A 58 year-old man was referred to our hospital with a fever after dental treatment. He had undergone an operation for aortic root replacement 9 months earlier. Streptococcus species were cultured with venous blood culture. An echocardiogram revealed vegetation attached to the prosthetic valve. The prosthetic valve function was good and he did not suffer from heart failure, therefore he was treated with antibiotics. Five days after starting antibiotics, we observed embolization of the brain and the kidney as well as an elevation of his inflammatory reaction. Accordingly, we performed emergency surgery. There was no paravalvular abscess or valve dysfunction, so we simply resected the vegetation and debrided the surrounding tissue. Post-surgical antibiotic therapy was continued for 5 weeks and then he was switched to oral medication. Three years after surgery, he is free from any PVE recurrence.

We report a rare case of severe aortic regurgitation after mitral valve replacement (MVR) and tricuspid annuloplasty (TAP). An 83-year-old woman underwent MVR and TAP for mitral regurgitation and secondary tricuspid regurgitation. The early postoperative course was not eventful until 6 days after surgery. However, 7 days after surgery, she suffered from acute heart failure and transthoracic echocardiography showed severe aortic regurgitation. We performed a second operation 13 days after the first surgery. Intraoperatively, we found the annulus suture of the TAP just under the NCC-RCC commissure of the aortic valve. We speculated that the suture pulled the aortic valve annulus, resulting in severe aortic regurgitation. We removed the suture and replaced the aortic valve with bioprosthetic artificial valve. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and she was discharged 22 days after the second surgical procedure.

We report a rare case of paraplegia after emergency total arch replacement for type A acute aortic dissection. A 52-year-old man was referred to our hospital for acute aortic dissection. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a type A aortic dissection extending from the aortic root into the right iliac arteries. The true lumen of the descending and abdominal aorta was collapsed and blood flow to the right lower limb had decreased. Large entry and re-entry tears were revealed in the ascending and distal arch aorta, respectively. His preoperative consciousness was clear, hemodynamics were stable, and there was no evidence of paraplegia or paraparesis. Extracorporeal circulation was established by femoral artery and right atrium cannulation. Total arch replacement was performed under moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (lowest bladder temperature : 21.9°C). The postoperative course was uneventful and he was extubated 6 h postoperatively. Postoperative hemodynamic parameters were stable, the mean blood pressure was maintained at around 70 mmHg, and limb movements were confirmed at that time. Although there was no abnormality of lower limb movement until the following morning, paraplegia occurred about 17 h after surgery. While maintaining a mean blood pressure of over 90 mmHg, urgent cerebrospinal drainage was immediately performed and combined with steroid treatment and a continuous infusion of naloxone. The neurological defect was resolved immediately after cerebrospinal drainage, and neurological function steadily improved through rehabilitation. He was discharged 20 days after surgery with no neurological defects. Late paraplegia after total replacement for type A acute aortic dissection is a rare complication. From our experience, it is suggested that early diagnosis and treatment are important for improving paraplegia.

Infective endocarditis of the aortic valve tends to cause structural damage such as aortic root abscess, and aortic valve replacement is the standard treatment. However, there have been several reports on aortic valve repair for the treatment of infective endocarditis, and it has subsequently emerged as a feasible alternative to aortic valve replacement in selected patients. We report a case of aortic valve repair for infective endocarditis of the aortic valve caused by α-hemolytic Streptococcus. A 50-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a two-month history of fever of unidentified origin. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed infective endocarditis of the aortic valve. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed vegetation in the right coronary and non-coronary cusps, and mild aortic regurgitation. Although infection was controlled by approximately one month of antibiotic treatment, there was markedly more severe aortic regurgitation compared to the previous examination. These findings were confirmed on transesophageal echocardiography, and residual vegetation on the right coronary cusp as well as a perforation in the non-coronary cusp were confirmed. Intraoperative findings revealed a perforation in the non-coronary cusp and dehiscence, with vegetation on the right coronary cusp. The vegetation was carefully removed, the non-coronary cusp perforation was repaired with a pericardium patch, and the defect on the right coronary cusp was directly sutured with 6-0 polypropylene. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed trivial aortic regurgitation. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged 7 days after surgery without any complications. Antibiotics were prescribed for 3 months, and transthoracic echocardiography was performed 5 days, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. No evidence of recurrence of aortic regurgitation or infection of the aortic valve was observed.

Reoperative valve surgery is known to be more complex and associated with increased morbidity and mortality, especially for patients with patent coronary artery bypass grafts. A 69-year old man with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting was referred to our hospital with breathing difficulties and a heart murmur. Bypass grafts were all patent, but due to severe ischemic mitral valve regurgitation, we performed beating heart mitral valve replacement via right thoracotomy. The procedure was performed with video assistance, and both the anterior and the posterior chordae tendineae were preserved. The postoperative course was uneventful. He was discharged 7 days after surgery without any complications. This technique is a safe and feasible option for a mitral valve reoperation that avoids graft injuries, minimizes the risks of bleeding, and shortens the operative time.