New hepatic vein reconstruction in left liver graft.

The incidence of hepatic venous stenosis is higher in partial liver transplantation. New methods for hepatic venous reconstruction in left liver transplantation, which secure wide anastomosis, were devised and are reported here. In the graft, the right side of the middle hepatic vein or the left side of the left hepatic vein was cut longitudinally and a rectangular-shaped vein patch was attached for venoplasty. In the recipient, after the left and middle hepatic veins were joined, the right side of the middle hepatic vein was cut toward the closed right hepatic vein, making a horizontal cavotomy for anastomosis. Of 92 patients who underwent conventional hepatic vein reconstruction, 3 were complicated by hepatic venous stenosis (median follow-up 43 months). By contrast, there were no hepatic vein complications in the 20 patients who underwent the new technique (7 months). The current method appears to be technically feasible for outflow reconstruction in left liver graft transplantation.     

Combined aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting with in situ arterial grafts for porcelain aorta.

Patients with porcelain aorta carry a high risk of cerebral as well as systemic embolism during cardiac surgery. Here we describe a case of severe aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease combined with the circumferentially calcified aorta. The patient was a 77-year-old man who successfully received four coronary artery bypass grafts with in situ arterial grafts without clamping the aorta and aortic valve replacement. Aortic valve replacement and two distal coronary artery anastomoses to the left circumflex artery and obtuse marginal branch were performed under cardiac arrest during hypothermic perfusion with endoaortic balloon occlusion, followed by partial endarterectomy and closure of the aorta buttressed with bovine pericardium under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. While rewarming, the other two distal coronary anastomoses to the left anterior descending artery and diagonal branch were done on the beating heart in order to minimize cardiac arrest time. On-pump beating heart coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) can be useful especially for combined complex cardiac surgery.     

A case report of spinal epidural Ki-1 lymphoma presenting acute paraplegia without spinal cord compression at the first onset]

A 68-year-old man noticed weakness in both legs, which worsened rapidly with additional urinary disturbance. At the time of admission, a neurological examination revealed spastic paraplegia. Sensation was intact. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not show any lesions in the spinal cord. Thereafter, sensory disturbance under Th5 level and weakness in both hands developed gradually. Seven months after the onset, he noticed pain of the right upper arm. MRI showed an epidural mass at the level between the lower cervical and the upper thoracic spine. Histological examination of the epidural mass revealed Ki-1 lymphoma. In this case, the diagnosis was difficult, because lymphoma did not present epidural mass in the early stage. We speculate that spinal epidural lymphoma might disturb venous circulation and cause myelopathy in this patient.     

MRI of ossification of ligamentum flavum.

Magnetic resonance imaging of 28 patients with radiological and/or histopathologically proved ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) was reviewed. The locations of OLF were cervical (n = 4), thoracic (n = 22), and lumbar (n = 2). On T1- and T2-weighted images, OLF demonstrated low signal intensity. Areas of high or intermediate signal intensity within the OLF on T1-weighted images were observed in three cases and were interpreted to be due to fat infiltration. In six cases, high intensity areas in the spinal cord caused by compressing OLF were demonstrated on T2-weighted images. Gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid, which was used in four cases, showed cord enhancement at the level of compression by OLF in three cases.     

Experimental evaluation for tricuspid annular constriction with the model of tricuspid annular dilatation

We have obtained the good result about tricuspid annular constriction (TAC) for secondary tricuspid insufficiency. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of TAC for the experimental model of tricuspid annular dilatation. First of all, tricuspid annular dilatation was made surgically in 8 mongrel dogs by placing 8 incisions to tricuspid annulus except septal cusp under the condition of heart-lung preparation. On clinical evaluation, septal annulus was kept to be intact in many cases compared with the two other areas. This experimental model of tricuspid annular dilatation was considered to be substituted to the clinical model of tricuspid annular dilatation. TAC suture was surrounded circumferentially around the dilated tricuspid annulus. And then, TAC suture was pulled out from the right atrial wall, and the circumferential length of tricuspid annulus was completely accommodated by pulling the TAC suture. The hemodynamic status was observed by right atrial pressure (V wave and mean) and right ventricular end-diastolic pressure (RVEDP). After heart resuscitation and gradual increase of preload, right atrial pressure was significantly elevated especially right atrial pressure (V wave) compared with control values. When 2 cm of circumferential length of tricuspid annulus on an average was constricted by shortening of TAC suture, right atrial pressure was significantly decreased, and then RVEDP tended to decrease. It was shown that TAC was an effective operative technique for the secondary tricuspid annular dilatation and tricuspid insufficiency from the standpoint of experimental aspect as well as clinical results.     

Surgical treatment of aortic arch aneurysm associated with the aberrant right subclavian artery

A 64-year-old man, who had an aneurysm of aortic arch associated with the aberrant right subclavian artery, was treated successfully. He was pointed out to have an aneurysm of aortic arch three years ago. Three years later angiograms and computed tomography revealed that it became larger compared with the initial finding. He underwent a replacement of the aortic arch using a woven Dacron graft under open distal method. Aberrant subclavian artery was not involved in the aneurysm. But because the left subclavian artery was involved in it, a woven Dacron graft was interposed between the ascending aorta and left subclavian artery. Postoperative course was uneventful and there were no complications.     

Effects of alminoprofen on the allergic reactions

The effects of alminoprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, on the experimental animal models of allergic reactions were examined and compared with those of ibuprofen. Alminoprofen at 30 mg/kg given intraduodenally significantly suppressed passive anaphylactic bronchoconstrictions, while ibuprofen did not at the same doses. In vitro studies revealed that alminoprofen, in contrast to ibuprofen, exerted an inhibitory effect on arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase activity which initiates the bio-synthesis of leukotrienes. Alminoprofen inhibited arachidonic acid-induced ear edema in mice and homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats at high doses, while ibuprofen did not at the high doses. From its characteristic feature of inhibitory effects on 5-lipoxygenase activity and the experimental model of type I allergic reaction, it is suggested that alminoprofen is a new type of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent.     

Insulinoma: Selective arterial calcium injection performed to confirm localization and complete resection

A case of insulinoma is reported in a patient in whom selective arterial calcium injection (SACI) tests were performed both to confirm tumor localization before surgery and to confirm complete tumor removal during surgery. An 18-year-old woman with hypoglycemic episodes was diagnosed with an insulinoma in the pancreatic body demonstrated by celiac arteriography. In a preoperative SACI test, calcium was injected into the splenic artery (SpA), gastroduodenal artery (GDA), and superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Serum immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and proinsulin levels were measured in hepatic venous samples. IRI was markedly increased after the injection of calcium into the GDA and SMA, while there was no response in IRI levels when calcium was injected into the SpA. Therefore, no occult insulinoma was revealed in the distal area fed by the SpA, although the presence of insulinoma was uncertain in the proximal pancreas. In the intraoperative SACI test, calcium was injected into the celiac artery. Insulin (determined by enzyme immunoassay) and proinsulin levels were measured in portal venous samples before and after resection of the tumor. After resection, these levels decreased in response to the calcium stimuli, confirming complete removal of the insulinoma. The SACI test was helpful to localize the insulinoma and was useful to confirm the complete removal of the tumor.