Basic procedures that cardiovascular surgeons routinely perform are rarely discussed, despite the great variability among facilities. We conducted a questionnaire survey on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) targeting under-forty cardiovascular surgeons and obtained responses from 53 surgeons. We report the questionnaire results.

We conducted a questionnaire survey on shift and on-call system targeting under-forty cardiovascular surgeons and obtained responses from 35 surgeons. We report the questionnaire results.

We report on a rare case of Marfan syndrome with giant dissecting descending thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms associated with poor left ventricular function and severe mitral regurgitation. Before the anesthetic induction, a partial extra-corporeal circulation was established to prevent a collapse of the circulation. Descending aortic graft replacement and following abdominal aortic graft replacement were performed safely using the partial extra-corporeal circulation to relief the afterload for the severely deteriorated left ventricle with severe mitral regurgitation. Intra-aortic balloon pumping was also promptly used to assist the poor circulation in the postoperative period. Despite the admission to a specialized institute, he died from irreversible heart failure with a developing renal failure. Even for a difficult patient with Marfan syndrome with severe left ventricular dysfunction and mitral regurgitation, graft replacement was feasible with meticulous perioperative circulatory management using partial extra-corporeal circulation and intra-aortic balloon pumping. However, a prompt registration for heart transplantation and an aortic surgery concomitant with implantation of left ventricular assisted device should have been considered to save the patient.