Biomedical subjects

T Azami

Publications and source records attributed to T Azami.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Angiosarcoma causing cardiac rupture.

We report the 7th known case in the literature of cardiac angiosarcoma resulting in cardiac rupture. A 34-year-old woman was admitted presenting chest pain and pericardial effusion. After the patient had been treated for 3 months under the diagnosis of pericarditis of unknown etiology, she became hypotensive. Doppler echocardiography showed increased pericardial effusion and a communication between the right atrium and the pericardial cavity. An emergency operation was undertaken to drain the effusion and explore the etiology. We found the ruptured right atrium and the irregularly shaped tumor extending from the pericardium near the inferior caval vein to the right ventricle. There was no apparent tumor on the right atrium, but its wall was extensively thin, which we replaced with autologous pericardium. The patient died on the 44th postoperative day. Clinical diagnosis of cardiac angiosarcoma is usually very difficult. If Doppler echocardiography demonstrates pericardial effusion and find a ruptured right atrium with or without mass formation, we should suspect cardiac angiosarcoma.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Usefulness of postoperative percutaneous cardiopulmonary support using a centrifugal pump: retrospective analysis of complications.

Between January 1992 and December 1997, we employed percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS) using a centrifugal pump in 25 patients. In 21 of them, PCPS was used postcardiotomy. These patients could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass due to profound ventricular failure. As for the other 4 patients, PCPS was used preoperatively for profound cardiogenic shock, a thrombosed valve, a stuck valve, and pulmonary embolization. Nine patients (43%) were weaned from PCPS (Group 1), and 3 (14%) were discharged from the hospital. The other 12 patients (57%) had perioperative extensive myocardial infarction and could not be weaned (Group 2). The causes of death were bleeding and multiple organ failure (MOF) associated with ventricular failure. The reasons for MOF were perioperative massive transfusion and hepatic congestion caused by sustained ventricular failure. To increase the survival rate, complete hemostasis and prevention of increased central venous pressure by early use of PCPS are necessary.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

PubMed1999

Usefulness of cardiopulmonary bypass in reconstruction of inferior vena cava occupied by renal cell carcinoma tumor thrombus.

UNLABELLED: Aggressive surgical treatment in renal cell carcinoma is still controversial. The aim of this paper is to assess inferior vena caval (IVC) reconstruction for suprahepatic vena caval renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumor thrombus. Twelve patients with suprahepatic vena caval thrombus from renal cell carcinoma who underwent surgical repair with cardiopulmonary bypass were evaluated. The vena caval defect was reconstructed by direct suture, patch repair, or graft replacement. Of 12 patients undergoing partial cardiopulmonary bypass, tumor thrombus extended to the junction of the hepatic vein in three patients and to the right atrium in one. Tumor thrombus was removed manually or with balloon catheter. Tumor thrombus in the right atrium was removed during electrical ventricular fibrillation. Repair of the IVC was performed by direct suture of the IVC wall in two patients, patch repair with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE) graft in seven, and graft replacement with an EPTFE graft in three. There were no operative deaths and the only postoperative complication was one patient death from pulmonary emboli. The four patients with nonlocalized disease died within 2 years, but four patients lived for more than 3 years postoperatively. Survival was 37.5% at 3 years and 18.8% at 5 years by the Kaplan-Meier's method. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Partial cardiopulmonary bypass is useful for the control of bleeding when tumor thrombus in the IVC extends to the junction of the hepatic vein. (2) Nephrectomy with tumor thrombectomy of the IVC is valuable, and long-term survival is possible in patients without distant metastases or regional lymph node metastases.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Impact of retrograde cerebral perfusion with posterolateral thoracotomy on distal arch aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: Repair of distal aortic arch aneurysms is difficult to accomplish through a median sternotomy or left thoracotomy, and stroke and respiratory disorders often become lethal complications with the use of circulatory arrest. We investigated the use of retrograde cerebral perfusion with a posterolateral thoracotomy in the repair of distal arch aneurysms. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients underwent repair of a distal arch aneurysm. They were divided into three groups according to the method of surgical repair used. Sixteen patients (group I) underwent proximal anastomosis of the graft with the use of an aortic cross-clamp. Eight patients (group II) underwent open proximal anastomosis with the use of retrograde cerebral perfusion (oxygenated blood perfusion through a superior vena cava cannula) and a median sternotomy and anterolateral thoracotomy. Fourteen patients (group III) also underwent open anastomosis with the use of retrograde cerebral perfusion (cerebral perfusion through blood returned to the right atrium with the patient in the Trendelenburg position) and a posterolateral thoracotomy. RESULTS: The operative mortality rate in group I was 25.0%; 4 of 16 patients died of stroke, myocardial infarction, and intestinal necrosis. In group II, 3 of 8 patients (37.5%) died of respiratory failure and aortic dissection. In group III, only 1 of 14 patients (7.1%) died, as a result of heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: The use of retrograde cerebral perfusion with a posterolateral thoracotomy is an alternative method that minimizes the risk of stroke and respiratory failure during distal aortic arch operations.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Severe pulmonary hypertension due to mitral regurgitation without overt sign of congestive heart failure: a case report].

