Annals of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery : official journal of the Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia最新文献

Purpose: Our primary concern was the risk of overtreating elderly patients with endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysm. We investigated the association between age at the time of EVAR and all-cause mortality in Japan's aging population by stratifying patients into age groups.

Methods: Data from 175 patients who underwent elective EVAR from 2012 to 2016 were analyzed. Patients were categorized into 3 age groups: <75 years, 75-84 years, and ≥85 years, based on Japan's healthy life expectancy and average life expectancy. Survival rates and risk factors for mortality were assessed across these patient groups.

Results: Among 175 patients, 3- and 5-year survival rates were significantly lower in elderly patients, with rates of 74.6% and 64.2% for those aged 75-84 years and 51.9% and 39.7% for those aged ≥85 years. Multivariate analysis identified age ≥85 years, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and active cancer as independent adverse predictors of all-cause mortality, whereas obesity was identified as an independent protective predictor.

Conclusions: Adjusting guidelines to incorporate not only comorbidities but also age could optimize outcomes and healthcare resource allocation by prioritizing EVAR for patients most likely to benefit in Japan's super-aging society.

Purpose: Owing to the time-sensitive nature of myocardial ischemia, challenging clinical scenarios should be considered in patients with type A acute aortic dissection (AAAD) complicated by coronary malperfusion. In clinical settings, the diagnosis and reperfusion strategies for coronary malperfusion often depend on institutional resources. This study evaluated early surgical outcomes in such patients, focusing on transportation type and clinical management.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 70 patients who underwent emergency surgery for AAAD with coronary malperfusion, excluding those with cardiac tamponade on arrival, between 1997 and February 2024. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on transportation: direct transfer and referral.

Results: Overall, in-hospital mortality was 27%, with only 1 of 9 patients surviving with preoperative peripheral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Mortality and morbidity did not significantly differ between groups. Univariate analysis identified left coronary artery involvement and preoperative hemodynamic instability as significant risk factors. Additionally, preoperative diagnostic-only coronary angiography (CAG) with unsuccessful reperfusion was a potential risk factor (P = 0.06).

Conclusions: Regardless of transportation type, preoperative peripheral ECMO itself could not be a definitive solution in AAAD patients with coronary malperfusion. Also, patients who underwent preoperative CAG with unsuccessful reperfusion might be fatal, especially with suspected left coronary artery involvement.

Purpose: We aimed to elucidate the efficacy of conventional cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with lung cancers harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 110 patients (EGFR mutation group: n = 51; EGFR wild-type group: n = 59) receiving cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy following complete resection of non-small-cell non-squamous-cell lung cancer (2010-2021). Clinicopathological characteristics, recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were investigated.

Results: The pStage distribution was not statistically different. The EGFR mutation group was characterized by more advanced pN, papillary predominance, and presence of micropapillary components, whereas the EGFR wild-type group exhibited more advanced pT and solid predominant patterns. The median RFS was significantly worse in the EGFR mutation group (23.0 vs. 76.1 months, p = 0.017). Nevertheless, the median OS was not significantly different (85.6 months vs. not reached, p = 0.151). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that EGFR mutation and lymphatic invasion were significant risk factors in RFS; however, no independent factors were identified in OS.

Conclusions: Cisplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy might be less effective in patients with EGFR-mutated lung cancer. The style of progression and histological pattern related with EGFR mutation may be associated with the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy and poor RFS.

Purpose: The underlying mechanism why segmentectomy has demonstrated the non-inferiority to lobectomy in several randomized trials remains unclear. Computed tomography (CT)-measured pulmonary artery (PA) enlargement reflects PA pressure and predicts the prognosis of certain respiratory diseases. We compared the preoperative and postoperative PA diameter to the ascending aorta diameter (PA/A) ratio, investigating its impact on right ventricular function in lung resection.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in patients with lower-lobe lung tumors who underwent anatomical lung resection between 2017 and 2022. The PA diameter at the bifurcation and the ascending aorta diameter at the same CT image slice were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. We calculated the enlargement of PA/A ratio (PA/A change) and compared lobectomy and segmentectomy.

Results: This analysis included 279 patients (235 with lobectomy and 44 with segmentectomy). The PA/A change was significantly greater in patients with lobectomy than segmentectomy (104% vs. 102%, P = 0.02). In the multivariable analysis, airflow obstruction (yes, P = 0.04) and the type of surgery (segmentectomy, P = 0.04) were independent prognostic factors for PA/A change.

Conclusions: The PA/A change was greater in lobectomy than in segmentectomy. This change could reflect a burden on right ventricular function after lobectomy.

Purpose: In totally endoscopic off-pump left atrial appendage (LAA) closure and surgical ablation, securing the operative field is sometimes difficult in some patients because of a narrow working space caused by an elevated diaphragm or ventricles. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a method that facilitates securing the operative field using an artificial pneumothorax.

Methods: We analyzed 71 consecutive patients who underwent totally endoscopic off-pump LAA closure and bilateral pulmonary vein isolation. The factors contributing to the reduction in operative time were examined. The patients were divided into the following 2 groups according to whether or not an artificial pneumothorax was used: Group C comprised 24 patients without an artificial pneumothorax and Group A comprised 47 patients with an artificial pneumothorax.

Results: There were no hospital deaths or major complications. The operative time was significantly shorter in Group A (108 ± 26 minutes) than in Group C (198 ± 77 minutes) (p <0.0001).

