• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.559-565
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• 2003

By improving the flow pattern in Fontan circuit, total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) could result in a better outcome than atriopulmonary connection Fontan operation. For the patients with impaired hemodynamics after atriopulmonary Fontan connection, conversion to TCPC can be expected to bring hemodynamic and functional improvement. We studied the results of the revision of the previous Fontan connection to TCPC in patients with failed Fontan circulation. Material and method: From October1979 to June 2002, eight patients who had failed Fontan circulation, underwent revision of previous Fontan operation to TCPC at Yonsei University Hospital. Intracardiac anomalies of the patients were tricuspid atresia (n=4) and other functional single ventricles (n=4). Mean age at TCPC conversion was 14.0$\pm$7.0 years (range, 4.6~26.2 years) and median interval between initial Fontan operation and TCPC was 7.5 years (range, 2.4~14.3 years). All patients had various degree of symptoms and signs of right heart failure. NYHA functional class was 111 or IV in six patients. Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (n:f), cyanosis (n=2), intraatrial thrombi (n=2), and protein losing enteropathy (PLE) (n=3) were also combined. The previous Fontan operation was revised to extracardiac conduit placement (n=7) and intraatrial lateral tunnel (n=1). Result: There was no operative death. Major morbidities included deep sternal infection (n=1), prolonged pleural effusion over two weeks (n=1), and temporary junctional lachyarrhythrnia (n=1). Postoperative central venous Pressure was lower than the preoperative value (17.9$\pm$3.5 vs. 14.9$\pm$1.0, p=0.049). Follow-up was complete in all patients and extended to 50,1 months (mean, 30.3$\pm$ 12.8 months). There was no late death. All patients were in NYHA class 1 or 11. Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia developed in a patient who underwent conversion to intraatrial lateral tunnel procedure, PLE was recurred in two patients among three patients who had had PLE before the convertsion. There was no newly developed PLE. Conclusion: Hemodynamic and functional improvement could be expected for the patients with Fontan circulatory failure after atriopulmonary connection by revision of their previous circulation to TCPC. The conversion could be performed with low risk of morbidity and mortality.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2013

Caval syndrome is a life threatening condition caused by heavy worm burden in right cardiac chambers including right atrium, right ventricle, and vena cava and results in mechanical interference in tricuspid valvular excursion and blood flow to lower pulmonary arteries. A mechanical worm removal is the choice of option for treating this condition in dogs. In this study, we developed a new mechanical worm removal method using modified extraction brushes for treating dogs with caval syndrome. With this newly developed method, we successfully removed heartworms in two dogs with caval syndrome. Although the number of cases applied was small, authors found this method can be a good alternative retrieval method for mechanical worm removal in dogs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.599-604
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• 2002

Acute or chronic aortic dissection may lead to the rupture, which is the major cause of death. A dissecting aneurysm of ascending aorta(Stanford type A dissection) can rupture into the superior vena cava producing a aortocaval fistula, which is rare, but has been reported mostly in the cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm. We report a case of 67-year-old man with type A chronic dissection and aortocaval fistula, presenting symptoms of superior vena syndrome. The preoperative diagnosis was composed of radiologic examinations, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging angiography and aortography. The dissecting aneurysm was resected and replaced, and the aortocaval fistula was repaired under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The details are described here.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.927-930
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• 1996

We experienced six cases of pseudoaneurysm of the peripheral artery which occurred after stab wound or after diagnostic and operative procedures. Among 6 cases, 4 cases of pseudoaneurysm were developed in the femoral arteries, and others were the subclavian and the axillary artery. Two of 6 cases were combined with previous arterio enous fistula. Doppler imaging and angiogram were performed for the dignosis and an operation. Operative procedures were resection of the aneurysm, ligation of the involved arteries and reconstruction of the artery with the autogenous saphenous vein or the cephalic vein graft. Each operations were successfully performed without any disability.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.449-453
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• 1996

