I joined the cadaver workshop hosted by Prof. Vitaly at the National University Heart Center in Singapore. The day began with a lecture, followed by ward and ICU tours. I was struck by the fact that general wards operated without air conditioning despite 30°C heat, with nurses working tirelessly under fans. The resident guiding us presented fluently in English, spoke with patients in Chinese, and could also use Malay and local dialects—a reminder of how much more effort we Japanese must make in language skills. In the evening, I gave a 30-minute dinner lecture to colleagues from India, the Philippines, and Singapore, followed by 40 minutes of intensive Q&A. Their deep interest in KAC made me realize that what we see as routine can be a significant challenge in other institutions. I feel grateful for our environment and determined to continue improving our practice.
Today’s Kawasaki Aortic Surgery online conference. Today, we discussed the sizing and adaptation of the frozen elephant trunk that we started using at our center. The artificial graft used in different countries were also different, and we had an interesting discussion.
Aortic aneurysms with underlying dissection often develop calcified false lumen walls and heavy thrombus over time. This makes anastomosis more difficult and increases the risk of embolic events. Timely surgery before excessive enlargement is crucial. Regular follow-up should never be skipped.