• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.252-255
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• 2009

We performed a hybrid procedure for a 58-year-old man with coronary artery disease and a left subclavian artery stenosis. He underwent left subclavian artery stenting and off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, including grafting the in situ left internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending coronary artery. The post-operative coronary angiogram and computed tomography showed good patency of the graft and stent. He discharged at postoperative 8 days and he has been followed up for six month with an excellent clinical condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.528-531
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• 2009

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is widely used to evaluate the heart function and the result of surgery during a cardiac operation. The incidence of complications associated with TEE is low, yet critical complications such as lower pharyngeal injury and esophageal perforation may happen. We report hereon a case of 77-year old male patient who suffered from injury to the pyriform sinus and concurrent deep neck infection after off pump coronary artery bypass surgery and intraoperative TEE.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.227-230
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• 2002

The vasodilatory shock after cardiopulmonary bypass is defined as the condition involving severe and persistent form of hypotension, tachycardia, normal or increased cardiac output and decreased systemic vascular resistance. Because of the unsuccessful response to infusion of fluids or catecholamine vasopressors, a sustained systemic shock state occurs and results in a high morbidity and mortality. We successfully treated this syndrome of 3 patients after open heart surgery with low dose of arginine vasopressin(AVP). Therefore, we report these cases with a review of related articles.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1263-1266
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• 1996

We have experienced a case of coronary artery bypass surgery without extracorporeal circulation through limited anterior thoracotomy. The lesion was a single vessel disease involving the take off of the left anterior descending artery(LAD) which showed tubular lesion with irregular contour and eccentric stenosis of more than 95% luminal narrowing. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty(PTCA) seemed to have moderate success rate and moderate complication rate. A segment of left internal mammary artery(LIMA) from the second rib down to the sixth rib was harvested through the bed of resected fourth costal cartilage. Anastomosis between LIMA and LAD was performed under beating condition. The patient was extubated in the operation room and showed excellent postoperative course without complications. The coronary angiography on the postoperative 7th day revealed good patency at the anastomosis site.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.576-582
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• 2003

During the Off-Pump Coronary Arterial Bypass surgery (OPCAB), the manipulation of the heart can depress cardiac contractility and cause hemodynamic instability. In this study, hemodynamic parameters were measured during operation and the laboratory and clinical data were investigated to evaluate their effects on postoperative outcome. Material and Method: From March 2001 to August 2002, 50 consecutive patients who underwent OPCAB were included in this study. During the same period, total number of CABG was 71 The blood pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, mixed venous oxygen saturation, and cardiac index were measured before manipulation, after application of stabilizer, and at the end of anastomosis. Postoperatively, we measured the cardiac enzymes such as CK-MB, troponin 1 and checked the amount of inotropes required, chest tube drainage, the amount of transfusion, duration of ventilator support, and duration of ICU stay. Result: The number of mean distal anastomoses was 2.8$\pm$0.9 per patient. On elevation and stabilization of the heart, systolic blood pressure was depressed and pulmonary artery pressure was elevated significantly, but during each anastomosis no significant changes were detected. The peak level of cardiac markers was 29.2$\pm$46.7 for CK-MB, 0.69$\pm$0.86 for troponin 1 on postoperative day f. Among the intraoperative hemodynamic parameters, the ischemic change of EKG and bolus injection of inotropes significantly affected the posteroperative cardiac enzymes. But, no difference other than the level of cardiac enzymes between the two groups with or without the ischemic change of EKG and bolus injection of inotropes was noticed. Conclusion: The significant hemodynamic changes occurred when the heart was elevated and stabilized, however during anastomoses there were no significant changes. Serum cardiac enzymes rose significantly in the group that showed the ischemic charge of EKG or needed the bolus injection of inotropes for maintaining hemodynamic stability intraoperatively, but it did not affect the postoperative outcome. In conclusion, the ischemic change of EKG and the need for bolus injection of intropes during operation may be very indicative for probable ischemia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.202-209
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• 2008

Background: The introduction of Drug Eluting Stents (DES) decreased the number of patients referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The impact of DES on CABG (Step 1) was studied and compared with the 1-year outcome after CABG with DES (Step 2). Material and Method: Surgical results for patients who underwent off-pump CABG (OPCAB) before the introduction of DES(n=298) were compared with those who underwent OPCAB after the introduction of DES (n=288) (Step 1). Postoperative 30-day and 1-year results were also compared between the patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using DES (n=220) and those who underwent OPCAB (n=255) (Step 2). Result: Since the introduction of DES, the ratio of CABG versus PCI decreased. In the CABG group, the number of high risk patients such as elderly patients (age 62 vs. 64, p=0.023), those with chronic renal failure (4% vs. 9%, p=0.021), calcification of the ascending aorta (9% vs. 15%, p=0.043), or frequency of urgent or emergent operations (12% vs. 22%, p=0.002) increased. However, there were no differences in the cardiac death and graft patency rates between the two groups (step 1). During the one-year follow up period, the rate of target vessel revascularization (12.3% vs. 2.4%, p<0.001) and major adverse cardiac events (MACE: death, myocardial infarct, TVR) were higher in the DES than the CABG group (13.6% vs 4.3%) (stage 2). Conclusion: Introduction of DES decreased the number of patients referred for surgery, and increased the comorbidity in patients who underwent CABG. DES increased the rate of target vessel revascularization, and the occurrence of MACE during the 1-year follow-up. However, there was no difference in the incidence of myocardial infarction and cardiac death between the two groups.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.1 s.258
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• pp.12-17
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• 2006