Conclusions: In totally endoscopic off-pump LAA closure and surgical ablation, an artificial pneumothorax may be useful in reducing the operative time.

Mitral annular calcifications have been known to increase complexity during mitral valve replacement (MVR). Standard procedure requires decalcification followed by reconstruction of the mitral annulus prior to placing the prosthesis. While this is the ideal technique, it is not feasible in every patient due to the associated risks. The mere attempt at valve replacement without proper annular decalcification has been associated with a high incidence of periprosthetic leak which complicates the postoperative course and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. With the advances in transcatheter therapy, postoperative periprosthetic regurgitation can be managed with devices and primary transcatheter valve implantation could be alternative to standard valve replacement; however, these alternate strategies are not without its own limitations and drawbacks. In the current report, we present a novel strategy to be used in a select group of patients with severe but non-circumferential annular calcifications to prevent/minimize periprosthetic regurgitation during MVR. This involves placing a patch over the posteriorly located calcium bar, thus minimizing tension on the posterior suture line and contain any periprosthetic regurgitation if to develop. This modification has been performed in a total of nine cases with acceptable early results.

Purpose: Reimplanting the radial artery in the left internal thoracic artery as a composite graft allows total arterial revascularization (TAR) without aortic manipulation. The limitation of this strategy is the length of the radial artery required to reach distal right coronary artery (RCA) branches. Our analysis focuses on the feasibility of this strategy.

Methods: A total of 169 patients underwent TAR using the radial artery in a composite grafting configuration. Length of the radial artery, number of sequential anastomoses, heart size, target location, length of the arm, patient height, body surface area, and flow in the composite graft were prospectively collected.

Results: The mean length of the radial artery was 18.02 cm. Patients with a mean length of the radial artery of 15.9 cm needed an extension of the radial artery with another conduit to reach the RCA distal branches. When T-configuration is used, the length of the radial artery should be 0.53 cm per sequential anastomosis to reach the RCA distal branches.

Conclusions: Our study shows that an average length of 18.02 cm of radial artery is needed to reach targets on the RCA distal branches in composite grafting. In T-configuration, we need 0.53 cm more length per anastomosis to achieve TAR.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the effects of initial abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) diameter on aneurysmal sac expansion/shrinkage, endoleaks, and reintervention postelective simple endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

Methods: Overall, 228 patients monitored for >1 year after EVAR were analyzed. Male and female participants with initial AAA diameters <55 mm and <50 mm, respectively, composed the small group (group S), while those with initial AAA diameters ≥55 mm (men) and ≥50 mm (women) composed the large group (group L). Aneurysmal sac expansion of 10 mm and/or reintervention during follow-up (composite event) and its related factors were evaluated.

Results: The 5-year freedom from composite event rate was significantly higher in group S (92.4 ± 2.8%) than that in group L (79.1 ± 4.9%; P <0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed AAA diameters before EVAR in group S (hazard ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.81; P = 0.01) and type II endoleak (T2EL) at discharge (hazard ratio, 2.83; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-6.20; P <0.01) as factors associated with the composite event. The freedom from composite event rate decreased to 51 ± 13% at 5 years in group L with T2EL.

Conclusions: Group S had high freedom from composite event rate; in group L, the rate decreased to 51% at 5 years with T2EL at discharge.

Purpose: Functional preserving sublobectomy (FPSL), a novel balancing strategy for segmentectomy and wedge resection, allows rapid and accurate removal of invisible nodules without the use of any preoperative localization markers. This study aimed to share single-center experience of lateral dorsal basal lung resection based on FPSL, so as to provide new surgical options for thoracic surgeons.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 13 patients who underwent thoracoscopic basal lung resection after FPSL at XX hospital from January 2021 to August 2022.

Results: The operation was successfully performed in 13 patients by using FPSL, including 12 patients with malignant tumors. The mean operating time was 107.5 ± 25.6 min. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.7 ± 2.4 days. None of the patients needed extended excision, such as an entire basal or inferior lobectomy.

Conclusion: Our single-center experience showed that the FPSL method only dealt with the target vessels, which greatly reduced the technical difficulty of surgery. In addition, both arteries and veins could be used as target vessels, and in particular cases such as undeveloped interlobar fissure, the operation could still be completed successfully. Lateral dorsal basal lung resection based on FPSL may be a new surgical option for surgeons.

Purpose: The distal suture line during aortic dissection repair can be performed by a closed technique or by an open technique. This study presents a retrospective comparison of both methods regarding their postoperative outcomes.

Patients and methods: 120 patients who underwent surgery for acute aortic dissection type A were divided into two groups. In group A (n = 81), open distal anastomosis was performed under hypothermic circulatory arrest and selective cerebral perfusion. In group B (n = 39), distal anastomosis was performed with the aorta cross-clamped under mildly hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Primary outcomes were operative mortality, neurologic morbidity, and long-term survival.

Results: Hospital mortality (17.3% for the open group vs. 12.8% for the closed group, p = 0.53), permanent neurologic dysfunction (8.7% vs. 8.3%, p = 1.0), and temporary neurologic dysfunction (31.9% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.298) were not significantly different between groups. No significant difference in actuarial 5- and 10-year survival was observed (88% vs. 86% and 53 vs. 73%, respectively, p = 0.396). After propensity-score adjustment, the technique of distal aortic repair was not found to be a predictor of the primary outcomes.

Conclusion: We conclude that the open repair can be used in most if not all cases of surgical repair of type A acute aortic dissection.