• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.508-511
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• 2008

The incidence of the Buerger's disease is higher for the far-East Asian population that for western people, but the surgical outcomes have been documented to be unsatisfactory. So, more aggressive and multi-focused treatment modalities should be warranted such as stopping smoking or intravenous vasodilator infusion with surgery. We report here on a successful surgical case of intra-arterial direct infusion of Prostaglandin E1 concomitant with surgical bypass and lumbar sympathectomy to treat Buerger's disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.668-673
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• 1998

During the past several years, the maze operation has become the most effective method of treatment for chronic atrial fibrillation. When the maze procedure is done concomittantly with other cardiac operations, surgeons, in their initial experiences, may be concerned about the additional operative risks and uncertainty of the results. We performed the Cox-maze III procedure in six cases of chronic atrial fibrillation associated with mitral, mitral & aortic, or coronary arterial disease. Maze III procedure was done with open mitral commissurotomy(3 cases), mitral valve replacement(1 case), aortic and mitral valve replacement(1 case), and two-vessel coronary bypass graft(1 case). In spite of rather prolonged aortic cross clamp time, cardiac recovery was uneventful in all cases. No cases required reexploration for postoperative bleeding. All patients showed regular sinus rhythms immediate or between 2 and 20 days postoperateratively. Transient postoperative supraventricular arrhythmarias were easily controlled by various antiarrhythmic agents. In follow up evaluations, all cases showed regular sinus rhythm on ECG and the right and left atrial transport function was confirmed by Doppler echocardiography in all except one. Though our experience was limited in case number, the Cox-maze III procedure was effective in controlling the chronic atrial fibrillation without serious additional operative risks.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2000

background: The right gastroepiploic artery(RGEA) has been use in coronary artery bypass grafting from 1987. The RGEA is the most useful arterial conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) followed by the internal mammary artery, Materials and method: From Septermber 1998 to February 1999 the RGEA was used for coronary artery bypass grafting in 11 patients 10 males and 1 female. Postoperative angiography was performed in all of the patients before discharge Result: Early patent rate of the RGEA was 100%. The flow competition of the REGA graft was seen in 4 patients(36.4%) The flow pattern war RGEA dependent type in the inner diameter of the recipient coronary artery 1.5 mm the inner diameter of the RGEA 2.5 mm and the rtio of inner diameter of the RGEA and the recipient coronary artery 1(p<0.05) Conclusion : Early results of CABG with RGEA was satisfactory. However the RGEA graft has a tendency of flow competition in relation to the inner diameter of graft. Preoperative angiographic evaluation for RGEA and meticulous operative technique are required for a good surgical results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.339-345
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• 1998

Arrhythmias are common after cardiac surgery and are multifactorial. Intravenous magnesium administration reduces the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias in patient with symptomatic heart failure or acute myocardial infarction. This study was designed to evaluate the role of magnesium in preventing PVCs(premature ventricular contractions) occurred frequently after coronary artery bypass graft(CABG). 50 consecutive patients were prospectively entered into a randomized trial to determine the efficacy of postoperative magnesium therapy on the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias after elective coronary artery bypass graft. The patients underwent coronary angiography, echocardiography, electrocardiography and clinical laboratory study preoperatively. Continuous electrocardiographic monitoring was done and magnesium level was checked 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours postoperatively. Study group of 25 patients were given 4g of magnesium continuously over the first 24 hours and then 2g/24hours from 25 to 72 hours. The clinical characteristics of both groups were similar(p<0.05). The preoperative mean serum magnesium concentration was similar in both study group, 1.59mg/dl and control group, 1.71mg/dl. The mean postoperative serum magnesium concentration in study group elevated significantly over postoperative 12hours through 36hours(p<0.05). The postoperative mean serum magnesium concentration in control group declined and remained significantly depressed over immediate postoperation through 72hours. The mean serum magnesium concentration was significantly greater in the study group compared with the control group over postoperative 3hours through 72hours(p<0.05). There was a significant decrease in the incidence of arrhythmias such as PVCs(p<0.01) which might jeopardize hemodynamics. There were no recognized adverse effects of magnesium Administration. In conclusion, prophylactic magnesium administration seems to lessen the incidence and severity of rrhythmias after coponary artery bypass graft.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.366-370
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• 2005

Background: In general, cardiac surgery has been performed via median sternotomy. During the past decade, improvements in endoscopic equipment and operative techniques have resulted in development of minimally invasive cardiac operation using small incisions. With the advent of a voice controlled camera-holding robotic arm (AESOP 3000, Automated Endoscope System for Optimal Positioning), cardiac surgery entered the robotic age. Material and Method: Between April 2004 and December 2004, a total of seventy eight patients underwent robotic cardiac surgery, of whom sixty four patients underwent robot-assisted minimally invasive cardiac surgery via 5cm right lateral minithoracotomy using voice controlled robotic arm, femoral vessels cannulation, percutaneous internal jugular cannulation, transthoracic aortic cross clamp. Other fourteen patients underwent MIDCAB via internal mammary artery harvesting using AESOP. Result: Robotic cardiac surgery were mitral valve repair in 37 cases, mitral valve replacement in 10 cases, aortic valve replacement in 1 case, MIDCAB in 14 cases, ASD operation in 9 cases, and isolated Maze procedure in 1 case. In mitral operation, mean CPB time was $165.3\pm43.1$ minutes and mean ACC time was $110.4\pm48.2$ minutes. Median length of hospital stay was 6 days (range 3 to 30) in mitral operation, 4 days (range 2 to 7) in MIDCAB, and 4 days (range 2 to 6) in ASD operation. For complications, 3 patients were required by reoperation for bleeding. There was no hospital mortality. Conclusion: Our experience of robot cardiac surgery suggests that many cardiovascular surgeons will be able to perform minimally invasive cardiac operations through small incisions with robot-assisted video-direction. Well-designed studies and close long-term follow-up will be required to analyze the benefits of robot-assisted operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1056-1062
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• 1998

