• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.10
• /
• pp.728-733
• /
• 2003

Background: The aim of the current study was to assess the effects of total arterial myocardial revascularization (TAMR) with bilateral internal mammary arteries. Material and Method: 139 consecutive patients who underwent off pump coronary artery bypass surgery from January 2000 to December 2001 were included in the current retrospective study. Patients were divided into those receiving bilateral internal mammary artery, BITA (n=85) and those receiving single internal mammary artery, SITA (n=54). Result: There was only one death in each group. No significant differences were noted in the total ICU and hospital stay; 2.4$\pm$1.7 and 11.2$\pm$17.7 days, in the BITA group, respectively and 2.8$\pm$2.7 and 9.7$\pm$7.1 days in the SITA group, respectively (P>0.05). The mean number of distal anastomosis of 3.9$\pm$0.7 was slightly higher in the SITA group compared to the SITA group, which was 3.1$\pm$0.8. Myocardial infarction occurred in 7 patients (BITA group: 2, SITA group: 5) and deep sternal infection necessitating reoperation occurred in 4 patients (BITA group: 3, SITA group: 1). Coronary angiogram was performed in the immediate postoperative period in 104 patients (BITA group: 64/85, SITA group: 40/54). Of these patients, stenosis in the LAD anastomosis site occurred in 4 patients (BITA group: 2, SITA group: 2). A total of 8 anastomotic sites were stenotic in the entire series of which percutaneous intervention was performed in 3 patients and none required reoperative coronary artery bypass. Conclusion: The results of the current data did not show a significant difference in patiency rate with bilateral internal mammary artery use for CABG supporting the feasibility of its use as a viable alternative method for TAMR.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.11
• /
• pp.1218-1222
• /
• 1996

The reported incidence of postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock not responding to conventional therapy is still 0.1 to 0.8%. For this group of patients, more aggressive form of circulatory support must be employed. Centrifugal pumps are a ventricular assist device most commonly used on this purpose, due to low cost and easy availability. Currently, however, clinical experience of centrifugal pumps as a ventricular assist device is rarely reported in Korea. From January 1992 to January 1996, 2986 patients underwent cardiac operations on cardiopulmonary bypass at Seoul National University Hospital. Refractory postcardiotomy cardiac failure requring ventricular support with a Biomedicus centrifugal pump developed in ten of these patients. There were eight men and two women, ranged in age from nine years to 77 years with a mean of 50$\pm$20 years. The primary surgical procedures consisted of isolated coronary revascularization in four patients, combined coronary revascularization and aortic valve replacement in two, aortic dissection repair in two, pulmonary embolectomy in one, and heart transplantation in one. Of the ten patients, five had left ventricular assistance, one had right ventricular assistance, and four had biventricular assistance. Duration of ventricular assistance ranged from 24 to 175 hours, with a mean of 76$\pm$51 hours. Seven patients were weaned from ventricular assistance, and four of them discharged. The causes of death for nonsurvivors were progressive cardiac failure in two patients and multiorgan failure, intractable ventricular fibrillation, irreversible brain injury, and mechanical problem, respectively, in the other four. Survival was not predicted by time on cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamp time, or duration of ventricular support. Major complications included bleeding(7), renal failure(6), infection(3) and neurologic complication(2). These results indicate that a centrifugal pump can provide reasonably satisfactory short-term circulatory support.