A 38-year-old man underwent surgery for impending rupture of an inflammatory celiac artery aneurysm with a maximum diameter of about 50 mm. First, an extra-anatomical bypass was performed from the iliac arteries to the celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery and bilateral renal artery using ringed ePTFE grafts. Second, the celiac artery aneurysm at the distal site was directly closed and then a stent graft was placed in the abdominal aorta to cover the orifice of the celiac artery. An endovascular stent graft treatment combined with extra-anatomical bypass is useful for the treatment of inflammatory aneurysm to avoid the various surgical complications in Behçet syndrome.

A 46-year-old man was given a diagnosis of hypertension about 20 years previously. At age 41, aortitis syndrome was diagnosed, with descending thoracic aortic aneurysm and the coarctation of abdominal aorta by CT scan. He then underwent surgery to replace the descending thoracic aortic aneurysm and right axillo-bifemoral bypass. Recently, a thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm was pointed out at the distal site of the graft and, he was referred to our institute. We occluded the distal end of the aneurysm using an endoluminal occlusion stent graft. Today, in most cases of aortopathy associated with aortitis syndrome, surgical replacement of the aneurysms and extra-anatomical bypass is performed. An endovascular stent graft treatment combined with extra-anatomical bypass could be useful for various aortic disorders.

Purpose: In Japan, only a few studies reported self-management systems of narcotic drugs among hospitalized patients. Our purpose was to develop a self-management system for patients and assess its effectiveness. Methods: Based on the results of a questionnaire administered to our hospital medical staff, methods of selecting eligible patients and methods of self-management of narcotic drugs were determined by a multi-professional team. Selection criteria for eligible patients were: 1) satisfactory results on assessment of the patient's ability to self-manage orally-administered drugs; 2) satisfactory results on assessment of the patient's ability to self-manage narcotic drugs; 3) physician's consent was obtained; and 4) the patient wanted to participate in this program. After the period of self-management of drug administration, questionnaires were distributed to the patients and medical staff in the general ward. Results: One hundred hospitalized patients used narcotic drugs between April 2008 and March 2009. Among them, 26 patients met the criteria for self-management of narcotic drugs, and 20 voluntarily participated in the program. There were no reports of missing or stolen drugs. There were no reports of administration of incorrect dose of the drug during the self-management period (average 15.0 days). Ninety-four percent of the self-managing patients provided positive feedback about self-management of narcotic drugs, such as mental stability by having drugs on hand and no problems in self-management. Seventy-five percent of staff members answered that the self-management system of narcotic drugs should be continued. Conclusion: Our results suggest that this system of narcotic drug self-management is safe and appropriate. Palliat Care Res 2010; 5(1): 114-126

A 62-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dextrocardia on her chest X-ray film. She had been in good health though the X-ray abnormality had been pointed out from her childhood. Echocardiogram, magnetic resonance imaging, and cardiac catheterization revealed situs inversus, congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, and severe tricuspid valve (systemic atrioventricular valve) regurgitation with mild systemic ventricular dysfunction. The surgeon stood on the patient's left side during the operation. On cardiopulmonary bypass, the tricuspid valve, facing almost dorsally, was exposed through a superior transseptal approach. Tricuspid valve replacement with a mechanical valve was performed with leaflet preservation. Systemic ventricular function is preserved at one year after operation.

A 65-year-old man was admitted with subacute myocardial infarction. During medical treatment, the patient lost consciousness as a result of an atrioventricular block and underwent an operation for an emergency percutaneous coronary intervention in the right coronary artery. In a follow-up examination, transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography showed a left ventricular pseudo-false aneurysm, and therefore another operation was carried out. The operative findings showed that the heart markedly adhered to the pericardium and the aneurysm at the apex. The patient then underwent a double-patch closure of the ruptured point using an equine pericardial patch and a Dacron patch. No perioperative complication was observed. Left ventricular pseudo-false aneurysm is a rare complication following myocardial infarction. Here, we report a successful case of a double-patch closure of a pseudo-false aneurysm.