Background: We prospectively investigated types, incidences, and risk factors for arrhythmias after open heart surgery in adults. Materials and methods: From June 1994 to May 1995, we performed 302 cases of adult cardiac surgery at our department. This study group consisted of 150 men and 152 women, with a mean age of 43.9±28.0(range 16 to 75)years. We included all the patients irrespective of their operative types or disease entities. Results: The overall incidence of arrhythmias after open heart surgery in adults was 58.3%. The incidence of postoperative arrhythmias for redo-valvular heart surgery was 77.8%, and those for simple valvular procedure, coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic surgery, and congenital heart disease were 70.8%, 45.3%, 40.0%, and 29.5%, respectively. Eight out of twelve risk factors showed statistical significance for the development of postoperative arrhythmias. They were preoperative history of arrhythmias, antiarrhythmic drug medication, previous cardiac surgery, larger left ventricular end-diastolic, end-systolic dimension, left atrial dimension on preoperative echocardiogram, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross clamping time. Univariated analyses for age and types of cardioplegic solution did not show statistical significance. Conclusions: Prospective study on postoperative arrhythmias occurrence, treatment and prevention of is warrauted to draw more clear conclusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 1990

From Nov. 1987 to Aug. 1989, 12 patients with coronary occlusive disease underwent coronary bypass surgery at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Catholic University Medical College. The results were as follows: 1. There were 9 males and 3 females ranged in age from 25 to 69 years with a mean of 50.4 years. 2. The prevalent locations of coronary artery stenosis were left anterior descending branch [9 cases], right coronary artery[4 cases], first diagonal branch[3 cases], left circumflex artery [2 cases] in order of frequency. 3, Among 12 cases, 5 cases had an episode of previous myocardial infarction respectively. 4. We performed triple bypass operation in 3 cases, double bypass in 2 cases and single bypass in 7 cases using great saphenous vein. 5. Postoperative complications were cerebral embolism[1, died], pleural effusion[1], temporary cardiac arrest[1], supraventricular tachycardia[1] and late gastric ulcer bleeding[1]. 6. The follow up periods were ranged from 8 months to 30 months and all survivors were on antiplatelet medication showing free of angina.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.393-398
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• 1987

Unstable angina pectoris is often premonitory to an acute myocardial infarction. Surgical revascularization in this syndrome is of great potential benefit and relatively low mortality. A patient with unstable angina pectoris is reported. A 65-year-old man complained of dyspnea and pain in the left anterior chest. The pain was brought on by mild exercise, occurred at rest and sleeping time. The pain worsened over a month period and more aggravated in intensity and duration. Physical examination showed no abnormalities except hypertension and laboratory data were within normal limits. His anginal pain was not relived by nitroglycerin ingestion. Preoperative coronary angiograms revealed significant obstruction [>90%] of left anterior descending coronary artery. Aorto-left anterior descending coronary bypass with autogenous saphenous vein used as conduit was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful and he was discharged on 16th postoperative day in a healthy condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.11
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• pp.922-924
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• 2004

A 55 year old male was admitted for dyspnea. The patient was diagnosed as acute myocardiac infarction, and coronary artery bypass grafting was performed with cardiopulmonary bypass. At postoperative day ＃1, Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome was developed with fever, leukocytosis, tachycardia, tachypnea and low systemic vascular resistance. The patient was recovered after being treated with high dose of (36 $\mug/min)$ norepinephrine, and was discharged.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.231-234
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• 2002

Moyamoya disease is an unusual cerebrovascular disorder characterized by occlusive intimal dysplasia of the distal internal carotid and proximal cerebral arteries as well as other collateral arteries. However, moyamoya diseases are recently being reported as a systemic process. We experienced one case of coronary artery occlusive disease affected by moyamoya disease. The patient was a 35-year-old female, experiencing intermittent NYHA class ll dyspnea and exertional chest pain for 6 months and right paresthesia for 1 month before admission. Cerebral artery angiogram showed abnormal cerebrovascular systems and confirmed moyamoya disease with cerebral infarction of the left frontal lobe. In coronary artery angiogram, left coronary artery was not visualized due to total occlusion of the left main ostium and left coronary blood flow was supplied from normal right coronary artery. CABG was performed with OPCAB. Both internal mammary arteries were used for LAD and LCx. Intraoperative coronary artery findings showed intimal hyperplasia and no definite thrombi, and nondiseased coronary arteries were good and patent. We concluded that this patient's coronary artery disease was affected by moyamoya disease, and moyamoya disease should be evaluated in the extracerebral cardiovascular system.