• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.9 s.254
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• pp.601-608
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• 2005

Background: To maximize the histological advantage and minimize the physiological disadvantage, we have been using the skeletonized gastroepiploic artey (GEA) as a free graft for total arterial revascularization. The aims of the current study was to assess the efficacy of the skeletonized GEA as a composite or extended graft for total arterial revascularization. Material and Method: Between January 2000 and Feburary 2005, 133 patients (43 female, mean age=61.8 yrs) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with a skeletonized GEA as free graft (22 extended, 107 composite and 4 others) were enrolled in this study. Coronary angiograms were performed in the immediate (median 44 days, n=86), early (median 366 days, n=56) and midterm (median 984 days, n=29) postoperative periods. Result: There were 3 ($2.2\%$) early and 4 ($3.3\%$) late cardiac-related deaths. The mean number of distal anastomoses per patient was 3.34 for total graft and 1.92 for GEA graft. The immediate, early, and midterm GEA patency were 157/159 ($98.7\%$), 106/142 ($94.6\%$), and 53/56 ($94.6\%$), respectively. During follow-up, four patients required percutaneous intracoronary intervention because of GEA and target coronary artery stenosis or competitive flow. Conclusion: These data demonstrate satisfactory clinical and angiographic results in the skeletonized GEA as free graft for total arterial revascularizatioh. Although we need a careful longer follow-up, the skeletonized GEA as a free graft will be a valuable option 'to be' for CABG.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.182-187
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• 2002

Background: There have been many reports of coronary angiographic findings after coronary bypass grafting, most of which are focused on the graft patency rate of the bypass conduits. However, postoperative angiography can provide numerous informations other than patency rates that are useful for establishing operative strategy. Material and Method: We studied 73 patients in whom coronary angiography was done after more than 1 month of CABG. Mean interval from the operation to coronary angiography was 10.6 months and the reasons for coronary angiography follow up were residual or recurrent angina in 54 patients, abnormalities on myocardial perfusion scan or echocardiography in 13 patients, and for simple follow up in 6 patients. Result: Overall graft patency rate was 80.9% (internal thoracic artery 100%, saphenous vein 75.0%) in patients of simple follow up and 61.6%(internal thoracic artery 81.1%, saphenous vein 55.3%) in patients with ischemia. Progression of native coronary arterial disease proximal to the grafting site was found in 50 patients(68.5%). Among 201 coronary arterial branches that had not been completely occluded preoperatively, ninty five branches(47.3%) revealed progression of diameter stenosis by more than 20% on the follow up study. Among them, 64 branches(31.8%) progressed to total occlusion. The incidence of disease progression was highter in the coronary arteries with patent grafts(57.5%) than in those with occluded grafts(36.3%)(p<0.05), Comparing internal thoracic artery graft with saphenous vein graft, internal thoracic artery was superior to saphenous vein, not only in terms of patency(83.3% vs 56.6%), but also in terms of result of later percutaneous intervention success rate(100% vs 62%, p<0.05). Conclusion: Due to the considerable incidence of progression of native coronary artery stenosis in the early postoperative periods, bypass grafting of a vessel with borderline stenosis, especially with vein graft, must be done prudently. And it was confirmed again that revascularization of left anterior descending artery is most important and that internal thoracic artery was superior to saphenous vein.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.10 s.267
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• pp.754-758
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• 2006

Background: Surgical role for acute coronary syndrome has been reduced in recent years due to development of drug eluting stent. We evaluated the surgical results of acute coronary syndrome in our hospital. Material and Method: Between January 2001 and August 2005, 416 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) under diagnosis of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE ACS). Mean age was $61.8{\pm}9.0$ years and 276 (66.3%) patients were male. 324 (77.9%) patients had triple vessel disease and 92 (22.1%) had left main disease at angiographic study. 236 (56.7%) patients had hypertension and 174 (41.8%) had diabetes mellitus. Conventional on-pump CABG was performed in 194 patients (46.6%) and off-pump CABG in 222 (53.4%). Total arterial revascularization with no touch technique was done in 97 patients (23.3%). The number of total distal anastomosis was 1,306 and the number per patient was $3.21{\pm}1.71$. Result: Surgical mortality rate was 1.0% (4 patients) and postoperative complication rate was 15.6% (65 patients). Graft patency was checked at mean $3.7{\pm}7.6$ months (from 1 to 37 months) postoperatively with multi-directional computed tomography in 152 patients. Left internal mammary artery was patent in 95.3%, right internal mammary artery in 98.1%, radial artery in 92.2% and saphenous vein in 89.0%. Conclusion: The surgical treatment of NSTE ACS showed relatively low mortality rate and good graft patency rate. Further study is needed to compare the long term results with drug eluting stent.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.601-605
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• 2004

