Endoscopic resection is a widely accepted method of treating early laryngeal malignancies. Accurate histological assessment of resected laryngeal specimens can be difficult due to their small size and potential damage and distortion caused by standard orientation and processing techniques. A new technique is described which employs dehydrated cucumber to mount laryngeal specimens for orientation and processing. This technique is quick, easy, cheap and reliable, allowing accurate histological assessment of potentially malignant lesions. Better orientating and processing of laryngeal specimens can optimise treatment decisions based on histological results.
Background: Infective endocarditis remains associated with substantial mortality and morbidity rates, and the presence of acute heart failure (AHF) compromises clinical results after valve surgery; however, little is known in cardiogenic shock (CGS) patients. This study evaluated the clinical results and risk of mortality in CGS patients after valve surgery. Methods and Results: This study enrolled 585 patients who underwent valve surgery for active endocarditis at 14 institutions between 2009 and 2017. Of these patients, 69 (12%) were in CGS, which was defined as systolic blood pressure <80 mmHg and severe pulmonary congestion, requiring mechanical ventilation and/or mechanical circulatory support, preoperatively. The predictors of CGS were analyzed, and clinical results of patients with non-CGS AHF (n=215) were evaluated and compared. Staphylococcus aureus infection (odds ratio [OR] 2.19; P=0.044), double valve involvement (OR 3.37; P=0.003), and larger vegetation (OR 1.05; P=0.036) were risk factors for CGS. Hospital mortality occurred in 27 (13%) non-CGS AHF patients and in 15 (22%) CGS patients (P=0.079). Overall survival at 1 and 5 years in CGS patients was 76% and 69%, respectively, and there were no significant differences in overall survival compared with non-CGS AHF patients (P=1.000). Conclusions: Clinical results after valve surgery in CGS patients remain challenging; however, mid-term results were equivalent to those of non-CGS AHF patients.
Calcified amorphous tumor is a rare intracavitary cardiac lesion and an accompanying infection is extremely rare. A 76-year-old woman was transferred to our hospital because of cerebral infarction. Echocardiography and chest computed tomography showed a calcified large mobile mass on the posterior mitral valve that was diagnosed with a calcified amorphous tumor. Moderate aortic regurgitation and severe mitral regurgitation were also confirmed. Her blood culture detected Gamella sp. We surgically dissected this infective calcified amorphous tumor. The border between this infective tumor and the mitral annulus was unclear because of severe infection and necrotic tissue. After careful complete resection, the healthy ventricular muscle was exposed and we performed annular reconstruction with bovine pericardial patches. And we replaced the aortic and mitral valves using bioprosthesis. While weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, however, left ventricular rupture occurred twice. Despite successful repair of left ventricular rupture, which controlled bleeding, she died from multi-organ failure on postoperative day 6. An infective calcified amorphous tumor in such a critical case has not been reported previously. The calcified amorphous tumor probably become serious when the infection occurred. In this situation, the utmost caution should be paid to the patient. Learning objectiveCalcified amorphous tumor (CAT) is a rare non-neoplastic intracavitary cardiac lesion. There have been some reports of CATs but they are extremely rare with accompanying infection or critical situations. Our patient was a 76-year-old female with infective CAT who suffered from cerebral infarction, and she died from multi-organ failure despite best surgical treatment. CAT probably become serious when the infection occurred. In this situation, the utmost caution should be paid to the patient.
Background: Werner's syndrome is an autosomal recessive rare genetic disorder characterized by clinical features suggestive of accelerated aging caused by mutation of the WRN gene. Although some reports exist of aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis in patients with Werner's syndrome, case using annular patch enlargement for a small aortic annulus are rare. We report herein the rare case of a patient with Werner's syndrome and severe aortic stenosis treated by aortic valve replacement with annular patch enlargement. Case presentation: A 55-year-old woman genetically diagnosed with Werner's syndrome suffered from symptomatic severe aortic stenosis with small annulus. Elective aortic valve replacement was performed. Intraoperatively the aortic annulus measured < 16 mm in diameter. Nicks technique for aortic root enlargement using a Hemashield patch was performed and an 18-mm mechanical valve was successfully inserted. After being discharged home her postoperative course was satisfactory for 2 years. Conclusions: Aortic valve replacement with annular patch enlargement to treat a small aortic annulus in a patient with Werner's syndrome was successful. Treatment strategy must be determined while considering of the patient's age, physical status, and severity of complications.
