We report a case of septal branch aneurysm. A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of heart murmur. Septal branch aneurysm (25×15 mm) was diagnosed by echocardiography and coronary angiography, and followed up annually with multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT). Nine years later, another aneurysm proximal to the known aneurysm, which protruded above the epicardium, has rapidly dilated from 5 to 11 mm. We therefore performed closure of the orifice of the septal branch concomitant with bypass grafting ; left internal mammary artery to distal LAD. After the procedure, the aneurysm in the septum had completely collapsed. Her postoperative course was uneventful.

We report a case of re-expansion pulmonary edema (REPE), which complicated mitral valve plasy via right small thoracotomy. A 56-years old man underwent mitral valve plasty for severe mitral regurgitation caused by P2 prolapse. After separation from heart-lung machine, massive yellow foamy secretion has begun to spout from the right side endotracheal tube and hypoxemia has ensued. Differential ventilation with high airway pressure and steroid pulse therapy could not counteract the exacerbation of hypoxemia. Echocardiography showed severe diffuse hypokinesis of left ventricular wall. Intra-aortic balloon pumping and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) were introduced, and they were very effective. After five-days' support, PCPS was successfully weaned. The patient recovered well. REPE complicated by mini-thoracotomy approach cardiac surgery, is rare, but can be fatal.

A 72-year-old man was referred to our hospital for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) due to asymptomatic severe coronary artery disease. A preoperative CT revealed 99% stenosis of the aberrant right subclavian artery, 90% stenosis at the origin of right common carotid artery, and 75% stenosis at the origin of the left subclavian artery. As he had high risk of a perioperative cerebral ischemic event for CABG, it was difficult to perform a carotid artery stent. We performed a total aortic arch replacement combined with CABG. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on the 12th postoperative day.

Dabigatran is a new/direct oral anticoagulant drug unlike warfarin. It is being increasingly used to prevent thromboembolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. We present the case of a 77-year-old woman with a giant left atrial thrombus in spite of anticoagulation therapy with dabigatran 300 mg/day. She had developed a cerebral infarction 18 months previously and was switched from warfarin to dabigatran. However, magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple new cerebral infarcts, and computed tomography scan and echocardiogram revealed a giant thrombus measuring 37×29 mm in the left atrium. Thrombectomy and left atrial appendage closure were urgently performed. Dabigatran was changed to warfarin again after the operation. She has had no recurrent thromboembolic event since then.