A 49-year-old man was found to have a heart murmur at a local hospital and was referred to our hospital for further examination. Although he had no signs of congestive heart failure, echocardiography and cardiac catheterization showed severe pulmonary hypertension caused by severe mitral regurgitation. Mitral valve replacement was performed, followed by reduction of pulmonary artery pressure. This patient had an unusual combination of no signs of lung congestion despite severe mitral regurgitation with pulmonary hypertension.

Echocardiography↗

PubMed1998

Surgical results for thoraco-abdominal aneurysm by modified DeBakey method using centrifugal biopump and renal cryopreservation.

BACKGROUND: In this paper, we report the surgical results of our DeBakey and Crawford combined method. METHODS: From 1985 to 1995, 22 consecutive patients with thoraco-abdominal aneurysms underwent a modified DeBakey and Crawford combined procedure to minimize the ischemic time for the spinal cord and visceral organs. The extent of aneurysm as classified by Crawford was as follows: Group I, 12; Group II, 4, Group III, 3; Group IV, 3. The etiology of the aneurysm was atherosclerosis in 19, cystic medial necrosis in 2, and aortitis in 1. The aneurysm was approached through the spiral opening method. First, end-to-side distal anastomosis was performed above the bifurcation under partial aortic clamping, and this was followed by proximal anastomosis. During the end-to-end proximal anastomosis, a Gott shunt tube or heparinless left heart bypass was used. In two patients, left renal artery had been previously reconstructed by a saphenous vein graft extending from the left common iliac artery. Then aneurysm was opened, and the right renal artery and superiors mesenteric artery were perfused with cold blood. In two patients, partial cardiopulmonary bypass and selective perfusion were performed. In eight patients, renal artery, celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and intercostal artery were reconstructed with a branch graft. RESULTS: No patient died within 30 days of surgery, however, one patient died of acute myocardial infarction (POD 54) and another of ventricular fibrillation during hemodialysis (POD 60). Postoperative complications included paraplegia, and renal failure requiring dialysis each in two patients. Postoperative angiography revealed 18/19 (94.7%) of grafts were patent. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, by using different techniques for spinal cord and visceral protection, including the Gott shunt, Biomedicus pump, renal cryopreservation, and separate revascularization of viscera and intercostal arteries, good results could be obtained.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Reoperation after repair of type A and B dissecting aneurysm.

BACKGROUND: In the late postoperative period after repair of an aortic dissection or dissecting aneurysm, reoperations may be required. The interval to reoperation, size and location of intimal tear, and results of reoperation were evaluated. METHODS: Between January 1982 and April 1997, 138 patients underwent surgery for Stanford type A (90 patients) or type B (48 patients) dissections of the aorta. The entire aorta was evaluated in postoperative follow-up by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for 6 months to 15 years. Reoperations were performed in 14 (10.1%) patients with changes in the aneurysms at the site of the initial repair or in the distal aorta. Selective cerebral perfusion or retrograde cerebral perfusion with deep hypothermia was used in the repair of the ascending, arch, and distal arch aneurysms. Reoperations included aortic root reconstruction (n=3), resection of a pseudoaneurysm (n=1), and replacement of the ascending aorta (n=1), arch (n=5), descending aorta (n=2), thoracoabdominal aorta (n=1), or abdominal aorta (n=1). Secondary reoperations were performed in four patients (replacement of the arch [n=2], thoracoabdominal aorta and abdominal aorta). Consequently two patients had subtotal aortic replacements. The aneurysms were caused by an anastomotic leak, a new intimal tear following aortic cross-clamping, a second intimal tear in the distal arch or abdominal aorta, and Marfan syndrome. RESULTS: Two patients (2/18 11.1%) died of bleeding or low output syndrome. Two patients died of graft infection or prosthetic valve infection 3 months after surgery respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 1) The surgical results of reoperation for type A and B dissections were good. 2) Close postoperative follow-up of the patent false lumen in the entire aorta was necessary. 3) At the initial operation, total resection of the intimal tear in the aortic arch in low-risk patients reduced the risk of reoperation.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Open distal anastomosis in retrograde cerebral perfusion for repair of ascending aortic dissection.