Objective Mitral valve (MV) repair is a well-accepted surgical approach for infective endocarditis (IE). In our hospital, extensive MV reconstruction with fresh autologous pericardium (AP) and artificial chordae (AC) has been performed for patients with profoundly extensive and destructive IE in which valve reconstruction would be extremely challenging, especially in young patients to avoid mechanical valve replacement. Long-term outcome including the future performance of the newly created leaflet has not been established. Methods Five patients (54 (38–60) years of age; 3 men, 2 women) underwent this procedure from January 2011 to April 2022. In all patients, preoperative cardiac function was good (left ventricular ejection fraction, 69 (66–75)). After complete debridement of the infective valve tissue, the MV was reconstructed with large, fresh, trimmed AP and AC. Results The reconstructed leaflets were anterior in three patients and posterior in four, and AC were placed in four patients. All patients showed an uneventful postoperative course and were discharged to home 36 (28–42) days postoperatively after completion of intravenous antibiotic therapy. Pre-discharge echocardiography revealed no or trivial mitral regurgitation (MR) in all patients. The median follow-up period was 9.6 (6.0–10.4) years, and no patients developed recurrence of the IE. The latest echocardiography in four patients showed trivial/mild MR with good leaflet function. One patient developed recurrence of MR, 5 months postoperatively. Conclusions The short- and long-term outcomes of this procedure might be acceptable. This procedure might be considered as an effective and valuable option, especially in young patients.
Background: Persistent left superior vena cava is a not uncommon congenital vascular abnormality. We report a case of heart transplantation with reconstruction of persistent left superior vena cava using a prosthetic vascular graft. Case presentation: A 20-year-old man with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and persistent left superior vena cava underwent orthotopic heart transplantation 2 years and 3 months after left ventricular assist device implantation. Because the persistent left superior vena cava had a larger diameter than the right superior vena cava, the transected persistent left superior vena cava was reconstructed with a prosthetic vascular graft anastomosed to the free wall of the right atrium. Postoperative enhanced computed tomography revealed good patency of the graft. The patient's postoperative course has been uneventful during 2 years of follow-up, despite the risk of complications. Conclusions: Reconstruction of a persistent left superior vena cava with a prosthetic vascular graft may be one option at the time of heart transplantation.
Background The recent remarkable development of cardiac imaging technology for unroofed coronary sinus syndrome has led to accurate preoperative diagnosis. We report a case of unroofed coronary sinus syndrome repaired via a minimally invasive approach, under the excellent command of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. Case presentation A 77-year-old woman with hypertension was admitted for aggravation of bilateral leg edema and diagnosed with type III unroofed coronary sinus syndrome with Qp/Qs ratio of 1.6:1. The unroofed portion was detected at the atrial side between P2 and P3 of posterior mitral leaflet by preoperative three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. Right minithoracotomy was performed at the fourth intercostal space and cardiopulmonary bypass routinely established. Right atriotomy and left atriotomy incisions were made under antegrade cardioplegic arrest. The unroofed portion was revealed at the same location by preoperative transesophageal echocardiography and was clearly recognized only by endoscopy, not by direct vision. It was repaired by direct running suture under endoscopic visualization. We observed no blood cardioplegia leakage or mitral insufficiency, which was also confirmed by postoperative transesophageal echocardiography. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful and she was discharged home 14 days after surgery without any residual shunt. Conclusions Successful repair of unroofed coronary sinus syndrome was safely and effectively achieved by a minimally invasive approach supported by preoperative three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.
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