General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery
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Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Aug 2017
ReviewA nationwide survey of aortic valve surgery in Japan: current status of valve preservation in cases with aortic regurgitation.
Although aortic valve-sparing operations are performed throughout Japan, the indications, specific repair techniques, and outcomes have not been reported in full. Thus, we conducted the first nationwide survey of aortic valve-sparing surgery. ⋯ To date, aortic valve-sparing operations have been performed for limited patients at limited institution in Japan, but the early outcomes have been excellent.
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Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Aug 2017
Case ReportsSuccessful use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation as a bridge to lung T transplantation in a patient with pulmonary fibrosis.
As the Japanese organ donor allocation system does not permit the allocation of lungs at a priority level to patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), many of these patients die before suitable donor lungs become available. We report our first experience with ECMO as a bridge to lung transplantation (LTx) from a brain-dead donor. A 40-year-old man with interstitial lung disease who was listed for LTx 3 years previously, experienced progressive deterioration of respiratory function. ⋯ He was conscious, could consume food and liquids, and could exercise normally while awaiting LTx. Lungs from a marginal donor became available on day 18 after ECMO initiation. He was transported to the transplantation center and successfully underwent LTx.