We evaluated the efficacy of sternal coaptation pins used to improve the fixation of the transected sternum after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with the internal thoracic artery (ITA). The subjects were 37 patients who underwent scheduled single CABG with ITA in our department and they were classified into two groups, i. e., Group A, without sternal pins (18 patients), and Group B, with sternal pins (19 patients). The efficacy was assessed by the following measurements : drain bleeding volume up to 12 and 24 h after ICU admission, the time until the removal of drain, surgical site infection (SSI) and the maximum split level between the sternal body and manubrium after surgery. Drain bleeding volume up to 12 and 24 h after ICU tended to be less in Group B. The time until the removal of drain was significantly shorter in Group B. SSI was 17% in Group A but 0% in Group B. The use of sternal coaptation pins reduced misalignment of the coapted sternum, and we belive that the use of sternal coaptation pins contributed to the early removal of drain, and SSI reduction.

A 51-year-old man, with an abnormal shadow on chest X-ray film, was found to have a right-sided aortic arch with mirror-image branching and Kommerell's diverticulum. Neither congenital heart anomalies nor vascular ring was observed. We performed descending aorta replacement with a Hemashield^TM 24-mm graft, because the trachea and esophagus were compressed by the diverticulum, and to eliminate the risks of aneurysmal change or rupture. The operation was performed through right thoracotomy, and with total CPB under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The patient was discharged on the 18th postoperative day. This is rare adulthood case of right aortic arch with Kommerell's diverticulum and no anomalies in the heart.

A 77-year-old man was hospitalized for a proximal anastomotic aneurysm 9 years after surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The aneurysm was located 3cm distal to the renal artery. The maximum diameter was 55mm. His medical history included a reoperation for the proximal anastomotic aneurysm and cerebral infarction. Endovascular stent grafting was performed because it was possible anatomically. Postoperatively, no endoleak nor migration were found. At present, the patient is being followed up regularly in the outpatient department. Endovascular stent graft placement can be an effective method for reoperation cases of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and if it is possible anatomically, it should be attempted.

Background : Endovascular treatment of the thoracic aorta (TEVAR) for type B aortic dissection is reported to be effective if the interval between the onset and the procedure is relatively short. However, the optimal timing for TEVAR is still controversial. Method : From December 2008 to April 2015, we experienced 46 TEVARs for type B aortic dissection. The interval between onset and TEVAR was within 3 months in 15 cases (Group A), from 3 months to 1 year in 10 cases (Group B), and more than 1 year in 21 cases (Group C). Result : Primary success was obtained in all cases, and no new intimal tear was formed during the procedure. There was no hospital death. At the time of discharge, disappearance of ULP or thrombosed thoracic false lumen occurred significantly more frequently in Group A (93%) than in Group B (50%) and Group C (43%) (p<0.05). At 6 months, the rate of the patients with reduced aneurysm diameter more than 5 mm was significantly higher in Group A (87%) and Group B (70%) than in Group C (19%) (p<0.05). Three cases of Group C had enlargement of the aneurysm despite of TEVAR, and graft replacement of thoracoabdominal aorta was performed in one of the cases. Conclusion : For type B aortic dissection, TEVAR is more effective if performed within 3 months from the onset.

Endovascular treatment for chronic aortic dissection in patients with Marfan syndrome is still controversial. A 60-year-old man developed an extended chronic type B dissection involving the aortic arch and thoraco-abdominal aorta with a large entry at the distal aortic arch and patent false lumen. He had undergone David procedure for type A aortic dissection at age 42, and aortic valve replacement for recurrent aortic valve insufficiency at 58, which was complicated with mediastinitis. He also suffered drug-induced interstitial pneumonitis. Considering his complicated surgical history and impaired pulmonary function, conventional graft replacement of thoraco-abdominal aorta was thought to be quite a high risk. Thus, we chose debranch TEVAR with a staged approach. First, debranching and Zone 0 TEVAR with the chimney technique were performed. Then, 4 months later, abdominal debranching and TEVAR was performed. The patient tolerated both procedures well and was discharged home. Two years after last procedure, he is in good condition and computed tomography shows that complete entry closure and false lumen had thrombosed. This strategy may be worthy to be considered even for a patient with Marfan syndrome, in case the patient's condition is unsuitable for conventional surgery.

