Most cases of intramural haematoma are acute aortic dissections with an intimal tear without re-entry. Intramural haematoma should be referred to as thrombosed-type acute aortic dissection. Thrombosed type can be easily diagnosed on contrast-enhanced computed tomography and has features distinct from those of classic dissection. Our classification may be useful for the diagnosis of these types of aortic dissection.

Objective: The outcomes of emergency surgery for type A acute aortic dissection have improved. However, ascending aortic replacement sometimes leads to dilatation of the distal aorta. The present study reviewed our outcomes of ascending aortic replacement and total arch replacement in patients with type A acute aortic dissection.Methods: A total of 253 patients with type A acute aortic dissection underwent a central repair operation. Our standard technique was ascending aortic replacement. Total arch replacement was performed only when entry existed in the major curvature of the aortic arch and the proximal descending aorta. A total of 169 patients (67%) underwent ascending aortic replacement, and 84 patients (33%) underwent total arch replacement. Hospital death due to initial surgery, dilatation of the distal aorta greater than 5 cm, new occurrence of aortic dissection, any distal aortic surgery, and aortic-related deaths were defined as distal aortic events.Results: The mortality was 7.1% in the ascending aortic replacement group and 6.0% in the total arch replacement group. Postoperative computed tomography was performed in 162 patients in the ascending aortic replacement group. The false lumen of the residual aortic arch had thrombosed and healed in 94 patients (58%) and remained present in 68 patients (42%). The distal aortic event-free rate in the ascending aortic replacement group decreased from 74% at 5 years to 51% at 9 years, and the rate in the total arch replacement group was 83% at 5 to 9 years (P < .01). For the ascending aortic replacement group, more patients with a dissected arch had a distal aortic event compared with patients with a healed arch (P <.01).Conclusions: Total arch replacement was associated with fewer distal aortic events. We may expand the indications for total arch replacement in stable patients.

Coronary malperfusion is one of the most dreadful complications of acute aortic dissection because it causes catastrophic acute myocardial infarction in patients who are already severely ill. Our strategy was as follows. After the administration of heparin, emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was urgently performed at the same time as starting to prepare the operating room. A stent was then placed to cover the full length of dissected coronary artery. Patients whose cardiac function improved after successful coronary artery reperfusion were transferred to the operating room to undergo central repair surgery. If the cardiac function did not recover even after coronary reperfusion, and the patient required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, we considered the best supportive care without performing central repair surgery. In patients with left coronary malperfusion, we believe that preoperative PCI must be performed immediately. Preoperative PCI might delay central repair surgery and potentially increase the risk of catastrophic cardiac tamponade. However, the benefit of PCI in preserving cardiac function exceeds the risk of cardiac tamponade. The indications of PCI before central repair in patients with right coronary malperfusion should be considered after assessing each patient's condition, including the presence or absence of cardiac tamponade and right ventricular infarction, left ventricular function, the immediate availability of cardiologists or cardiac surgeons, and the speed of preparing the operating room.

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Background: Tracheo-innominate artery fistula (TIF) is a rare but fatal complication occurring after tracheotomy. Brachiocephalic trunk transection, one of the surgical treatments for TIF, is mostly associated with a full or partial median sternotomy. We describe a case of TIF with continuous bleeding, which was successfully treated with brachiocephalic trunk transection through a collar incision without the need for median sternotomy. Case presentation: Case 1. An 18-year-old man was referred to our hospital with bleeding from a tracheal stoma, which had ceased prior to admission. TIF was suspected after examination. Innominate artery transection was performed through a collar incision. TIF was not revealed when we cut the innominate artery anterior wall open; therefore, we opted for preventive surgical intervention. The post-operative course was uneventful, and the patient was asymptomatic at the 3-year follow-up. Case 2. A 14-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital with bleeding from a tracheal stoma, and TIF was suspected after examination. There was persistent bleeding when the cuff of the tracheotomy tube was deflated. Brachiocephalic trunk transection was performed through a collar incision using balloon occlusion. The postoperative course was uneventful, and rebleeding has not occurred 2 years later. Conclusions: Brachiocephalic trunk transection without any median sternotomy may offer the benefits of postoperative infection prevention. In patients with suspected continuous bleeding, using a balloon catheter may be a safe and effective method of treatment.

Though the Carpentier Edwards PERIMOUNT Magna Ease valve is a bioprosthesis with documented excellent haemodynamics and easy implantability, this valve has a gap between the cobalt-chromium-nickel alloy stent and silicone sewing ring. This gap, which is widest just below each of the three commissural struts, lacks silicone and leaves the two-layer polytetrafluoroethylene fabric unsupported and unprotected. If the needle of a valve suture is placed in this structurally weak area of the sewing ring, the resultant fabric tear may result in a true cuff leakage, not the usual paravalvular leakage. We describe this pitfall in the context of a recent operation to alert surgeons everywhere that suture placement too close to the stent (missing the silicone sewing ring) can result in postoperative cuff leakage. We need to be very careful to include the silicone ring in each stitch to prevent injury to the valve cuff of this prosthesis and to avoid cuff leakage.

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Objectives:Generally, popliteal artery aneurysms have been addressed surgically by a medial, posterior, or lateral approach. We have designed a new posterior approach that exposes the superficial femoral artery and entire popliteal artery without dividing any muscles in a just prone position.Methods and results:A 72-year old man with huge popliteal aneurysm extended to superficial femoral artery was admitted to our hospital. Surgery was performed due to a high risk of rupture. An S-shaped skin incision was made in the popliteal fossa. We could not expose the proximal side of the giant aneurysm proximal to the foramen of the adductor magnus. We extended the skin incision to the proximal and exfoliated the medial side of semitendinosus muscle. We could expose the superficial femoral artery in this approach like in a medial approach. We could perform the interposition of great saphenous vein.Conclusion:The advantages of this approach allowed for entire exposure of the popliteal aneurysm in the same patient’s position when we perform aneurysmectomy and bypass. It is possible for this approach to provide easy access to the superficial femoral artery proximal to the adductor hiatus and distal below-knee popliteal artery including the tibioperoneal trunk.