A 35-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with prolonged high-grade fever. Chest computed tomography revealed multiple pulmonary infiltrations in both lungs, suggesting septic emboli. Echocardiography revealed patent ductus arteriosus and mobile large vegetations in the pulmonary artery. Because of uncontrollable infection and the imminent possibility of massive pulmonary embolism, he underwent transpulmonary surgical closure of the ductus and resection of the vegetations under hypothermic circulatory arrest using cardiopulmonary bypass. We report a rare case of open heart surgery in a patient with pulmonary infective endarteritis associated with patent ductus arteriosus.
A 76‐year‐old female was implanted with a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device, with the left ventricular lead implanted through a transvenous approach. One day after implantation, diaphragmatic stimulation was observed when the patient was in the seated position, which could not be resolved by device reprogramming. We performed thoracoscopic phrenic nerve insulation using a Gore‐Tex patch. The left phrenic nerve was carefully detached from the pericardial adipose tissue, and a Gore‐Tex patch was inserted between the phrenic nerve and pericardium using a thoracoscopic technique. This approach represents a potential option for the management of uncontrollable phrenic nerve stimulation during CRT.
Reports of mitral valve replacement after MitraClip removal have increased; however, surgical re-intervention is risky due to patients’ frailty and comorbidities. We report a case of mitral valve repair after MitraClip failure using the daVinci surgical system for a 55-year-old man with many comorbidities and two previous cardiac surgeries. The daVinci surgical system allows detailed handling with high-resolution visualization and endowrist instruments that provide surgeons with clear three-dimensional images and stabilized handling. This procedure enables us to remove the MitraClip precisely while preserving the mitral valve leaflet.
Background
Pericardial cysts are rare congenital mediastinal cysts. They are typically asymptomatic and are often discovered incidentally, although some patients may present with chest pain and dyspnoea. Asymptomatic patients are managed conservatively with multiple modalities, with surgical resection often recommended for symptomatic patients only. The frequency of follow-up imaging has yet to be established.
Case summary
We report a case of a 59-year-old female with a gradually increasing pericardial cyst, first noted 10 years prior as an abnormal cardiac silhouette on routine chest radiography. Further evaluation confirmed the presence of a pericardial cyst compressing the left ventricle with new-onset atrial fibrillation. The patient underwent successful thoracoscopic excision of the pericardial cyst under general anaesthesia. The patient’s post-operative course was uneventful, and she was ultimately discharged in stable condition.
Discussion
Pericardial cysts are typically benign, but complications may arise in the case of compression of adjacent cardiac structures, inflammation, haemorrhage, or rupture of the cyst. Magnetic resonance imaging is considered the better modality for both diagnosis and follow-up of pericardial cysts. This case illustrates the need for long-term clinical follow-up in order to optimize the time for treatment.
Ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) is a common complication, which is
accompanied by myocardial infarction, causing heart failure and leading
to poor prognosis. Although several surgical techniques have been
reported, certain surgical methods have not been established for
treating IMR. We report a successful case of left ventricular posterior
wall plication through a left atriotomy over the mitral valve for IMR in
a patient who experienced cardiac shock and could not be weaned off
mechanical support. Posterior wall plication changed the left ventricle
from a spherical to an oval shape, restored the position of papillary
muscles and posterior wall, improved leaflet tethering, and prevented
further remodeling of the left ventricle. This method may be useful for
treating IMR and improve patients’ prognosis.
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