Thoracic aortic disease: Spectrum of multidetector computed tomography imaging findings

The clinical presentation of diseases involving the thoracic aorta ranges from a large number of asymptomatic patients with clinically undetectable thoracic aortic aneurysm to patients with symptoms of severe chest pain as a result of acute aortic dissection. Thoracic aortic disease often remains undiagnosed until a life-threatening complication occurs or the disease is discovered serendipitously on imaging studies performed for other purposes. Multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) imaging of the aorta is used to diagnose various acute and chronic conditions, including aortic aneurysms, aortic dissection, intramural hematoma, penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer, traumatic injury, rupture, inflammatory disorders, and congenital malformations. This review illustrates the wide range of MDCT imaging findings of thoracic aortic disease.     

Aortic root dilatation may alter the dimensions of the valve leaflets

Objective: Valve-sparing surgery can be used in patients with dilated aortic roots and aortic insufficiency (AI) but has not become a common practice, in part because the spared valve may be incompetent. Our goal was to study how the dimensions of the aortic root and leaflets have changed in such patients. Methods: Fourteen patients with dilated aortic root and AI were examined by transesophageal echocardiography. The annulus diameter, sinotubular junction (STJ) diameter, sinus height, leaflet free-edge length, and leaflet height were measured. Correlations among these dimensions and with the AI grades were explored. Measurements were also made in 19 normal human aortic valves from silicone molds. Results: There was no evident change in the average diameter of the annulus between the normal valves and those in the dilated aortic roots. The STJ diameter was obviously increased in the dilated aortic roots; the aortic sinuses also appeared to be taller and the leaflets larger than normal. The leaflet free-edge length, the leaflet height, and the sinus height were found to increase with the dilated STJ diameter. The degree of AI was not found to correlate well with any of the dimensions measured. Conclusions: The dimensions of the leaflets may change parallel to aortic root dilatation with AI. Therefore, during valve sparing, it may be necessary to correct both the dilatation of the root and the leaflet free-edge length to achieve a competent valve.     

主动脉窦瘤破裂的外科治疗：附16例报告

低温体外循环下手术治疗主动窦瘤破裂１６例，采用右房切口１例，右室流出道切口１１例，窦瘤破入腔和主动脉根部双切口４例。单纯窦瘤破口修补２例；双头垫片针窦瘤基部与空间隔踬同并列间断褥式缝合修补３例；     

主动脉窦瘤破裂的外科治疗

报告３７例主动脉窦瘤破裂手术治疗结果。着重介绍手术方法，主张采用主动脉根部和窦瘤破入心腔的双切口，切除、修补窦瘤的同时矫正合并畸形。伴主动脉瓣膜垂致中度关闭不全者，主张行主动脉瓣替换术。术后早期死亡１例，余３５例随访６个月－１４年，心功能恢复良好。     

Delayed manifestation of aortic stenosis after blunt abdominal trauma: Report of a case

Delayed manifestation of aortic stenosis caused by abdominal blunt trauma is rare. We report herein the case of a 67-year-old man who was taken to a nearby hospital after being crushed between a heavy truck and a wall. An emergency laparotomy was performed, revealing only a mesenteric tear which was repaired. He was discharged after an uneventful postoperative course; however, 1 month later he began to experience intermittent claudication, and presented to our hospital in December 1994, 1 year after the first operation. Angiography and enhanced computed tomography (CT) demonstrated infrarenal abdominal aortic dilatation with distal stenosis. Both the dilated and stenotic lesions were resected and bypass surgery was performed. Pathologic examination demonstrated that the intima had been lacerated circumferentially and everted distally, causing the aortic stenosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of the delayed manifestation of traumatic aortic stenosis to be documented in Japan. The etiology of this rare complication of blunt trauma is described in this report.     

Is There an Advantage to Repairing Infected Mitral Valves?

Background. The therapy for native mitral valve endocarditis is in evolution. Antibiotics have significantly improved survival rates, but patients with complications of endocarditis may require surgical treatment.

Methods. Between January 1985 and December 1995, 146 patients underwent surgical therapy (repair or replacement) for native mitral valve endocarditis. All patients had documented bacterial endocarditis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine predictors of hospital death, long-term event-free survival, and probability of repair. Patients were evaluated in three groups: all patients, patients with acute endocarditis, and patients with chronic endocarditis.

Results. There were ten hospital deaths (6.8%). Patients undergoing repair had a lower hospital mortality rate (p = 0.008) then those having replacement. Event-free survival was improved after mitral valve repair in the overall group (p = 0.02) and in the group with healed (chronic) endocarditis (p = 0.05). Although the acute endocarditis group demonstrated an improved event-free survival rate after mitral valve repair versus replacement (74% versus 20% at 6 years), this did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions. We conclude that mitral valve repair is preferable to mitral valve replacement when possible, in patients with complications of endocarditis, as repair results in a lower hospital mortality and an improved long-term survival.     

The efficacy of fluconazole in treating prosthetic valve endocarditis caused byCandida glabrata: Report of a case

A case of active prosthetic valve infective endocarditis (PVE) due toCandida glabrata was successfully treated by the systemic administration of fluconazole. A 66-year-old Japanese man with infective endocarditis of unknown etiology underwent aortic and mitral valve replacement to treat severe aortic and mitral regurgitation associated with multiple organ failure. Postsurgical cultures of arterial blood were repeatedly positive forC. glabrata, and therefore fluconazole was administered either intravenously or orally at a dose of 400 mg/day for 46 days. During that time the signs of inflammation including fever such as an elevated white blood cell count and the presence of C-reactive protein (CRP) all improved while the blood cultures became negative. Fluconazole is thus considered to be effective in treating PVE caused byC. glabrata. When administering this treatment, it is also important to monitor the patient's renal and liver function.     

人工心脏瓣膜感染性心内膜炎临床分析

目的　探讨人工心脏瓣膜感染性心内膜炎 (PVE)的临床特征 ,提高PVE的诊治水平。方法　通过分析 2 6例PVE的临床表现 ,分析其治疗和预后情况。结果　PVE临床不少见 ,发热是最常见的临床表现 ( 92 .3 % ) ,其次是贫血 ( 88.5% ) ,栓塞 ( 2 6.9% )。血培养和超声心动图是诊断PVE的重要手段 ,阳性率分别为 46.2 %和 73 .1%。早期PVE较晚期PVE预后差、死亡率高 ,分别为 66.7%、3 3 .3 %。主张早期、大剂量、长疗程的抗生素治疗 ,早期手术治疗可改善预后。本组病人总死亡率 3 4 .7% ,死亡原因 :心力衰竭 ( 77.8% )、栓塞 ( 2 2 .2 % )。结论　PVE预后差、死亡率高 ,应早期预防、早期诊断、早期治疗     

A new respiratory valve system for measuring oxygen uptake during swimming

We describe a new respiratory valve system with minimal dead space, which allows measurement of ventilation and oxygen uptake during swimming. The device offers considerable advantages in efficiency and accuracy over current equipment, and can be used in conjunction either with a miniaturized telemetry system for oxygen uptake measurement or with a conventional system. The valve has a low airflow resistance, a small dead space (15 ml), and an electrically operating, closed-circuit pump to remove excess water from the expiratory tube. The external form and the buoyancy of the valve have been hydrostatically and hydrodynamically designed to reduce drag and to ensure a correct mass in the water. To obtain this result a very sophisticated material, carbon fibre, has been utilized. Our studies showed that this respiratory system is ideal for obtaining valid and reliable values of oxygen uptake during swimming, even at high speed and in endurance swimming tests.