Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate severe mitral regurgitation caused by so called atrial leaflet “pseudoprolapse” and verify the effect of simple annular stabilization.
Methods: One-hundred-twenty-two patients underwent surgery for severe mitral regurgitation at our institute between January 2015 to July 2018. Of those, 32 cases diagnosed as anterior leaflet prolapse that underwent mitral repair were analyzed. Ten cases with pseudoprolapse, which is defined as anterior leaflet prolapse without dropping into the left atrium beyond the annular line causing eccentric regurgitation flow directed to the posterior atrium, were classified as the Pseudoprolapse Group. The other 22 cases had obvious anterior leaflet prolapse dropping into the left atrium; these cases were classified as the True Prolapse Group. We compared clinical findings between the 2 groups and reviewed pseudoprolapse cases.
Results: Patients in the Pseudoprolapse Group had lower ejection fraction and lower regurgitation volume than those in the True Prolapse Group. A2 lesion as main inflow of regurgitation was more included in the Pseudoprolapse Group. All but one patient in the Pseudoprolapse Group received only simple annuloplasty, and all patients in the True Prolapse Group received leaflet repair and annuloplasty. In both groups, mid-term regurgitation grade and the reoperation rate were satisfactory. In the Pseudoprolapse Group, 6 cases were clarified as atrial functional mitral regurgitation, and 4 cases were considered to have focal posterior leaflet tethering.
Conclusions: Pseudoprolapse cases could be characterized by low ejection fraction, low regurgitation volume, and A2 prolapse. For most cases with pseudoprolapse, simple annuloplasty may be enough, however further study is needed.
A left atrial appendage aneurysm (LAAA) is a rare congenital or acquired anomaly that often causes fatal complications. Although many reports recommend surgical resection for treatment, there is no clear definition of LAAA. Therefore, the diagnosis and treatment are ambiguous. A 73-year-old woman with cardiogenic stroke was admitted to our hospital because of a suspected LAAA as the source of the embolus. She was incidentally diagnosed with LAAA seven years ago, which was managed with continuous anticoagulation therapy, although atrial fibrillation was not observed. The patient underwent aneurysm resection, and the postoperative course was uneventful.As LAAA symptoms are nonspecific, careful observation is required when LAAA is suspected. The risks associated with surgery are generally low and the surgical outcome is good; however, even with appropriate medical therapy, fatal complications can occur. Therefore, surgical resection of the LAAA should be considered even in asymptomatic patients, considering the low surgical risk.
Complex anatomical restrictions can lead to further interventions after the emergence of a postoperative aneurysm enlargement in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA). A 75-year-old male underwent a TEVAR for a Crawford extent I TAAA. The main device and the distal extension were placed using a fenestrated technique, outside of the instructions for use. The aneurysm expanded because of an endoleak and stent graft migration; and was surgically repaired by fully salvaging the previous endografts 38 months after the first TEVAR. However, the distal extension, which was the proximal anastomosis site with a prosthetic graft, became completely dislocated from the main device eight months after the open surgical conversion, resulting again in the enlargement of the aneurysm. An additional TEVAR was successfully performed to correct the dislocated stent graft. An appropriate treatment strategy is crucial to prevent multiple reinterventions for TAAA with complex anatomical restrictions.
Chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is an important issue for elderly patients with peripheral artery disease. Here, we present the case of a 91-year-old man with CLTI, residing in a rural district. The onset of CLTI rapidly deprived him of ambulation because of a foot infection. Given that he had difficulty with long-distance transportation, limb salvage for extensive tissue loss was performed at a district facility, based on his and his familyʼs request. Finally, skin grafting on the cutting plane of the right ankle bones resulted in wound healing in six months after incomplete revascularization and multiple minor amputations.
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