BACKGROUND: In patients with aortic dissection, a patent distal false lumen at long-term follow-up leads to complications. We investigated the feasibility of performing an open distal anastomosis using retrograde cerebral perfusion. METHODS: Over a 10-year period, 41 patients with acute type A aortic dissection underwent 43 surgical repairs. In 1991, an open distal anastomosis using retrograde cerebral perfusion (group 2) was introduced to replace the standard aortic cross-clamp method (group 1). The mean retrograde cerebral perfusion time was 47.3 minutes (range, 22 to 67 minutes), and there were no neurologic sequelae in surviving patients. RESULTS: The operative mortality rate was 18.5% in group 1 and 18.7% in group 2. At long-term follow-up, dilatation of the false lumen (more than 50 mm in diameter) occurred in 9 of 18 patients (50%) in group 1, and 2 patients died of aortic rupture. There were no deaths in group 2, and dilatation of the distal false lumen occurred in only 15.4% of patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The use of retrograde cerebral perfusion in patients with acute aortic dissection provides adequate time to perform a safe, open, distal anastomosis, and could decrease significantly the rate of enlarged, patent, false lumina.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1997

Retrograde cerebral perfusion with pharmacological cerebral protection in the repair of aortic arch aneurysm.

Twenty-six patients underwent resection and graft replacement of an aortic arch aneurysm (proximal arch,5; transverse arch:2, distal arch,8; and type A dissecting aneurysm. Retrograde cerebral perfusion with pharmacological cerebral protection was carried out during aortic arch aneurysm surgery. Prostaglandin E1, thiopental methylpredonisolone were administered for cerebral protection during core cooling. D-Mannitol and deferoxamine mesylate (radical scavengers) were administered for prevention of reperfusion injury. retrograde cerebral perfusion time was 48 +/- 16 minutes (range 20-80 minutes). Perfusion flow was 288 +/- 93 mL/min (range 150-500 mL/min). Since retrograde cerebral perfusion requires no arterial cannulation or aortic cross clamp, the operative field is simplified, and the risks of air and debris emboli to the brain were minimized. Reconstruction was designed to minimize the circulatory arrest time. Eleven cases underwent emergency surgery due to rupture and acute dissection. Five patients (19.2%) died (three from bleeding from the distal anastomosis, one from postoperative DIC and, one from intraoperative dissection). The remaining 21 patients survived neurologically intact. Retrograde cerebral perfusion with pharmacological cerebral protection is a very simple method to prevent air embolism or thromboembolism in aortic arch aneurysm surgery and allows aortic arch replacement in a bloodless field. In spite of the extended circulatory arrest time, recovery of consciousness was complete.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

[Surgical treatment of aortic dissection (Stanford type A) using hypothermic retrograde cerebral perfusion in patients older than 70 years of age].

Since 1991, 27 consecutive patients with aortic dissection (Stanford A) have been operated on using deep hypothermic retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP). There were no differences in ECC time (247 +/- 15 vs 307 +/- 22 min), and RCP time (47 +/- 2 vs 47 +/- 3 min) between the aged (> or = 70 y.o., n = 11) and non-aged (< 70 y.o., n = 16) group. Although the aged group showed the higher incidences of postoperative neurological complications of prolonged emergence (2 cases) and delirium (3 cases), respiratory disorder (3 cases), and renal dysfunction (3 cases), there was no significant difference in hospital mortality (18% in the aged vs 13% in the non-aged). We concluded that RCP is well acceptable procedure for surgical treatment of the aged patients with aortic dissection.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1997

Cerebral complications and distal false lumen in the repair of aortic dissection with retrograde cerebral perfusion.

