Left hepatectomy

Left hepatectomy is one of the most common types of hepatectomy. In order to perform the procedure, surgeons need to possess all the basic skills for accomplishing any liver resection. The most important points to bear in mind in relation to left hepatectomy are: (1) a precise recognition of the surgical anatomy of the vascular structures of the liver, especially the bile duct, because of the wide anatomic variations; (2) recognition that the procedure consists of the following three parts: hilar dissection, mobilization of the left liver, and liver resection; (3) an understanding that these steps need to be accomplished with great care to control bleeding and to avoid injury to the vessels supplying the right hemiliver.     

Left Ventricular Noncompaction

According to the World Health Organization classification of cardiomyopathies, left ventricular noncompaction is still an unclassified cardiomyopathy. In 2006, the American Heart Association classified this entity as a primary cardiomyopathy of genetic origin. In 2008, the European Society of Cardiology updated the classification scheme similar to the World Health Organization classification. At present, there is no consensus on the diagnostic criteria, and diagnosis is based on the morphologic features identified by cardiac imaging studies or at autopsy. Due to lack of standardization of the diagnostic criteria and little awareness of this condition among clinicians, the true prevalence of this disease is not clear. There is no specific therapy for this condition. However, it seems prognosis is much better than initially reported. The current status of diagnosis, prognosis, and management of isolated noncompaction in adults is discussed in this review.     

Left ventricular lipoma

We report the case of a 21-year-old female referred to our institution complaining of dizziness when standing up, which improved in the dorsal decubitus position and at rest, after a few minutes. The symptom, which had lasted for years, was not accompanied by vertigo, syncope, or neurological changes, but was gradually getting worse. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed a hyperechoic mass in the middle-apical region of the left ventricular posterior wall and normal pericardium. The cardiac nuclear magnetic resonance allowed the diagnosis of the left ventricular tumor suggestive of lipoma. Surgery was performed and the tumor was resected. The patient recovered well and is currently asymptomatic.     

Left Ventricular Tachycardia Originating Near the Left Main Coronary Artery

Eight patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT) underwent mapping and radiofrequency ablation. Mapping showed VT originating in the high posterolateral left ventricular outflow tract in proximity to the left main and proximal circumflex coronary arteries. Ablation was not attempted due to this proximity to the left main and proximal circumflex coronary arteries. Ablation was not attempted due to this proximity in 2 patients and limited in 1 patient. It was successful in VT suppression in 5 of 6 patients.