1/1021. aortitis with multiple aneurysms mimicking infective endocarditis. aortitis usually produces aortic insufficiency by aortic root dilation. In rare cases the inflammation may involve the aortic valve cusps, causing valvular insufficiency. A patient in whom aortitis produced valvular masses, with aortic and peripheral arterial aneurysms, embolic episodes and aortic insufficiency is described. Valve replacement for suspected infective endocarditis was complicated by homograft dehiscence and multiple false aneurysms. Although immunosuppression was successful in decreasing the patient's vasculitis, he became infected and died of complications of aspergillus infection. ( info) |
2/1021. A case of Austrian's syndrome with ocular involvement. A man with a history of alcohol abuse was admitted to hospital with pneumonia and meningitis due to streptococcus pneumoniae. Because of the worsening of respiratory function and the persistence of fever, an echocardiographic examination was made, which showed endocarditis with destruction of the aortic valve. The patient underwent surgical valve replacement. In addition, he showed a choroiditis in the left eye which improved after antibiotic therapy. The interest of this case lies in the rarity of the triad described as Austrian's syndrome and in the coexistent fourth septic localization, namely in the left eye. ( info) |
3/1021. An unusual combination of cardiovascular surgical disorders. A 53-year-year-old man presented with aortic regurgitation, subvalvular and supravalvular aortic stenoses, and aneurysms involving the ascending aorta, the arch, and the innominate, right subclavian, and left common carotid arteries. Surgery consisted of resection of the obstructive lesions, replacement of the aortic valve, graft replacement of the ascending aorta, and the arch resection of innominate and subclavian artery aneurysms and reconstruction with a side limb to which the right carotid artery was anastomosed. The patient has remained asymptomatic with full employment. ( info) |
4/1021. Syphilitic aortic regurgitation. An appraisal of surgical treatment. During the 10 years from 1964 to 1973, fifteen patients with severe syphilitic aortic regurgitation were treated surgically at the National Heart Hospital. In thirteen the valve was replaced and in two it was repaired. In addition four had replacement of an aneurysmal ascending aorta with a Dacron graft and seven some form of plastic repair to the coronary ostia. Three patients died within 1 month of surgery and a further six during the follow-up period which varied from 1 to 55 months (mean 25-5). The six survivors have been followed-up for an average of 33 months. Factors contributing to this high mortality were analysed and it was found that the mean duration of effort dyspnoea was 22 months in the survivors compared with 48 months in those who had died. Similarly the average duration of nocturnal dyspnoea was 4 months in the survivors compared with a mean of 8 months in those who had died. Only six out of the fifteen patients had angina; this was present in two of the survivors and in four of the fatalities. The pulse pressure, heart size, and haemodynamic findings were similar in the two groups. The prognostic value of an elevated erythocyte sedimentation rate was also examined. It was concluded that preoperative investigations should include aortography, coronary arteriography, an assessment of left ventricular function, and whenever possible myocardial biopsy. These data were interpreted as suggesting that patients should be referred for surgery at an earlier stage in the disease--certainly before the onset of cardiac failure and--and that if this more aggresive attitude was adopted, as it has been in non-syphilitic cases of aortic valve disease, the present high mortality in this group would be reduced. ( info) |
5/1021. Double valve repair and maze procedure for degenerative valvular disease and chronic atrial fibrillation. A 61-year-old male with degenerative aortic valve regurgitation, mitral valve regurgitation and chronic atrial fibrillation underwent a combined reparative procedure consisting of aortic valve repair, mitral valve repair and maze procedure. Surgery was successful and postoperatively the patient is in NYHA class I, without anticoagulation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first clinical report of this combined reparative surgery. As advances are made in valve repair surgery, it is expected that similar combined procedures will be performed more frequently in future. The benefits of avoiding valve replacement and anticoagulation after such combination treatment is discussed. ( info) |
| A 53-year-old man developed severe acute systemic illness three weeks after an upper respiratory tract infection. Serial blood cultures grew moraxella catarrhalis. During antibiotic treatment, fever and infectious parameters disappeared, but severe aortic regurgitation developed. aortic valve replacement was performed, during which extensive destruction of the aortic valve was noted. endocarditis due to M. catarrhalis is very rare with, to our knowledge, only six cases having been reported to date. M. catarrhalis is a normal commensal of the upper respiratory tract, but in unpredictable circumstances can become an important pathogen. bacteremia due to this organism therefore requires prompt treatment, as serious organ complications, including endocarditis, can occur. ( info) |
7/1021. Massive left atrial thrombus: a case report. This case report describes a patient with aortic and mitral valvular disease who had a massive left atrial thrombus. The left atrial thrombus produced a disappearance of signs of mitral stenosis and a reversed pan diastolic mitral valve gradient. This gradient occurred in the absence of any diastolic mitral insufficiency and may have been due to artifactual lowering of the left atrial pressure by an organized left atrial clot. ( info) |
8/1021. Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer at the proximal aorta complicated with cardiac tamponade and aortic valve regurgitation. A 56-year-old man had a penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer originating in the proximal ascending aorta, which is an unusual case of penetrating aortic ulcer complicated with the aortic valve regurgitation and cardiac tamponade. This hemodynamically unstable patient was successfully treated by conservative management to control his blood pressure and was also monitored closely with follow-up imaging studies. ( info) |
| takayasu arteritis is a rare chronic vasculitis primarily involving the aorta and its main branches. We report an adolescent girl with takayasu arteritis who presented with an isolated aortic valve regurgitation as part of a systemic inflammatory process. This patient was initially misdiagnosed as having rheumatic heart disease and the correct diagnosis was made only 1 year later. CONCLUSION: takayasu arteritis should be considered among the diagnostic possibilities in patients who present with an unexplained systemic inflammatory syndrome and a cardiac murmur. ( info) |
10/1021. An alternative repair technique for aortic periprosthetic leakage. In case of aortic periprosthetic leakage, there are several methods of repair. When valve replacement or refixation is not suitable an alternative repair technique, 'curtaining' with a Dacron patch to prevent leakage is presented. ( info) |