A successful resection of dissecting thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm is presented in a patient who had undergone kidney transplantation 20 months previously. Because the transplanted kidney is more sensitive to ischemia than the normal kidney, a femoro-femoral bypass with a pump oxygenator was used for perfusion of the transplanted kidney during crossclamping. During the clamping time of 1)8 minutes, kidney perfusion was maintai ed with a perfusion pressure of (19 to 31) 27mmHg and the flow was 0.53 to 0.81 L/min. 32mm sized Hemashield (22 Cm in length) was interposed. The postoperative course was uncomplicated. We believe that performing the femoro- femoral bypass with a pump oxygenator is an effective and simple method for renal and spinal protection in such operations.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.986-990
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• 1997

Twenty-three patients underwent operations to repair a congenital heart disease through right anterolateral thoracotomy(RALT) between December 1989 and December 1996. Defects repaired 22 atrial septum(13 ostium secundum;3 lower sepal defect;4 posterior septal defect; 1 sinus venosus;1 ostium primum) and 1 ventricular septal defect. There was no operative mortality or late morbidity directly related to RALT. The RALT incision is a safe and effective me hod to a median sternotomy in selective patients(especicially female). The cosmetic results are very good during the follow up periods.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.6 s.275
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• pp.463-466
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• 2007

A 21 year old male patient was admitted for pain, edema and a tingling sensation in his right arm. He underwent venography and an MRI scan, and he was diagnosed with Paget-Schroetter syndrome. Thoracoscopic first rib re-section was performed after failure of thrombolytic therapy, The symptoms were relieved after the operation and he was discharged with warfarin medication. First rib resection is generally performed through the standard transaxillary or supraclavicular route. We report here on a successful thoracoscopic first rib resection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.371-374
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• 2009

A 36-year-old woman with a history of spontaneous abortion and photosensitivity was admitted to our hospital with periumbilical pain and lower extremity edema. The preoperative CT scan revealed massive inferior vena cava thrombus, which extended from the suprarenal portion of the vena cava to the hepatic vein. The laboratory data showed an elevated level of anticardiolipin antibody, which suggested the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome. After medical management, she underwent an operation for removal of an vena cava thrombus by performing cavectomy and thrombectomy. After the operation, she has been taking oral anticoagulation and she is doing quite well at 9 months after her operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 2003

This patient was an 53-year-old man who had undergone Sengstaken-Blackmore tube insertion for esophageal varix bleeding. Two days after Sengstaken-Blackmore tube insertion, he developed severe left hemothorax and was transferred to our hospital. The esophagoscopic findings revealed a large perforation lengthening 8-cm in the intrathoracic esophagus. A left thoracotomy was performed 33 days after the injury due to repeated varix bleedings and poor conditions. An 8-cm longitudinal perforation of the intrathoracic esophagus with gross suppurative empyema was found. Primary repair and esophageal exclusion was performed 2cm proximal and distal to the perforation, using rows of nonabsorbable staplers(TA stapler 60 $\times$ 4.8) and large bore thoracostomy tubes were placed for local drainage. Six days after intrathoracic esophageal exclusion, an esophagogram revealed a leakage at just above the proximal stapling site. A cervical esophageal exclusion was performed using the same method. One hundred thirty seven days after exclusion operation for the intra-thoracic esophageal perforation, the patient was able to eat per orally without any secondary esophageal reconstructive surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.96-99
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• 2010

Artificial lung support may be necessary in various conditions during the performance of bilateral lung transplantation, and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has usually been used. Yet using the conventional CPB techniques may increase risk of bleeding and early allograft dysfunction due to the large dosages of heparin and the complement activation. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is able to support gas exchange and maintain the hemodynamics without administering high-dose heparin for anticoagulation. We performed sequential bilateral lung transplantation with ECMO support. ECMO is a valuable tool when performing lung transplantation and it has the potential to replace CPB.