Background: Circulatory arrest under deep hypothermia is an important auxiliary means for surgical correction of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), However, cardiac operations under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest are associated with the risk of post-arrest neurologic abnormalities. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of the surgical correction of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection without the total circulatory arrest. Materiai and Method: Between April 2000 and October 2004, hospital records of 10 patients were reviewed retrospectively. Result: The locations for abnormal anatomical connections were supracardiac in 7 cases, cardiac in 1 case, and infracardiac in 2 cases. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time and aorta cross clamp time were 116.8$\pm$40.7 and 69.5$\pm$24.1 minutes. There was no surgical mortality. Postoperative complications were post-repair pulmonary venous stenosis in 1 case, pneumonia in 1, pneumothorax in 1, wound infection in 1,and diaphragmatic paralysis in 1. All patients without pulmonary venous stenosis were in NYHA class I at mean follow-up of 16.6 months (3$\∼$49 months) Conclusion: We could obtain excellent results by repair without the total circulatory arrest for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.366-368
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• 2008

We report there on a 46-year-old male patient whose angina recurred after a coronary bypass graft (CABG). Occlusion of the first diagonal branch was found on performing a coronary angiogram (CAG), and this occlusion had not previously been present. So, a redo-off pump CABG was performed via a left posterolateral thoracotomy. The anastomosis was made between the descending thoracic aorta and the diagonal branch by using the right radial artery. On the Multi-detector computerized tomography (MDCT) coronary angiogram conducted after the operation, it was confirmed that there was no abnormality in the anastomosis site. A Redo-CABG was successfully performed via left posterolateral thoracotomy in the patient whose disease was only at the diagonal branch.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.978-983
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• 1999

Background: Complement activation with transpulmonary leukocyte sequestration is considered a main mediator leading to ischemia-reperfusion lung(I-R) injury. We studied the role of leukocytes in the formation of I-R injury in ovine cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) model with a membrane oxygenator. Material and Method: Five sheep were used. CPB circuitry consisted of a roller pump(American Optical Corp., Greenwich, CT, USA) and a membrane oxygenator(UNIVOX-IC, Bentley, Baxter Health Corp, Irvine, CA, USA). The CPB time was fixed at 120 min. Ten minutes after the start of CPB, total CPB was established. Thereafter a total CPB of 100 min was performed, followed by another 10 min of partial CPB. The CPB was discontinued and the animals were fully recovered. For measuring left and right atrial leukocyte counts, blood samples were taken before thoracotomy, 5 min and 109 in after the start of CPB, and 30 min and 120 min after weaning. C3a was measured before thoracotomy, 109 min after the start of CPB, and 30 min and 120 min after weaning. Plasma malondialdehyde(MDA) was checked before thoracotomy, 109 min after the start of CPB, and 30 min after weaning. One to two grams of lung tissue were taken for water content measurement before thoracotomy, 109 min after the start of CPB, and 30 min after weaning. Lung biopsy specimens were examined by light and electron microscopy. Result: Of 5 animals, 4 survived the experimental procedures. Of these, 3 animals survived on a long-term basis. No significant differences in transpulmonary gradients of leukocyte were found and no significant complement activation was expressed by C3a levels. MDA level did not show significant changes related to lung reperfusion despite an increase after the start of CPB. On both light and electron microscopic examinations, mild to moderate acute lung change was observed. Interstitial edema, leakage of erythrocytes into the alveolar space and endothelial cell swelling were the main findings. Water content of the lung showed a slight increase after the start of CPB, but there was no statistical significance. Conclusion: These findings indicate that ischemia-repersusion lung injury may not be from complement activation-leukocyte sequestration but from another source of oxygen free radicals related to CPB.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.1 s.246
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• pp.1-12
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• 2005

The primary responsibility of a perfusionist is to operate the heart-lung bypass machine during open heart surgery, which is vital for the successful operative outcome. However, despite the perfusionist's crucial role on the cardiac surgical team, no relevant studies have not yet been conducted in our country. In this regard, this study was performed about the current status of perfusionists in Korea with comparative analysis on the certification and education system of perfusionists in foreign countries. Material and Method: We analyzed the demographic data on the Korean perfusionists conducted in 1994 and 2003, with comparison of recent data on the perfusionists of the nineteen foreign countries. Result and Conclusion: Although all agree that professionalism and responsibility of the perfusionist are essential in conducting a cardiac procedure and bringing about successful outcome, the formally approved training and certification system for perfusionists have not yet been established in Korea. Adequate measures should be done as soon as possible in order to try to obtain the adequate recognition of the profession.