Congenital coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula is rare and occurs concomitantly with various disease conditions, including myocardial ischemia symptoms and aneurisms. Such a fistula complicated by continuity to a systemic blood vessel is even rarer. The patient was a healthy 75-year-old man who had lost consciousness for several tens of seconds at home. An examination performed at a nearby neurosurgical clinic showed no abnormalities, and he was referred to our cardiovascular department for detailed examination for suspected cardiogenic syncope. Sick sinus syndrome was diagnosed based on Holter monitoring. Pulmonary artery-bilateral coronary artery fistula with coronary artery stenosis was diagnosed on coronary arteriography. It was difficult to determine whether coronary bypass surgery was indicated because of the presence of a fistula. Based on the overall evaluation of coronary fractional flow reserve, coronary artery ultrasound, and stress myocardial scintigraphy in addition to usual coronary arteriography, triple-vessel bypass surgery was indicated. Preoperative CT angiography showed a left common carotid artery/bronchial artery-pulmonary artery fistula, with a communication at a bilateral coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula. Coronary artery bypass surgery was performed in addition to coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula ligation, left common carotid artery-pulmonary artery fistula closure, bronchial artery-pulmonary artery fistula closure, and pacemaker implantation. Preoperative CT angiography and perioperative surface echocardiography were useful for locating fistula openings. The abnormal blood vessels that allowed blood flow from the left common carotid and bronchial arteries, and into the fistula vessel opening were ligated previously. When cardioplegic solution was injected, the fistula opening was directly pressed, which facilitated the solution to spread over the cardiac muscle, contributing to full cardiac arrest. Postoperative CT angiography showed disappearance of the pulmonary artery-bilateral coronary artery fistula and left common carotid artery/bronchial artery-pulmonary artery fistula. To our knowledge, there are no reports describing the surgical treatment of left common carotid artery/bronchial artery-pulmonary artery fistula and bilateral coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula. Here we report this rare case with a review of the relevant literature.

Introduction : Right atrial (RA) and right ventricular (RV) dilatation that are associated with severe tricuspid regurgitation, and severe high RV pressure that is associated with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum cause left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and hypoplastic lung. We have applied a modified RV obliteration technique that excludes non-functional enlarged RV for these diseases. Objectives : To evaluate the efficacy of our procedure. Methods and Results : Five patients (six operations) underwent the procedure without complications. Cardiothoracic ratio significantly decreased from 71±10% to 61±5% (p=0.017), and fractional shortening ended to increase from 27±17% to 37±5% (p=0.071). All of them achieved Fontan completion finally. One patient who underwent this procedure as a neonate experienced RV re-dilation 19 months later. He additionally received the same procedure in a Fontan operation, and then RV reduced again and good LV function was maintained. Conclusion : The application of modified RV obliteration technique is effective for Fontan candidates with nonfunctional RV.

Introduction : Although there are various diagnostic tools like computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography, it is sometimes difficult to precisely diagnose cardiac tumors. Early pathological diagnosis is crucial for possible chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy in cardiac malignant lymphoma. Objectives : To assess the diagnostic value of pericardial excisional biopsy and cytology of pericardial effusion for the pathological diagnosis of cardiac lymphoma. Methods : Five patients had a clinical diagnosis of cardiac tumor with no pathological diagnosis. The pericardial biopsy and pericardial effusion were obtained without sternotomy through the subxyphoid by a small incision under local anesthesia. Results : All procedures were completed without complications. In 3 cases, the cytology of pericardial effusion yielded a diagnosis of malignant lymphoma. One patient who had a negative cytology result in whom surgical resection was performed for definitive diagnosis and tumor volume reduction was found to have malignant lymphoma. The remaining patient underwent tumor biopsy via a cardiac catheter and benign lymphoma was diagnosed. There were no specific findings in the pericardial excisional biopsy in 3 cases. Conclusion : The analysis of cytology of pericardial effusion obtained through the subxyphoid may be useful for the diagnosis of cardiac malignant lymphoma. Pericardial excisional biopsy may not be necessary for the diagnosis of cardiac malignant lymphoma.