BACKGROUND: In aortic dissection, patent distal false lumen at long-term follow-up leads to complications. We investigated the feasibility of an open distal anastomosis under retrograde cerebral perfusion. METHODS: During a 15-year period (1981-1995), 51 patients with type A dissection underwent 59 surgical repairs. In 1990, a distal open anastomosis with retrograde cerebral perfusion (group II) was introduced to replace the aortic cross clamp method (group I). Mean retrograde cerebral perfusion time was 50 minutes (range 22 to 65 minutes) with no neurologic sequelae in surviving patients. RESULTS: Operative mortality was 28.6% in group I, and 16.1% in group II. At long-term follow-up, dilatation of the false lumen (more than 50 mm in diameter) occurred in 56.2% (9/16) in group I, and 4 patients died of aortic rupture. There was no mortality in group II, and dilatation of the distal false lumen occurred in only 15.3% (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Use of retrograde cerebral perfusion in aortic dissection allowed for adequate time to perform a safe, open, distal anastomosis. Intraoperative cerebral complications and enlarged patent false lumens decreased significantly.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1996

Profile of chest injuries arising from the 1995 southern Hyogo Prefecture earthquake.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To better understand the types of chest injuries that are likely to occur following a major earthquake in the urban environment, we analyzed the pattern of chest injuries arising from the earthquake that struck the southern part of Hyogo Prefecture in Japan at 5:46 AM on January 17, 1995 and registered 7.2 on the Richter scale. DESIGN AND SETTING: The medical records of 487 patients with injuries who were referred to Kobe University Hospital from January 17 to January 23 were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 487 patients, 63 (12.9%) were found to have chest injuries. Of these 63, eight patients with severe chest compression were dead on arrival at the hospital. Eight patients were admitted to our hospital, two of whom developed crush syndrome. The remaining 47 (74.6%) patients had light to moderate injuries and were treated in the emergency department on an outpatient basis. CONCLUSIONS: Minor trauma was the most common type of chest injury. However, there were severely injured patients who were trapped in collapsed buildings.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

A simple technique for the prevention of lower limb ischemia during femoral veno-arterial cardiopulmonary support.

OBJECTIVE: We describe a simple technique to prevent the lower limb ischemia during femoral veno-arterial cardiopulmonary support (CPS). PATIENTS: Between July 1994 and September 1995, five patients underwent the insertion of femoral veno-arterial CPS with distal limb perfusion for the treatment of circulatory collapse after cardiac surgery. METHODS: After CPS is established, the ipsilateral superficial femoral artery (SFA) is punctured downward with a 14-gauge Teflon catheter and connected to the side port of the membrane oxygenator. RESULTS: None of the patients were complicated by lower limb ischemia for up to 77 hrs on CPS with distal limb perfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Active perfusion through a 14-gauge Teflon catheter downstream to the ipsilateral SFA is effective in preventing lower limb ischemia during prolonged femoral veno-arterial CPS after cardiac surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Non clamping anastomosis of the ascending and arch aneurysm using retrograde cerebral perfusion.

Twelve consecutive patients requiring surgery for replacement of ascending aortic aneurysms (n = 3), ascending arch aortic aneurysms (n = 2), or type A aortic dissections (n = 7) were treated without aortic cross clamping. Retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) with circulatory arrest (mean RCP time: 46.0 +/- 15.9 minutes, range 20 to 65 minutes) and continuous retrograde cardioplegia (mean cardiac ischemic time: 134.4 +/- 39.7 minutes, range: 40 to 180 minutes) were employed. In the patients with aortic dissection, the intimal tear at the origin of the brachiocephalic artery (BCA) was resected completely, the aortic wall was trimmed and closed with Teflon felt. The distal anastomosis was created using an open technique. Air and debris were completely evacuated by returning blood from the cerebral vessels and femoral artery. Then the artificial graft was clamped, and cardiopulmonary bypass resumed. The proximal anastomosis was performed during rewarming. The operations were elective in seven cases, and emergent in five cases. Graft replacement of the ascending aorta was performed in ten patients (including two BCA reconstructions). The remaining two patients were treated by patch repair (n = 1), primary anastomosis (n = 1). There were no perioperative deaths. One patient had a transient neurological deficit. The distal false lumen was occluded completely in five of seven patients with aortic dissections. The other two patients had a secondary tears in the descending aorta. Thus retrograde cerebral perfusion and continuous retrograde cardioplegia without aortic cross clamping is an effective technique in the replacement of the ascending and arch aorta.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Acute left atrial thrombus causing cardiogenic shock following mitral valve replacement: report of a case.