Addisonian crisis, also commonly referred to as adrenal crisis, occurs when the cortisol produced by the adrenal gland is insufficient to meet the body's needs. Pituitary apoplexy usually occurs as hemorrhagic and ischemic necrosis in the presence of a pre-existing pituitary adenoma, and is a rare sequela of cardiovascular surgery. Most pituitary apoplexy that happens in cardiovascular surgery has been known to be related to harmful effects of the cardiopulmonary bypass. The case presented herein illustrates occult pituitary apoplexy that occurred after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. In this patient, . the initial signs of addisonian crisis was similar to those of septic shock, and were overlooked. However, once recognized, they were reduced dramatically with standard stress-dose cortisone.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2004

Background: For the treatment of isolated left main coronary artery disease, twelve arterial revascularizations with Y-composite grafts using left internal thoracic artery and radial artery or right gastroepiploic artery were peformed. This study was performed to investigate whether V-composite graft can satisfy the blood flow required to make myocardium act properly or not. Borderline stenotic lesions on the left main coronary artery, which are very prone to remodel the bypassed vessels due to competitive flows, were also considered. Material and Method: Among 247 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting from March 2000 to April 2003, 12 patients (4.7%) who had received total arterial revascularizations for the isolated left main coronary artery disease were studied retrospectively. Result: left anterior descending arteries were bypassed with left internal thoracic artery by off-pump technique in all patients, however, 2 cases of left obtuse marginal branches were bypassed under on-pump beating heart. Except for one patient, who did not have an obtuse marginal branch more than 1 mm in diameter, 11 patients had gone through complete arterial revascularizations by use of the Y shape arterial graft. Among five patients who had less than 75% stenosis, one patient showed string sign on left internal thoracic artery grafted to left anterior descending artery. However, two grafts to obtuse marginal blanches were completely obstructed and one showed slender sign. There were no graft-dominant flow in patients with stenotic lesion less than 75%. On the contrary to the result of patients with stenotic lesions less than 75%, all the patients with stenotic lesions more than 90% showed graft-dominant blood flow. Conclusion: In conclusion, it is assumed that, when stenotic lesions are over 90%, coronary artery bypass grafting with an Y shape arterial graft could possibly give enough help to the obstructed coronary arteries in blood supplying to myocardium, which needs massive quantity of blood to act well. However, when patients have borderline stenoses, through scrupulous examinations, more prudent and flexible decisions are required in choosing the treatment methods, such as, direct anastomosis of vein or artery to aorta, or adding supplementary treatment methods like percutaneous coronary intervention, rather than choosing a fixed treatment methods.

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.173-173
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• 1998

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.715-721
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• 1999

Background:The number of old patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) is increasing. With the more recent advances in operative techniques, the age at which CABG is indicated has also increased. This study evaluated the risk factors associated with the hospital mortality and the morbidity following CABG in elderly patients. Material and Method: Between March 1991 and June 1998, we retrospectively reviewed 45 consecutive patients aged 65 years or older who underwent CABG. We compared the data with the results of 179 patients under the age 65 years operated during the same period. Result: Mean age was 68${\pm}$1.41 years(range 65 to 74 years). Emergency surgery was required in 4, and elective surgery in 41 patients. The mean number of distal anastomosis per patient was 3.62 ${\pm}$0.81 and mean aortic cross-cramp time was 69.84${\pm}$18.5 minutes. Thirty patients had Canadian class III or IV preoperatively, but 43 patients had class I or II postoperatively. The left ventricular ejection fraction increased significantly from 54.23${\pm}$10.62% preoperatively to 58.14${\pm}$9.88% postoperatively(p<0.05). Postoperative complication was pneumonia in 2 patients, acute renal failure in 2 patients, sternal wound infection in 1 patient, and postoperative myocardial infarction in 1 patient. There were two postoperative deaths. The causes of deaths were low output syndrome in one patient, and sepsis due to pneumonia in the other patient. The hospital mortality was higher in the elderly group(4.4 versus 2.86%) but was not statistically significant(p>0.05). Incremental risk factors for hospital deaths in the elderly were emergent operation, preoperative PTCA, postoperative use of IABP and postoperative ARF(p<0.05). The duration of hospital stay after operation was significantly longer for the elderly group than the younger group(19.27${\pm}$12.51 vs 15.55${\pm}$6.99 days; p＜ 0.05). Follow-up was complete for 34 of the hospital survivors and ranged from 1 to 73 months(mean: 23.58${\pm}$19.56 months). There was no late mortality of cardiac origin. Conclusion: Age is an important factor in selecting optimal management for elderly patients with coronary compromise, but age alone should not dictate the choice of therapy. Coronary artery bypass surgery in the elderly is associated with acceptable early mortality and excellent long-term results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.246-253
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• 2010

