BackgroundPhysiological abnormalities are often observed in patients prior to cardiac arrest. A modified early warning score (MEWS) system was introduced, which aims to detect early abnormalities by grading vital signs, and the present study investigated its usefulness.MethodsBased on previous reports, the Chubu Tokushukai Hospital-customized MEWS was developed in Okinawa, Japan. The MEWS was calculated among all inpatients, and the rates of in-hospital cardiac arrests (IHCAs) were compared according to the score. The warning zone (WZ) was set as 7 or more because of the high possibility of acute deterioration. The MEWS system was introduced to provide immediate interventions for patients who reached the WZ in accordance with the callout algorithm. The numbers of IHCAs were compared between the 18 months before and after introduction of the MEWS system.ResultsThe numbers of patients who experienced IHCA with each score were as follows: score of 6, 1 of 556 patients (0.18 %); score of 7, 4 of 289 (1.40 %); score of 8, 2 of 114 (1.75 %); and score of 9 or more, 2 of 56 (3.57 %). There was no significant difference in the mean age or sex between before and after the introduction of the MEWS system. The rate of IHCAs per 1000 admissions decreased significantly from 5.21 (79/15,170) to 2.05 (43/17,961) (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe Chubu Tokushukai Hospital-customized MEWS was applied to all inpatients, and the rate of IHCA decreased owing to the introduction of the system, as the system enables early interventions for patients who have the possibility of acute deterioration.

Scalp arteriovenous malformations are treated by surgical excision in many patients. We report a patient with a scalp arteriovenous malformation who was successfully treated by a combination of ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) and transarterial coil embolization. This patient was a 52-year-old man with a subcutaneous mass in the left retroauricular region. An angiogram showed that the mass was a nidus of arteriovenous malformation. We performed UGTI after transarterial coil embolization. No recurrence or complication was reported during 2 years of follow-up. This report describes the advantages of UGTI and the method for complete occlusion of the collateral artery.

Background: A 64-year-old woman presented with dilatation of the distal aortic arch secondary to chronic type B aortic dissection. Case Report: The patient underwent fenestrated thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for closure of the entry site, and reconstruction of the left subclavian artery with a covered stent. On the 40th postoperative day, a retrograde type A aortic dissection (RTAD) was observed on computed tomography and she underwent emergency surgery. The entry tear, related to the proximal bare metal stent, was located in front of the aortic arch. A partial aortic arch replacement was performed. Conclusion: Consideration of the risk factors of RTAD is important when performing TEVAR.

Background: A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed with Kommerell’s diverticulum in the setting of a right aortic arch on computed tomography. Case report: Although asymptomatic, the maximum diameter of the aneurysm was 55 mm; thus, she underwent surgery to prevent rupture of the aneurysm. A bypass was constructed from the left common carotid artery to the left subclavian artery. A stent-graft was deployed from the distal right subclavian artery, and coil embolization of the diverticulum was performed via the left subclavian artery. She was discharged after 12 days of surgery. The postoperative four-month follow up showed a smaller aneurysm. Conclusion: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair is feasible and effective for Kommerell’s diverticulum.

We describe complete emergency arterial coronary artery bypass grafting performed on the beating heart of a 73-year-old man with situs inversus totalis and triple-vessel disease. The right internal mammary artery was anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery in situ. The first and second obtuse marginal branches of the circumflex coronary and the posterior descending branch of the right coronary artery were sequentially revascularized using the left internal mammary and radial arteries in situ. The only abnormality was that the position of the heart mirrored that of a normal heart. Beating heart surgery appears to be as safe in patients with dextrocardia as in the general population. However, the position of the surgeon must be reconsidered for optimal handling of stabilizers and to facilitate access to anastomosis sites. Understanding mirror-image coronary arterial anatomy is important for successful surgical outcomes among patients with dextrocardia.