We report herein the rare case of a 53-year-old woman who developed cardiogenic shock due to an acute left atrial thrombus following replacement of the mitral valve. A definitive diagnosis was not able to be made using precordial echocardiography because of the broad, flat shape of the thrombus; however, transesophageal echocardiography imaged the thrombus in detail. The patient was initially stabilized by percutaneous cardiopulmonary support after which a thrombectomy was successfully performed.

Echocardiography, Transesophageal↗

PubMed1995

[Simultaneous operations for both the repair of the aortic arch aneurysm and repeated CABG].

A 73-year-old female complaining of left thoracic pain was referred to our hospital. In 1988, she had the first CABG of the left circumflex coronary artery (CX) and right coronary artery. On admission in April 1994, chest X-ray and CT scan revealed a saccular aortic aneurysm, 5 x 5 cm in size, extending to the distal to the left subclavian artery. Coronary arteriography showed a patency of the CX graft, but 99% stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending branch (LAD) with delayed opacification. After the repeated median sternotomy, cardiac arrest was achieved with the aortic cross clamping and St. Thomas Hospital solution infusion. CABG to the LAD branch using a saphenous vein was accomplished. Following this, the replacement of the aortic aneurysmal lesion with a prosthetic graft was performed under the selective cerebral perfusion with deep hypothermia. Proximal anastomosis of the vein graft was completed during a rewarming period. The operation was performed without complications. Postoperative course was satisfactory except a few minor transient complications such as athelectasis of the left upper lobe and the intra-thoracic hematoma. After one month's hospitalization, she was discharged, and currently (six months postoperative) remains asymptomatic.

Aged↗

PubMed1995

[A surgical case of aortic dissection Stanford type A caused by blunt chest trauma--a report of a successful case].

A case of successfully repaired traumatic aortic dissection was reported. A 66-year-old woman with a blunt chest trauma from the car accident was transferred to our hospital. The radiological examination revealed Stanford type A aortic dissection without aortic regurgitation. Because of disturbance of consciousness and respiratory failure due to the associated blunt lung injury, she was treated in the intensive care unit, and, after 1 month, a graft replacement of the ascending aorta by using deep hypothermia with retrograde cerebral perfusion was carried out. The postoperative course was uneventful. Blunt chest trauma is very rare to cause aortic dissection, and the operative indication should be determined with careful consideration of the associated organ injuries.

Aortic Dissection↗

PubMed1994

[Clinical study of optimal bypass flow for temporary bypass with centrifugal pump in surgical treatment of aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta].

Since 1987, 33 patients were operated on for aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta using temporary bypass with a heparin-coated centrifugal pump and heparin-coated tubes at Kobe University Hospital. Sixteen patients had true aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta, 7 had thoraco-abdominal aneurysms and 10 had aortic dissection (DeBakey's type III). Heat exchanger and oxygenator were not included in the bypass circuit in all cases. Perfusion time was from 42 to 205 minutes (average 90 minutes). Left heart bypass was established with 1 mg/kg of systemic heparinization in 5, 0.5 mg/kg in 5, and 0 mg/kg in 23 cases. There were no complications such as perioperative embolism, acidosis, or hypothermia. During aortic cross-clamping, the arterial pressure of the lower extremity was maintained over 70 mmHg, but there was no relationship between the distal perfusion pressure and bypass flow. The urine output during temporary bypass was significantly related to the distal perfusion flow by centrifugal pump (r = 0.455, p < 0.01). Seven out of 23 patients who were bypassed under 40 ml/kg/min of distal perfusion flow showed transient renal dysfunction postoperatively, and two developed postoperative renal failure, while the other patients bypassed over 40 ml/kg/min of pump flow stayed in the normal range of the renal function, where there were statistically differences (p < 0.05). Postoperative paresis occurred in 2 patients who were also perfused under 40 ml/kg/min of bypass flow. Therefore, it is concluded that temporary bypass with centrifugal pump is a safe and well acceptable circulatory support in the surgical treatment of aneurysm of the descending aorta.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