We assessed the late aortic reoperation after surgery for type A acute aortic dissection (AAAD). Subjects were 108 consecutive patients with AAAD who underwent surgery by routine aortic arch replacement using geratin-resorcin-formalin-glutaraldehyde (GRF) glue between January 1996 and December 2010. Seven of the 94 patients who were discharged after the initial repair of AAAD required reoperation for the residual aorta. Reoperations included 4 procedures on the distal aorta and 3 procedures on the proximal aorta (aortic root or ascending aorta) at a mean interval of 6.1±3.5 (0.9∼13.7) years after initial surgery. There were no hospital reoperation-related deaths. Freedom from reoperation was 96% and 89% at 5 and 10 years. In conclusion, the use of GRF glue may influence the risk of reoperation after surgery for AAAD, but our results showed that there were very few of such cases. Furthermore, routine aortic arch replacement for AAAD may reduce late aortic reoperations after surgery by eliminating possible risks of residual tear at the transverse arch.

A 24-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta suffered in a traffic accident. On admission, he had recovered from shock and was alert. Chest CT showed massive hematoma around the total extent of the descending aora and the intimal flap at the diatal descending aorta. We performed an emergency operation. Through left thoracotomy, we found dilatation of the descending aorta. Epiaortic echo revealed that the aortic intima was completely transecred between Th 10 and Th 11. The pseudoaneurysm was replaced with a Hemashield vascular graft under partial cardiopulmonary bypass. The intercostal artery was preserved. His postoperative course was uneventful and paraplegia was not seen. We reported a rare case of traumatic rupture of the distal descending thoracic aorta above the diaphragm followed by successful surgical treatment.

The survival rate of patients with cardiac rupture due to a blunt trauma is low, therefore it is necessary to have a well-defined diagnostic and treatment plan in order to improve the survival rate. In 8 such patients transthoracic echocardiograms at the time of arrival at our hospital showed pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade in all patients. The mean time between suffering the injury and arriving at the hospital was 186±185min, and the mean time between arrival and being brought to the operating room was 82±49min. Preoperative pericardial drainage was performed in 2 patients, and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support system was used in 2 patients. The rupture site was in the right atrium in 3 patients, the right atrium-inferior vena cava in 1 patient, the right ventricle in 2 patients, the left atrium in 1 patient, and the left ventricle in 1 patient. Extracorporeal circulation was used in 4 patients, and the injured site was repaired. We were thus able to save the lives of 6 of the 8 patients (survival rate 75%). Transthoracic echocardiography was easy to perform and effective for making an accurate diagnosis. Many such patients tend to have multiple traumas, but, if the patient is in a state of shock due to cardiac tamponade, the patient should be moved immediately to the operating room. It is important to provide circulatory maintenance until surgery, and pericardial drainage and PCPS are also effective additional treatment modalities.

We report two cases, a 58-year-old male and a 60-year-old female with acute aortic occlusion probably ascribable to intracardiac thrombosis associated with atrial fibrillation. Thrombectomy was performed at about 5.5 hours and 4 hours respectively, after the onset of occlusion, and revascularization was successful. To prevent MNMS after revascularization, about 2, 000ml of blood was taken from the femoral vein of the male patient, and 1, 000ml of blood from the female patient, and this blood was returned in the form of abluted erythrocytes in transfusion through a cell saver to the patients. We suspected slight myoglobinuria after the operations, but they did not develop MNMS because a urine volume of about 3, 000ml was maintained by administration of infusion solution and diuretics and by replenishment of electrolytes and correction of acidosis. It was concluded that the technique involving the removal of a large volume of blood from distal veins and its transfusion through a cell saver was effective in preventing MNMS.

A 72-year-old woman suffered sudden back pain 42 days after ascending aortic replacement for retrograde acute type A aortic dissection. Computed tomography (CT) revealed type B aortic dissection and a stenotic true lumen at the abdominal aorta. The celiac artery and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) branched from the true lumen, but bilateral renal arteries were not found by DSA. Infrarenal abdominal aortic fenestration was performed at 6th day from onset, because of progressive renal dysfunction. Intestinal ischemia was not confirmed by laparotomy. After the Infrarenal aorta was clamped and transected, the proximal intima was resected in a U-shape. The proximal stump which was reinforced with teflon felt was anastomosed to an 18mm woven graft. Distal anastomosis was carried to the true lumen was carried out with closure of the false lumen. Regaining flow into the collapsed true lumen was observed by epiaortic echography. Postoperatively, continuous hemofiltration was required for several days until renal dysfunction was improved. CT showed reasonable expansion of the true lumen, and no findings of visceral ischemia except for partial infarction of the left kidney. DSA revealed that bilateral renal arteries were perfused from the true lumen through the fenestration. Neither aortic dilatation nor new ischemia have been recognized, but further close observation is necessary.

A 72-year-old woman who had undergone three atrial catheter ablations for chronic atrial fibrillation was referred for surgical treatment for severe atrial functional mitral regurgitation. She suffered not only dyspnea but also dysphagia due to esophagus compression by a giant left atrium 15×12×11 centimeters in size. In her surgery, mitral valve repair using a 36-millimeter artificial ring, tricuspid annuloplasty and resection of the left atrial appendage were performed. In addition, the posterior, lateral, and superior wall of left atrium, 4 centimeters in width, was extensively resected to reduce left atrial volume. Postoperative echocardiography showed a decrease in both mitral and tricuspid regurgitation to trivial levels as well as an improvement in left ventricular diastolic function. Postoperatively her dysphagia disappeared and NYHA class improved from III to I. In her chest X ray, the cardiothoracic ratio fell from 80% to 56%, and the tracheal bifurcation angle decreased from 110 to 90 degrees. In a patient with a giant left atrium due to atrial functional mitral regurgitation, a favorable clinical outcome resulted from double valve repair combined with extensive left atrial resection.