No abstract

The prognostic nutritional index is an effective prognostic tool used in gastrointestinal surgeries. However, its value has not been verified in cardiovascular surgeries. This study aimed to investigate its utility in hemodialysis-dependent patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We retrospectively reviewed data of 110 hemodialysis-dependent patients who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2006 and July 2016. 20 variables were evaluated for short- and long-term mortality prediction. Patients were divided into high and low prognostic nutritional index groups with values > 34 (n = 90) and ≤ 34 (n = 20), respectively. Preoperative characteristics and surgical outcomes were compared between both groups. Overall, the in-hospital mortality rate was 9% (n = 10) and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year actual survival rates were 69%, 58%, and 40%, respectively. Univariate analysis for hospital death revealed age ≥ 70 years, body mass index ≤ 18 kg/m, total cholesterol ≤ 120 mg/dl, concomitant procedures, albumin concentration ≤ 3.0 g/dl, and prognostic nutritional index ≤ 34 as risk factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed age ≥ 70 years and concomitant procedures as independent risk factors. Whereas ejection fraction ≤ 30% and prognostic nutritional index ≤ 34 were strong independent predictors of long-term death. Patients in the low prognostic nutritional index group had significantly longer postoperative hospitalization, higher incidence of complications, significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate, and significantly lower actual survival rate. The low prognostic nutritional index affected surgical outcomes in hemodialysis-dependent patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Perioperative nutrition management based on the prognostic nutritional index may improve surgical outcomes.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the clinical performance of the Bicarbon valve (Sorin Biomedica Cardio, Saluggia, Italy) implanted at our center in Japan.MethodsBetween January 1997 and December 2011, 415 patients in our institution were implanted with the Bicarbon valve. Nine of these recipients were excluded from the study because they had already undergone valve implantation and received a Bicarbon valve in a different position. The remaining patients were analyzed for evaluation of the postoperative clinical outcomes. Of the 406 patients (mean age 60.2 ± 11.7 years), 179 underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR), 149 mitral valve replacement (MVR), and 78 both aortic and mitral valve replacement (DVR).ResultsThere were 10 early deaths (2.5 %: 4 in the AVR group and 6 in the MVR group). Three hundred eighty-nine patients were followed up (95.8 % completeness of follow-up) with a mean follow-up of 6.6 ± 4.2 years overall (AVR 6.8 ± 4.2, MVR, 6.7 ± 4.4, and DVR 5.7 ± 3.4 years) and a cumulative follow-up of 2661 patient-years (1214, 1001, and 446 patient-years for AVR, MVR, and DVR, respectively). Ninety-nine patients died (3.7 % per patient-year: 22 valve-related and 77 valve-unrelated deaths). Survival at 10 years was 74.1 ± 4.0 % in the AVR group, 73.7 ± 4.2 % in the MVR group, and 61.0 ± 7.9 % in the DVR group. The linearized incidence of thromboembolic complications, bleeding complications, prosthetic valve endocarditis, paravalvular leaks, and sudden death in all patients was 0.5 %, 0.5 %, 0.2 %, 0.2 %, and 0.4 % per patient-year, respectively. The incidence of valve-related complications and reoperation was 1.6 % and 0.4 %, respectively. No other valve-related complications were observed.ConclusionsThe Bicarbon prosthetic heart valve has shown excellent clinical results and is associated with a low incidence of valve-related complications.

BackgroundRupture of the ureter with extravasation resulting from an iliac aneurysm is extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of ureteric rupture with urinary extravasation secondary to an iliac aneurysm.Case presentationAn 80-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for sudden onset of severe abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a large left internal iliac aneurysm (6.5 cm in diameter) and a ureteric rupture with leakage of contrast media from the left ureter, indicating a spontaneous ureteral rupture. The patient was treated with placement of a ureteral double-J stent under endoscopic and X-ray fluoroscopic guidance and endovascular aortic repair. His postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged on postoperative day 20. A computed tomography scan at 2 weeks after surgery showed no contrast extravasation from the ureter or end leak.ConclusionCombination treatment with ureteral and endovascular stenting is effective in avoiding aneurysmal rupture and the serious consequences of a ureteral rupture, which include a perinephric or retroperitoneal collection, abscess formation, subsequent urosepsis, and graft infection.

Case: A 56-year-old man presented with a sudden severe abdominal pain 13 days after the onset of type B acute aortic dissection.Chest computed tomography revealed type B aortic dissection, and the true lumen was narrowed by the expanding false lumen. Blood flow through the celiac trunk, superior mesenteric artery, and left renal artery was reduced. Blood flow through the distal abdominal aorta and bilateral femoral arteries was clearly recognized. Laboratory findings such as transaminases were rapidly worsening.Outcome: The patient underwent emergency fenestration of the abdominal aorta and recovered without organ failure. Conclusions: Rapidly worsening laboratory findings led us to emergency operation with successful results. Serial monitoring of laboratory findings is the key for adequate timing of operation.