A 41-year-old man who had a history of suicide attempt by self-stabbing of the chest at the age of 15 and surgical repair of the stab wound of the heart was transferred to a neurosurgical hospital suffering from right hemiparesis. Stroke was diagnosed and he successfully underwent endovascular thrombectomy but postoperative computed tomography revealed left ventricular aneurysm and intracavitary thrombus that could have caused the embolic stroke. He was transferred to our hospital for cardiac surgery to prevent another embolization. Although an emergency operation had been attempted for the large and mobile thrombus, the patient was carefully observed for 4 weeks prior to surgery because of acute and huge stroke with a high risk of perioperative intracranial hemorrhage. After a fortunately uneventful observation, thrombectomy with left ventriculoplasty was performed successfully and the postoperative course was uneventful without neurological impairment. To prevent a fatal embolic event, postoperative follow-up after successful repair of cardiac injury is mandatory.

We report a case of multiple papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) on the aortic valve. A healthy woman in her 60 s was referred to a nearby doctor with the chief complaint of palpitation and was admitted to our hospital for detailed examination. A mobile tumor was found by transthoracic echo, and she was introduced to us. We undertook excision surgery for her. Initially, it was thought to be a single tumor, and a pedunculated tumor adhering to the central aortic side of the left coronary cusp with a length of 7 mm was removed. After closing the aorta, we recognized a remaining mobile tumor by transesophageal echo. We decided to perform cardiac arrest again, and we recognized one tumor with 6 mm long string-like mobile mass on the right and non-coronary commissure of cardiac side, and a thorn-like mass of about 1.5 mm on the non-coronary cusp of the cardiac side. We removed both tumors from the aortic valve using shaving resection and preserved the aortic valve. All of these were found to be PFE pathologically as if they were three tumors that followed the developmental stage of PFE. After surgery, PFE recurrence is extremely rare. In the case of a pedunculated tumor, it is possible to remove the tumor and preserve the valve. However, as in this case, if both sides of the valve were not carefully inspected, it can be overlooked. In addition, small tumor resection could avoid the risk of new cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction due to recurrence and could avoid reoperation.

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.

A female in her 60 s with a mobile cardiac tumor in the left atrium was referred to our hospital. The tumor was diagnosed as myxoma by echocardiography, CT scan, and MRI. Under cardiac arrest using cardiopulmonary bypass, we resected the tumor through the superior trans-septal approach. We resected two tumors (tumor 1 and 2) with adequate rims of the interatrial septum to avoid recurrence. Although the tumor had a broad base and extended to near the mitral annulus, mitral valve repair was not necessary. Tumor 1 was gelatinous and seemed to be a myxoma ; tumor 2 had a lot of papillary structures attached to the solid mass and presented with the figure of a sea anemone when it was put in saline, which is typical for papillary fibroelastomas. The defect of the interatrial septum was closed with the autologous pericardium. The postoperative course was uneventful. Unexpectedly, both tumor 1 and 2 were diagnosed as myxomas on pathological examination. Tumor 2 (papillary lesion) included a few tumor cells with positive staining of calretinin typical for myxoma and was diagnosed as a “villous-type myxoma”. Because it is difficult to distinguish myxoma from papillary fibroelastoma by pre- and intraoperative findings, it would be recommended to resect tumors with an adequate margin to prevent recurrence.

Background : Persistent endoleak is a major cause of aneurysmal enlargement or rupture after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Although several reports have described ligation of lumbar arteries and stent graft-conserving aneurysmorrhaphy as useful strategies, treatment for type II endoleak after EVAR is controversial. Objectives : We investigated the early results in 5 patients who underwent ligation of lumbar arteries and stent graft-conserving aneurysmorrhaphy for type II endoleak. Methods : A>10 mm increase in aneurysm diameter after primary EVAR or a maximum diameter>65 mm serve as indications for intervention for type II endoleak. Under general anesthesia, following transperitoneal exposure of the abdominal aorta, the infrarenal aorta was banded using a tape at the proximal landing zone. After the aorta was opened without clamping, the lumbar arteries were ligated, and a stent graft-conserving aneurysmorrhaphy was performed. Results : The mean interval from the primary EVAR was 47±17 months. The mean operation time was 215±76 min. Blood transfusion was necessary in 4 patients (estimated blood loss 1,260±710 ml). No in-hospital deaths were observed, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 26±20 days. One patient developed aspiration pneumonia and 1 developed surgical site infection post-surgery. The diameter of the aneurysm changed from 68±8 to 47±5 mm during hospitalization and decreased further to 36±7 mm at the last follow-up. Conclusions : The early results of ligation of lumbar arteries and stent graft-conserving aneurysmorrhaphy were favorable. Although this strategy could be useful for aneurysmal dilatation secondary to persistent type II endoleak after EVAR, the indications for this approach should be determined following careful evaluation of the patient's status considering the invasiveness of the procedure.