A 79-year-old man, who had a history of intravesical instillations of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy for urinary bladder cancer, developed bloody sputum 4 years after BCG therapy. BCG was detected from the sputum by detailed examination. Medical therapy for tuberculosis (TB) was started, but bloody sputum continued. Computed tomography (CT) for the chest was performed to evaluate the state of TB, and surprisingly, found impending rupture of tuberculosis mycotic thoracic aneurysm. He was emergently transferred to our hospital. CT revealed that the aneurysm made a lump with surrounding lung and lymph nodes. It seemed to be quite difficult to dissect and to be quite high risk to perform graft replacement with pneumonectomy. On the other hand, TB infection was controlled with antibiotic therapy. Thus we chose debranch TEVAR for this complicated situation. His bloody sputum regressed soon after the procedure and disappeared during his hospitalization. He was discharged home on POD 13 without serious complication and continued to have antibiotic therapy under the instruction of his primary physician.

Hybrid techniques to enable endovascular treatment of complex aortic pathology have been previously described. A staged endograft repair of a complex, chronic Stanford type B aortic dissection with atherosclerotic occlusion of bilateral iliac arteries is reported in a 66-year-old man. The patient also had chronic obstructive lung disease as well as chronic renal dysfunction. The aneurysmal portion of the dissection extended from the distal arch to the entire thoracic aorta. Bilateral femoral arteries were bypassed from the abdominal aorta using open techniques. Then, total arch replacement with a frozen elephant trunk was performed through median sternotomy. Finally, the aneurysmal portion was completely covered with an endograft from the frozen elephant trunk to the upper abdominal aorta, just proximal to the celiac trunk. The patient had no neurologic complications. This case report illustrates the feasibility of the hybrid technique in selected high-risk patients when confronted with complex aortic pathology.

A 67-year-old man developed the recurrence of postoperative constrictive pericarditis. He had two operation histories : the one was CABG for old myocardial infarction and the other was pericardiectomy for postoperative pericarditis at 57 and 59 years old respectively. Both operations were performed in our hospital. We used an ePTFE sheet for covering the heart in the pericardiectomy. The course post operation was good, but eight years after the pericardiectomy, he had abdominal distension and leg edema. Detailed studies revealed a recurrence of constrictive pericarditis, and reoperation was performed. The re-operative finding showed thickened sclerotic tissues on both sides of an ePTFE sheet which was applied to the cardiac surface during the previous surgery. No abnormal tissue was detected where the ePTFE sheet was not applied. The ePTFE sheet and the sclerotic tissues were removed under cardiopulmonary bypass support, and then diastolic dysfunction improved dramatically. His chest was closed without applying an ePTFE sheet. His post-operative course was uneventful and he was discharged on the 20th postoperative day. The ePTFE sheet was highly suspected as a cause of the recurrent constrictive pericarditis. An ePTFE sheet-induced constrictive pericarditis should be considered as one of the postoperative complications even in the mid and long-term period. The ePTFE sheet is useful for preventing heart or vascular injury when we perform resternotomy, but in rare cases, there is some possibility of association with a risk of pericarditis.

Mitral valve surgeries for cases with mitral annular calcification (MAC) are challenging because of the operative complications. For a case of MS with MAC, we achieved mitral valve plasty by ultrasonic decalcification alone. An 82-year-old male with edema and dyspnea was diagnosed with AS and MS with MAC. MAC was so severe that MVR was challenging. There were calcifications at the anterior commissure and the anterior mitral leaflet (AML), and removal of them was expected to improve the valve function. Therefore, anterior commissurotomy and ultrasonic decalcification of the anterior commissural annulus was performed using cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspiration (CUSA). Following the resection of the aortic valve, we carried out decalcification of the AML through the aortic valve orifice. After AVR, a trans-esophageal echocardiogram showed MS was ameliorated. Two years after surgery, recurrence of MS was not recognized. Some mitral cases with MAC can be treated by only decalcification to avoid risky valve replacement.