We reported a successful emergency operation for ruptured juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm via an extended retroperitoneal approach. A 70-year-old man with a history of distal gastrectomy and pancreatoduodenectomy complained of epigastric pain and was transferred to our emergency room in a state of shock. Computed tomograpy demonstrated a ruptured juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm and massive intraperitoneal hematoma. We performed emergency graft replacement through an extended retroperitoneal approach in order to control the aorta quickly, safely, and reliably. This approach is a useful option in the emergency treatment of ruptured juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare heart malignancy. The prognosis is reported to be very poor. Here, we report a case of cardiac angiosarcoma which was treated by postoperative conformal dynamic arc radiotherapy. The patient has been in good health with no recurrence for 18 months after surgery. The patient was a 71-year-old woman, who presented edema and general malaise. Echocardiography and computed tomography revealed a right atrial mass and massive pericardial effusion, which was thought to be the cause of tamponade. Intraoperatively, we found a large tumor arising from right atrial wall spreading and invading to the inferior vena cava, diaphragm, and right pericardium. We abandoned complete resection of the tumor. We only resected the part of the tumor under cardiopulmonary bypass. The subsequent defect of the right atrial wall was reconstructed with bovine pericardial patch. The pathological diagnosis was consistent with angiosarcoma, and the margin was positive for the tumor. In addition to reduction surgery, we adopted radiotherapy (conformal dynamic arc radiotherapy, 10MV-X-ray, 54 Gy/18 Fr/4.5 week, fractionated radiotherapy). The CT, one month after the radiation, showed a significant reduction in tumor size. Moreover, no tumor could be pointed out by echocardiography 18 months after surgery. Advances in technology and methodology has made tumor control possible without significant side effects. We conclude that reduction surgery accompanied with postoperative radiotherapy is promising in maintaining quality of life and in improving life expectancy.

A 41-year-old man with focal glomerulosclerosis had been treated by hemodialysis for 22 years. Kidney transplantation from a living donor was performed once, but the transplanted kidney was removed out because it had been infected by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus about 3 months previously. He was admitted to our hospital with over 38°C fever 2 months after the removal. He had hemoptysis and marked back pain. Computed tomography scan revealed ruptured descending aorta. The descending aorta was circumferentially calcified but not enlarged. We thought that a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer had formed in a crack of the porcelain aorta and ruptured with infection. First we tried endovascular treatment with stent-graft implantation. It was useful to control hemoptysis, but a small amount of type I leakage remained. Finally, after controlling the infection, we performed prosthesis replacement with extra-corporeal circulation and surrounded the artificial aorta with the omentum. The postoperative course was uneventful and he recovered completely.

Popliteal venous aneurysm (PVA) is recognized as source of fatal pulmonary embolism ; surgical treatment is indicated. A 79-year-old woman presented with acute shortness of breath. A cardiac ultrasound echography showed right heart overload and pulmonary hypertension. A contrast enhanced CT revealed multiple pulmonary artery emboli and right popliteal venous aneurysm. She was immediately started anticoagulation therapy with oral factor Xa inhibitor and her dyspnea improved. As thrombus in venous aneurysm was considered the cause of the pulmonary embolism, we recommended surgical treatment. Tangential aneurysmectomy with lateral venorrhaphy for the saccular venous aneurysm was performed. Postoperative contrast enhanced CT showed good morphology and she was discharged without complication. Surgical treatment of symptomatic popliteal venous aneurysm is considered useful strategy.

Left ventricular overlapping operation was applied to a woman with cardiac sarcoidosis who presented with cardiopulmonary arrest. She did not have any particular history, with minimal risk factors for atherosclerosis. By-stander cardiopulmonary resuscitation delivered by her husband saved her life. Acute coronary syndrome was denied by emergency coronary arteriography. However, left vetriculography revealed broad dyskinetic area inconsistent with coronary distribution. Those findings raised a high suspicion of cardiac sarcoidosis, although this was unconfirmed. Broad ventricular aneurysm and a history of cardiac arrest and congestive heart failure prompted us to operate on her. Left ventricular overlapping operation was applied followed by ICD implantation and steroid induction. The pathologic examination of the ventricular wall showed noncaseous epithelioid granulomas and polynuclear giant cells, which are consistent with cardiac sarcoidosis. She has been leading a healthy daily life without signs of heart failure for one and a half years after discharge. Lesions of cardiac sarcoidosis have a broad spectrum from narrow localized to wide generalized aneurysm. Appropriate surgical strategy should be performed according to the location and the extent of the lesion. Left ventricular overlapping operation is among the alternatives.

A 67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of heart failure. He had a 12-year history of chronic renal failure and hemodialysis. Coronary angiography confirmed the presence of a saccular aneurysm originating from the calcificated left main trunk with coronary artery stenosis. The aneurysm was successfully treated by saphenous vein patch repair of the orifice and coronary revascularization of the left anterior descending and circumflex arteries. A histological examination of the aneurysm wall demonstrated coronary artery dissection. Postoperative coronary angiography 2 weeks after surgery revealed no evidence of residual aneurysm and showed patent bypass grafts.