Background: Our objective was to review the long-term prognosis of patients with preoperative mild to moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Material and Method: We prospectively followed 1,000 consecutive and systematic off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting patients who were operated on between September 1996 and March 2004; follow-up was achieved for 97%. Sixty-seven patients (6.7%) had mild to moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation at the time of surgery. Operative mortality, actuarial survival and major adverse cardiac event free survival were compared to assess the effect of ischemic mitral regurgitation. Result: Average follow-up was $66{\pm}22$ months. Patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation were older (p<0.001), had lower ejection fractions (p<0.001) and more comorbidities. Significantly more female patients presented with ischemic mitral regurgitation (p=0.002). There was no significant difference in operative mortality and perioperative myocardial infarction in ischemic mitral regurgitation patients (p=0.25). Eight-year survival was decreased in ischemic mitral regurgitation patients ($39.6{\pm}11.8%$ vs $76.7{\pm}2.2$, p<0.001). However, after correcting for risk factors, mild to moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation was not found to be a significant independent risk factor for long-term mortality (p=0.42). Major adverse cardiac event free survival at 8 years was significantly lower in ischemic mitral regurgitation patients ($53.12{\pm}12%$ vs $77{\pm}2%$, p<0.001). After correction for risk factors, ischemic mitral regurgitation remained a significant independent cause of major adverse cardiac events (HR: 2.31), especially congestive heart failure and recurrent myocardial infarction. Conclusion: In our series, patients with preoperative mild to moderate ischemic mitral regurgitation had a higher prevalence of preoperative risk factors than patients without ischemic mitral regurgitation. They had comparable perioperative mortality and morbidity, but, in the long term, were found to be at elevated risk for recurrent cardiac events.

• Proceedings of the KTCVS Conference
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• 1998.10a
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• pp.171-171
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• 1998

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.324-330
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• 2009

Background: The long term patency of the free saphenous vein graft, which is the most commonly used conduit, anastomosed to the ascending aorta has been reported to be lower than that of arterial grafts. We evaluated early clinical outcome and the angiographic patency of the saphenous vein composite graft based on the left internal thoracic artery, and compared these results with those of using arterial composite grafts. Material and Method: From September 2006 to October 2008, 419 patients underwent off-pump coronary revascularization. Among those, 295 patients (70.4%) were revascularized using composite grafts (group I: saphenous vein composite graft, n=71, group II: arterial composite graft, n=224). The clinical results were compared between the 2 groups. Early postoperative coronary angiograms were performed in all the patients. ($1.6{\pm}1.6$ days) Result: The number of the distal anastomosis per patient was $3.5{\pm}1.0$ and $3.1{\pm}0.8$ in group I and II, respectively (p=.002). The operative mortality (n=2, 0.7%) and postoperative complications such as atrial fibrillation (n=73, 24.7%), perioperative myocardial infarct (n=6, 2.0%), acute renal failure (n=6, 2.0%), reoperation for bleeding (n=5, 1.7%), cerebrovascular accident (n=3, 1.0%), and mediastinitis (n=1, 0.3%) were not related with the use of saphenous vein graft. Early coronary angiograms revealed a 96.9% (126/130) for the saphenous vein grafts and a 98.8% (479/485) for the composite graft in group II (p=.231). Conclusion: Our data suggested that a saphenous vein graft might be used as analtemative conduit to the arterial graft for constructing a composite graft, as based on our early clinical and angiographic results. Further study is required to establish the long-term efficacy of using a saphenous vein as a composite graft.