Perioperative changes of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in surgically treated cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) were investigated. A retrospective review of 34 patients of AAA who underwent operation was carried out. All patients received cardiac catheterization before the AAA operation. ANP and BNP were measured on the preoperative day, postoperative day (POD) 1 and POD 2, respectively. Twenty-two cases were complicated by ischemic heart disease (IHD). In all cases of AAA, ANP and BNP increased significantly at POD 1 and POD 2. The levels of ANP and BNP in the AAA with IHD group were significantly higher than those in the AAA without IHD group at all points. These results suggest that postoperative care for cardiac overload during the AAA operation is especially needed for patients with IHD.

A 28-year-old man visited the emergency department of our hospital with a chief complaint of palpitation and chest pain. The patient had undergone 4 operations at other hospitals for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), left pulmonary atresia, an aberrant right coronary artery, and a right aortic arch. As a result of thorough investigations, we suspected that the cause of the patient's symptoms was an excess of the right ventricular pressure over the left ventricular pressure, which was caused by right ventricular compression resulted from an abnormal mass on the anterior surface of the right ventricle, and by pulmonary stenosis (PS) associated with right ventricular outflow tract stenosis (RVOTS). Excision of the mass, right ventricular outflow restoration (RVOTR), and pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) were indicated. The mass on the anterior surface of the right ventricular was found to have been caused by retention of serous fluid in the interstice formed by a folded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) pericardial sheet. An ePTFE pericardial sheet, which is used to supplement the pericardium, has been reported to have advantages with respect to prevention of adhesion, denaturation of pericardial substitutes, and inflammatory thickening and adhesion of the epicardium, compared with other materials used as pericardial substitutes. However, epicardial thickening has been noted with the use of ePTFE pericardial sheets, and hence, its use is currently avoided in many cases. This case presents an extremely rare pathology in which the inflammatory reaction of the epicardium caused by an ePTFE pericardial sheet is suspected to have caused serous components to become tightly encapsulated in the interstice formed by the folded patch ; no definite cause was identified. Thus far, no other such case has been reported, and ePTFE pericardial sheets should be used with caution.

Lambl's excrescences are the fibrous structures which are attached to the heart valve, and usually the presence of Lambl's excrescences alone is not an indication of operation. The operative indications of isolated Lambl's excrescence is still controversial, because some reports indicated cross relationship between Lambl's excrescences and cerebral embolism. Based on these facts, we discussed our 3 cases of Lambl's excrescences. Two of the cases had been complicated with severe mitral regurgitation and Lambl's excrescences were resected at the time of mitral valve plasty. In another case, Lambl's excrescence was found with echocardiography during chronic heart failure therapy. This patient had a past history of cerebral infarction, but no relationship of cerebral infarction was suggested. In this case, cardiac surgery was not required, so we followed isolated Lambl's excrescence without resection in this case. One operated case, which had infective endocarditis was suspected by echocardiography, had slighted inflammatory reaction but blood culture was negative. Diagnosis of Lambl's excrescence was made by histopathological examination. One report suggested that the cause of the cerebral infarction is not Lambl's excrescence itself but the thrombi around Lambl's excrescence. However, we hesitate to operate on isolated Lambl's excrescence. Based on some reports, it is useful to resect Lambl's excrescence when a concurrent cardiac operation is carried out to avoid cerebral embolic events.

A 79-year-old woman had undergone mitral valve replacement (Omnicarbon (OC) valve : 31 mm) due to rheumatic mitral stenosis with regurgitation and tricuspid annuloplasty at the age of 54. The patient developed anemia and congestive heart failure with pleural effusion and an elevated LDH level in 25 years late up without any valve-related cardiac event. Echocardiography revealed perivalvular leakage near the anterolateral commissure. The patient received re-mitral valve replacement (CEP valve : 25 mm) and a tricuspid valve ring annuloplasty (MC³ Tricuspid ring : 28 mm). The annulus was covered with marked calcification and fibrosis with a partial deficit at the anterior part of antero-lateral commissure. Despite the thorough pathological examination, we could not clarify the etiology of sudden onset of hemolysis.The patient was discharged uneventfully on the 28th day after operation. In general, the OC valve can work without serious complications for a long time. We report a rare case of perivalvular leakage 25 years after mitral valve replacement with hemolysis and congestive heart failure.

A case of combined redo off-pump CABG (OPCAB) with right gastroepiploic artery and abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is reported. A 71-year-old man with a previous history of CABG was admitted for the operation of recurrent angina pectoris and known abdominal aortic aneurysm. Preoperative coronary angiograms showed obstruction of LITA graft for LAD. The operative procedure consisted of redo OPCAB using right gastroepiploic artery as a transdiaphragmatic graft under left antero-lateral thoracotomy and graft replacement of abdominal aortic aneurysm under median laparotomy simultaneously. This strategy has the advantage of avoiding the continuity of median sternotomy and laparotomy and contributes to the minimally invasive procedure in the combined operation.

A 77-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a decreased level of consciousness and left hemiplegia. Contrast-enhanced CT showed acute type A aortic dissection and right common carotid artery occlusion. Electrocardiogram findings showed ST segment elevation in the anterolateral wall. The results suggested that the aortic dissection had extended to the left main trunk and caused acute myocardial infarction. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed preoperatively to improve myocardial ischemia reperfusion. After a successful PCI, the patient underwent ascending aorta replacement immediately. In cases of acute aortic dissection involving the left main artery, preoperative PCI prevents extensive myocardial damage and serves as a bridge to surgery.

A 73-year-old woman presented at our hospital with dyspnea. Echocardiography showed severe aortic stenosis and a coronary angiography revealed right coronary artery disease. Therefore, we performed aortic valve replacement (AVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. Proximal anastomosis was initially attempted to the ascending aorta. However, the ascending aorta was thin and weak, we decided to anastomose to the side of the aortic arch. Proximal anastomosis was performed with an anastomotic device. Postoperative coronary computed tomography (CT) showed that the graft was patent.

A 67-year-old man with dyspnea at rest was diagnosed with acute heart failure and admitted to our hospital. Echocardiogram showed severe AR, and CT implied an ascending aortic aneurysm and abnormal space in the aortic root. The patient underwent emergent surgery for suspected acute aortic dissection. Intraoperative findings showed the dehiscence of commissure of the aortic valve, and more, the abnormal space in the aortic root was not due to acute aortic dissection but an aortic subannular left ventricular aneurysm. The aneurysm was sutured and closed, and after that, aortic valve replacement and ascending aortic replacement were performed. Although subannular left ventricular aneurysm is a rare disease, it is important to carry out the preoperative evaluation considering the existence of such diseases.

Left ventricle to right atrial communication is a rare cardiac pathology, and it is either congenital or acquired. Recently, case reports of acquired left ventricle to right atrial communication have been increasing because of the increased numbers of cardiovascular procedures and improved cardiac diagnostic techniques. We report a case of acquired left ventricle to right atrial communication in a patient with native aortic valve infective endocarditis. A 52-year-old man with worsening dyspnea on exertion and lower leg edema was admitted to a hospital. Blood examination revealed elevated inflammatory marker levels, and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed an aortic valve vegetation. The patient was subsequently transferred to our hospital for infective endocarditis with congestive heart failure. Medical treatment with antibiotics and diuretics was initiated. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) demonstrated left ventricle to right atrial communication. An urgent operation was performed wherein the defect was closed with autologous pericardial patches from both the right atrium and left ventricle. Aortic valve replacement was performed with a mechanical valve. The postoperative course was uneventful, and TTE showed no residual shunt. In our case, cardiac CT was useful for accurately diagnosing left ventricle to right atrial communication.