it was estimated that the left internal thoracic artery could not be used for coronary revascularization by preoperative angiography in 7 patients (7/262=2.7%). Two hundred sixty-two patients underwent preoperative angiography to evaluate the grafts for coronary revascularization. All were men and age at the time of operation ranged from 62 to 81 years (mean, 68.6 years). The reason for the left internal thoracic artery being useless were occlusion or stenosis of the subclavian artery in 4 and stenosis or occlusion of the left internal thoracic artery in 3. One patient needed an emergency operation. Four patients had a history of myocardial infarction, 3 patients had hypertension, 2 patients had diabetes mellitus, 4 patients had hyperlipidemia, 1 patient had aortitis and 3 patients had a history of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. There were 4 patients with peripheral vascular disease. Four right internal thoracic arteries, 9 radial arteries and 6 gastroepiploic arteries were used for coronary revascularization. A composite Y graft (right internal thoracic artery-radial artery) was used in 3 patients, and sequential bypass was performed in the other 3 patients. The total number of distal anastomoses was 2.7±1.0/patient. The angiographic patency of the distal anastmoses was 94.7% (18/19). One patient required intra-aortic balloon pumping postoperatively for perioperative myocardial infarction (Max CK-MB 200IU/l). All other patients had an uneventful postoperative course. In conclusion, although the internal thoracic artery is a protective vessel, there is a certain extent of atherosclerosis, which correlates with known risk factors. Our observations should not preclude use of the internal thoracic artery, but they should be considered for patients who are at risk for atherosclerotic changes of the internal thoracic artery. We considered that it is important to evaluate condition of in situ arterial grafts for patients with coronary artery disease preoperatively. Although further studies are required, in situ arterial grafting with sequential arterial conduit and composite arterial graft were associated with excellent results and achieved complete revascularization.

A 59-year-old female case with cardiac tamponade due to rupture of the coronary arteriovenous fistula is described. Preoperative coronary arteriography showed bilateral coronary-pulmonary fistulae not associated with significant atherosclerotic stenosis. On opening the pericardium after establishing F-F bypass, the pericardial sac contained 300 grams of partially clotted blood. There was subepicardial hematoma along the area of the left anterior descending artery and the left circumflex artery without any other abnormal findings of the heart. The operation consisted of hemostasis with several mattress sutures along the left anterior descending artery and the left circumflex artery, closure of multiple fistulous openings from within the pulmonary artery, and ligation of abnormal dilated vessels originating from bilateral coronary arteries. The coronary arterio-venous fistula with aneurysmal dilatation should be operated on aggressively, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, to prevent the rupture of fistulae.

A case of ruptured dissecting aortic aneurysm (DeBakey IIIa) involving a right-sided aortic arch is reported. A 54-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of severe back pain. Roentgenogram and enhanced computed tomography of the chest revealed a right-sided aortic arch, right descending thoracic aorta and right pleural effusion. Thoracocentesis of the right thoracic cavity revealed bloody fluid. The ruptured dissecting aortic aneurysm was suspected. The enhanced CT of the chest revealed leakage of the contrast medium at the level of the bifurcation of the trachea so aortography wasn't performed. There was a 2cm intimal tear in the descending aorta. Resection and grafting of the aneurysm via right thoracotomy was performed. The patient made an uneventful recovery and was discharged 4 weeks later. It is pointed out that the operative method and/or decision of the method of approach for the aneurysm involving a right arch are difficult because of the aberrant left subclavian artery and/or tortuous descending thoracic aorta. Impeccable judgement is needed for emergency operation of ruptured dissecting aneurysms like the present case.

A 42-year-old man with Budd-Chiari syndrome was admitted to our institute for reoperation. The patient had undergone a cavoatrial bypass 9 years previously, but early occlusion of the bypass graft was suspected as there was reappearance of dilated abdominal veins. Preoperative cavography showed occlusion of the bypass graft and well-developed collateral veins. The patient underwent direct reconstruction with endo-venectomy and patch angioplasty of the obstructed vena cava and hepatic veins using a ringed ePTFE graft. The markedly dilated tortuous subcutaneous veins of abdominal wall disappeared immediately after reoperation. Postoperative cavography showed the patency of the IVC and three hepatic veins, IVC-right atrium mean pressure gradient decreased from 16mmHg to 6.5mmHg. Direct reconstruction should be the first choice in surgical treatment for Budd-Chiari syndrome, and is also useful as a reoperative procedure.

Patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) most commonly have refractory anemia accompanied by various degrees of granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia. At the time of cardiac surgery, both major infections and bleeding are severe complications in patients with pancytopenia due to MDS. However, there were very few patients with MDS who had undergone open-heart surgery. We reported a case of mitral valve replacement in a patient with MDS. A 68-year-old man with valvular heart disease and MDS, with a platelet count of 1.9×10⁴/mm³, underwent successful mitral valve replacement. The mitral valve was replaced by an SJM 25 A prosthesis after resection of left atrial thrombosis using cardiopulmonary bypass. Platelets were transfused after the bypass. Perioperative hemorrhage was moderate and postoperative course was uneventful. We evaluated platelet function by Sonoclot coagulation and a platelet function analyzer. We did not need a large amount of transfusion of red blood cells and platelets, and prevented major bleeding and severe wound infections in the acute postoperative state.

A 78-year-old woman with abnormal shadows on computed tomography (CT) was given a diagnosis of right-sided aortic arch and Kommerell diverticulum (KD), accompanied by aberrant left subclavian artery. Although no symptoms were observed, the maximum diameter of the aneurysm was 63 mm, and surgical intervention was chosen because of the possibility of rupture. At first, a 4-branched blood vessel prosthesis with a side branch was anastomosed to the ascending aorta. Next, after reconstructing the cervical branches, a Conformable GORE® TAG® (W.L. Gore and Associates, 34 mm×200 mm) was inserted from the side branch and expanded in the range of Zones 0 to Th 7. Finally, ALSA coil embolization was performed. She was discharged on postoperative day 36, and at her 2-year follow-up, she was doing well, with shrinkage of Kommerell diverticulum.