Between December of 1989 and May of 1993, 7 of 338 patients (2.1%) who underwent median sternotomy for cardiac operations developed mediastinitis. All of these infections caused by Staphylococcus species. Six of seven patients with mediastinitis were successfully treated with debridement, irrigation and omental transposition into the mediastinum. Between December of 1989 and May of 1992, sterile bone wax was used as a hemostatic agent in 233 of these patients. Between June of 1992 and May of 1993 an argon beam coagulator was used in place of bone wax in 105 patients. The incidence of mediastinitis significantly differed in relation to whether patients received bone wax or not (7 of 233 patients who did (3.0%) versus none in 105 patients who did not (0%) p<0.01). We conclude from this study that bone wax may be a promoting agent in postoperative mediastinitis, so the routine use of bone wax should be reconsidered.

Bypass grafting from the ascending thoracic aorta to the common iliac artery was performed to manage proximal hypertension in a patient with atypical coarctation of the thoracic aorta. The patient's history was significant for an acute aortic thrombosis at the level of the diaphragm for which she underwent an axillo-bifemoral bypass grafting as an emergency operation. Although she was doing well following the initial bypass grafting, the second bypass grafting was required to treat proximal hypertension refractory to medical management. The axillo-femoral bypass graft had a smaller diameter and a longer subcutaneous distance, and the blood supply to the abdominal viscera may have been insufficient. The proximal hypertension was well controlled following ascending thoracic aorta to common iliac bypass, because the diameter (16mm) of the graft is larger than that of the axillo-bifemoral bypass graft (8mm).

Dacron prostheses are the most widely used grafts in replacement procedures for abdominal aortic aneurysms, but they are not perfect grafts. We encountered a rare case of late graft complication. A 66-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a pulsatile mass in an abdominal operation scar. He had received placement of a Y-shaped Cooley double velour knitted Dacron graft 18 years previously. Computed tomography and angiography demonstrated graft dilatation and an aneurysm. After resection of the graft aneurysms, the operative findings showed a non-anastomotic aneurysm formation due to longitudinal division near the graft guideline. In this case, this graft failure may have been due to the deterioration of the filter of the Dacron prosthesis itself. Therefore it is important to perform careful long-term follow-up in patients with implanted Dacron arterial prostheses.

We reviewed our experience with 19mm size aortic valve prostheses for cases with small aortic annulus. Forty-six patients operated on between 1990 and Septembr 2002 were enrolled in this study. Clinical late assessment was performed to evaluate the incidence of valverelated complications, residual transprosthetic gradient, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and NYHA functional class. Postoperative echocardiography was performed to evaluate hemodynamic performance of the prostheses. Follow up was 1 to 12.7 years (mean 5.3±3.6). There was no hospital mortality (0%). Actuarial survival rates at 10 years were 81.4±1.5%. The late postoperative peak gradient was 25±11mmHg. LVMI was significantly reduced in late phase. NYHA functional class significantly improved in the late period. Although 19mm size aortic valve prosthesis remains small transprosthetic pressure gradient, LVMI significantly reduced and patient activity was satisfactory maintained in the late period.

A 59-year-old man, who had received graft replacement for the “inflammatory” abdominal aortic aneurysm two years previously was admitted to our hospital because of preshock caused by intermittent intestinal hemorrhage. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed an ulcer at the 3rd portion of the duodenum. As aortoenteric fistula was diagnosed and he underwent an emergency operation. After initial axillo-bifemoral bypass grafting, the aortic graft was removed and the aortic stump was closed directly. The duodenal rent was closed by Albert-Lembert suture, He survived the operation and was discharged. We suggest that extra-anatomic bypass is safer than in situ graft replacement in patients with secondary aortoenteric fistula after operation for “inflammatory” abdominal aortic aneurysm, because adjacent organs adhere firmly to the proximal suture line in such cases.

A 65-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of chest pain in 2012. Coronary computed tomography angiogram revealed left main coronary artery atresia (LMCAA) with congenital absence of the left main trunk, and LAD received several collaterals perfusing from the RCA. She was observed because her symptoms were transient. However, her dyspnea on effort gradually became worse in 2016. Treadmill exercise electrocardiography showed ST depression in II・III・aVF and V4-6. Also, echocardiography showed severe MR due to the prolapse of the anterior leaflet and moderate TR. We performed mitral valve plasty and tricuspid valve plasty, and coronary artery bypass grafting using the left internal thoracic artery to the left descending artery in March, 2017. The postoperative course was uneventful. She was discharged in good condition 14 days after operation. LMCAA is a rare coronary anomaly. There are only 53 published case reports, and a few surgical reports in adult cases. This is a rare adult case of surgical treatment of LMCAA.