Objective : The aim of this study is to describe a series of patients undergoing reoperation due to hemolytic anemia after mitral valve surgery and assess the mechanisms and surgical outcomes. Methods : Between 2009 and 2014, we performed redo mitral valve surgery in 11 patients who had refractory hemolytic anemia after mitral valve surgery at Kyoto University Hospital. The mean age of the patients was 72.2±6.8 years old, and there were 5 men. Results : Preoperative echocardiography demonstrated that only 3 patients had ≥ grade 3 mitral regurgitation (MR), the rest of the patients had only mild to moderate MR. The mechanisms of severe hemolysis included paravalvular leakage (PVL) after mitral valve replacement (MVR) in 8 patients, structural valve deterioration (SVD) after MVR using a bioprosthesis in one, and residual/recurrent mitral regurgitation after mitral valve plasty (MVP) in two. All the patients except one (re-MVP) underwent MVR. The mean interval between previous operation and current operation was 14.1±9.4 years in post-MVR cases, and 2.0±1.9 years in post-MVP cases. There were three late deaths, one of which was due to cardiac death (exacerbation of heart failure due to pneumonia). There was one patient who required re-MVR for recurrent hemolysis due to PVL after MVR. Conclusion : Although hemolytic anemia after mitral valve surgery is rare, it often requires reoperation regardless of the degree of MR at late follow-up period. Thus, patients after mitral valve surgery should be carefully followed-up.

Spinal cord ischemia is a very rare and unpredictable complication in surgery of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. A 65-year-old man who had a history of CABG (LITA-LAD, LITA-Y composite RA-OM) underwent resection of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Postoperatively, he developed paraplegia and hypoesthesia with associated fecal incontinence. Reduction of collateral flows of patent lumbar arteries probably caused serious ischemia of the spinal cord. A standard infra-renal abdominal aorta surgery still has the risk of postoperative paraplegia, which should be incorporated in the preoperative informed consent.

A 20-year-old man suddenly complained of back pain and bilateral lower limb weakness. Computed tomography showed acute type B aortic dissection. The patent false lumen extended from distal arch to the left common iliac artery. The true lumen was severely compressed by the false lumen and both legs were ischemic. He underwent emergency fenestration of the abdominal aorta and stenting of the left iliac artery. Although the lower limbs ischemia was improved, he developed myonephropathic metabolic syndrome and received plasma exchange, continuous hemodialysis and endotoxin absorption therapy. Thirteen days after the operation, intestinal ischemia occurred and he underwent emergency bowel resection with creation of a stoma. Development of dissection to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and the malperfusion of SMA by severe compression of the true lumen were thought to cause intestinal ischemia.

A 67-year-old man was given a diagnosis of lung cancer and thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). We first performed thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR), and then right lower lobectomy for lung cancer. TEVAR shortened the operation time and yielded less operative damage. Therefore, TEVAR can be an effective choice for simultaneous surgery of TAA and lung cancer.

An 84-year-old man, who had been given a diagnosis of advanced aortoventricular block 2 years previously, underwent implantation of a pacemaker (PM) through the left subclavian vein. However, 7 months later a skin ulcer developed at the implantation site, but without any evidence of bacterial infection. Therefore, a PTFE-covered PM battery was reimplanted at the same site. Three months later, the skin ulcer recurred and he received a third implantation in the right side. However, another skin ulcer with infection developed in the right side. He was then transferred to our hospital for another PM reimplantation. We covered the battery and the entire lead with PTFE, then placed the PM lead directly into the cardiac muscle, and implanted the PM battery below the rectal muscle under general anesthesia. A patch test 4 months later revealed a positive reaction to nickel and silicon. Finally, we diagnosed pacemaker dermatitis. The patient has remained free of skin ulcers for over 1 year.