Salvage primary tumor resection is sometimes considered for isolated local failures after definitive chemoradiation, urgent matters, such as hemoptysis (palliative intent), and in cases judged to be contraindicated for chemotherapy or definite radiation due to severe comorbidities, despite an initial clinical diagnosis of stage III or IV disease. However, salvage surgery is generally considered to be technically more difficult, with a potentially higher morbidity. This review discusses the current topics on salvage thoracic surgery such as the definition of salvage surgery and its outcome, and future perspectives.

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Purpose: To investigate the effects of non-drug interventions on the sleep quality of patients after mechanical cardiac valve implantation.Methods: In this prospective, randomized, controlled trial, 64 patients scheduled for mechanical mitral valve replacement were recruited. Patients underwent cognitive behavioral therapy and wore noise cancelling earplugs and eye mask. Sleep quality was evaluated on the 4th after admission and the 5th days after operation. The primary outcome was the total sleep quality score differences between the 4th day after admission and the 5th day after operation. Results: All patients had been suffering from poor sleep quality for a month before admission. There was no difference between both groups on the 4th day after admission. Overall sleep quality in the intervention group was better than in the control group on the 5th day after operation. The subjective sleep quality of the patients in each group was significantly lower on the 5th day after the operation than on the 4th day after admission (P <0.05).Conclusion: Non-drug intervention could improve the sleep quality of patients after mechanical cardiac valve implantation and help the postoperative recovery of the patients. (Trial registration: ChiCTR-TRC-14004405, 21 March 2014.)

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Objectives: This study examined the effects and molecular mechanisms of deep hypothermic low flow (DHLF) on brain tissue in three genotypes of 3-week-old C57BL/6 mice (N = 180).Methods: Mice in the model condition were subjected to cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) while undergoing DHLF, then reperfused and rewarmed. Brain tissue damage was measured with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, and protein expression was measured by Western blot at 2 h, 24 h, and 72 h after treatment; messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expressions were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at 2 h, 24 h, and 72 h.Results: The expressions of p-Akt1 and p-GSK-3β were significantly higher in the model condition than the condition across genotypes, but both were significantly lower in the Akt1 mice. The expressions of Akt1 mRNA and Akt3 mRNA, but not Akt2 mRNA, were significantly higher in the model condition across genotypes. Brain damage was significantly greater in the Akt1 knockout gene mice compared with Akt2 gene knockout and wild type mice at 24 h and 72 h.Conclusion: These results suggest that the neuroprotective effects of DHLF reflect increased expression of p-GSK-3β induced through the PI3K/Akt signal pathway. Findings of real-time PCR imply that Akt1 mRNA and Akt3 mRNA may influence the expression of p-Akt1 and p-GSK-3β in mice undergoing DHLF.

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Objective: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the results of our experience with axillary artery cannulation via a side graft in aortic valve replacement in patients with ascending aortic atherosclerotic disease.Methods: From January 2002 to 2012, we operated on 76 patients for aortic valve disease with the use of the axillary artery for arterial inflow in our institute. The indications for cannulation of the axillary artery were aortic aneurysm in 37 patients, severe aortic atherosclerosis in 28 patients, and re do surgery in 11 patients.Results: Right axillary artery cannulation via a side graft provides sufficient antegrade aortic flow of 2.6 ± 0.1 L/m² during cardiopulmonary bypass. No additional arterial cannulation was necessary to obtain sufficient perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass. Although permanent perioperative stroke was observed in two patients, this did not occur during the operation. There were no problems with cannulation or wound and graft infections. During the follow-up period, there were no thrombotic events due to an axillary graft stump in the right upper extremities.Conclusions: Axillary artery cannulation via a side graft is a useful and safe option for cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with atherosclerotic disease of the ascending aorta undergoing aortic valve replacement.

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Objective: To review our experience of mitral valve repair for degenerative posterior mitral leaflet prolapse, comparing the outcomes of chordal reconstruction and leaflet resection. Methods: From 2000 to 2014, 205 patients underwent successful repair for degenerative posterior mitral leaflet prolapse. One hundred and four (51.5%) underwent leaflet resection (group R) and 98 (48.5%) underwent chordal reconstruction (group C). Follow-up was 96.5% complete with a mean follow-up of 6.1 ± 4.0 years.Results: Mean age was 57.0 ± 11.0 years. Males accounted for 73.8%. Ring annuloplasty was performed in 195 (96.5%). There were no operative mortalities within 30 days. Overall survival was 97.8% ± 1.3% at 7 years. Outcomes at 6 years: freedom from severe mitral regurgitation (group R 97.1% ± 2.0%, group C 100%, P = 0.288), freedom from moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (group R 97.1% ± 2.0%, group C 94.4% ± 5.4%, P = 0.541). Group C patients received larger annuloplasty rings and had significantly lower postoperative transmitral gradients. Conclusions: Leaflet resection and chordal reconstruction are effective techniques for repair of degenerative posterior mitral leaflet prolapse. Both techniques result in a low incidence of recurrent mitral regurgitation. Chordal reconstruction accommodates larger annuloplasty rings and is associated with lower transmitral gradients.

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Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has evolved into a standard technique in coronary artery bypass grafting. However, a detailed investigation in Japanese population undergoing OPCAB has not yet been fully elucidated.Methods: A total of 1109 consecutive patients undergoing isolated OPCAB between 2006 and 2013 at Juntendo University were reviewed. The data was evaluated in the light of previously published OPCAB-associated reports.Results: There were 904 male (81.5%) and a mean was 67.5 ± 9.8 years. Eight patients (0.5%) died within 30 days postoperatively or before discharge, which was equivalent to or rather better than the previously reported mortality rates, including the European System for Cardiac Operation Risk Evaluation II (2.1 ± 2.1) data. A morbidity analysis revealed that prolonged intubation (>24 h) occurred in 43 patients (3.6%), surgical site infections in 18 (1.9%), neurological complications in 13 (1.3%). A reduced preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (less than 40%) was found to be a risk factor for early postoperative death (odds ratio 10.58, respectively, p <0.05) in our cohort.Conclusions: Early postoperative mortality and morbidity rates in Japanese population after OPCAB were rather satisfactory and similar to those reported by other countries.

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Purpose: Although pannus overgrowth by itself was not the pathology of structural valve deterioration (SVD), it might be related to reoperation for SVD of the bioprostheses.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing reoperation for SVD after implantation of the third-generation Mosaic aortic bioprosthesis and macroscopic appearance of the explanted valves was examined to detect the presence of pannus.Results: There were 10 patients and the age for the initial aortic valve replacement was 72 ± 10 years old. The duration of durability was 9.9 ± 2.0 years. Deteriorated valve presented stenosis (valvular area of 0.96 ± 0.20 cm²; pressure gradient of 60 ± 23 mmHg). Coexisting regurgitant flow was detected in two cases. Macroscopically, subvalvular pannus overgrowth was detected in 8 cases (80%). The proportion of overgrowth from the annulus was almost even and pannus overgrowth created subvalvular membrane, which restricted the area especially for each commissure. In contrast, opening and mobility of each leaflet was not severely limited and pannus overgrowth would restrict the area, especially for each commissure. In other two cases with regurgitation, tear of the leaflet on the stent strut was detected and mild calcification of each leaflet restricted opening.Conclusion: In patients with the Mosaic aortic bioprosthesis, pannus overgrowth was the major cause for reoperation.

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Simultaneously occurring Morgagni hernia and paraesophageal hernia is an extremely rare clinical condition with only six case reports in the English-language literature and only two laparoscopic repair reports. We report a 73-year-old woman with both Morgagni hernia and paraesophageal hernia who underwent successful laparoscopic repair of the hernia defects using transabdominal wall suturing. The laparoscopic operation can provide excellent exposure and repair the hernia defect easily with minimal invasiveness and fewer complications. This case report reported the concurring Morgagni and paraesophageal hernias and validated the feasibility of laparoscopic repair both hernias simultaneously.

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We report the rare and interesting case of a primary lung cancer detected 5 years after cancer of unknown primary (CUP) of a mediastinal lymph node (LN) was resected. A 40-year-old male was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of unknown primary in a mediastinal lymph node after resection of the mediastinal tumor. Five years after resection of the CUP in mediastinal LN, a small, abnormal nodular shadow in left upper lobe was detected by chest CT. This pulmonary tumor was diagnosed as a lung adenocarcinoma. The pathological and immunohistological findings of the resected pulmonary tumor resembled those of the LN resected 5 years before. We speculated that the pulmonary lesion represented primary lung cancer that enlarged later than the metastatic mediastinal LN. This case illustrates the importance of careful observation and long-term follow-up in patients treated for CUP of a thoracic LN.

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We report a rare case of protrusion of an invasive thymoma with intraluminal growth through the thymic vein into the superior vena cava (SVC) without direct invasion of the vessel walls. The tumor and left brachiocephalic vein were resected, and the tumor in the SVC was removed with temporal bypass of the right brachiocephalic vein and right auricle. Histopathological finding showed that the thymoma had protruded via a thymic vein. During resection of a thymoma, a detailed examination of thymic vein is necessary to ensure that no tumor tissue remains in the vessels.

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