• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1139-1141
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• 1997

Recently, minimally invasive approach via limited incision becomes one of the rapidly developing strategy in cardiac surgery as it gives less surgical trauma and is more satisfactory to the patients in respect to operative scar although the surgical technique is more demanding. Here, we report two cases of aortic valve replacement via limited transsternal incision. The methodology is described with review of the relevant literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.379-382
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• 1999

Background: There are several advantages to the ministernotomy approach. The skin incision is much smaller than the traditional median sternotomy incision. This approach allows the patients to return to normal life more quickly and provide them with good self-image. Material and Method: From April to July 1998, we performed a ministernotomy via lower half sternum in 25 patients. There were 10 males(40%) and 15 females(60%) with a mean age of 30${\pm}$16 years(range 3 to 55 years). The body surface area ranged from 0.58 to 1.9 m2(mean 1.5 to 0.4 m2). A vertical skin incision of 11cm in mean length was made in the midline over the sternum extending inferiorly from the third intercostal space. The sternum was divided vertically in the midline from the xyphoid process to the level of second intercostal space using a standard saw and then transversely to the left(n=17) or to both sides(n=4) of the second intercostal space using an oscillating saw. The sternum was divided vertically only in children (n=4). Result: The ministernotomy was used in 25 consecutive patients undergoing mitral valve replacement(n=10), repair of ventricular septal defect(n=4) and atrial septal defect(n=11). There was no significant complication related to ministernotomy. The mean ICU stay time 20 hours. Patient and family acceptance was very high. Conclusion: We concluded that minimally invasive cardiac surgery via ministernotomy can be done safely. These methods may benefit the patients with lesser discomfort, smaller incision, and earlier ICU discharge than the traditional incision.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.466-471
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• 1998

Purpose: The safety and efficacy of minimally invasive techniques in congenital heart surgery were tested in this study. Materal and method: Between July 1997 and November 1997, a total of 46 children were underwent minimally invasive cardiac operations at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Age and body weight of the patients averaged 34.6${\pm}$41.8 (Range: 1∼148) months and 14.5${\pm}$9.9(Range: 3.0∼40.0) kg, respectively. Twenty eight patients were male. Preoperative surgical indications included 15 atrial septal defects, 25 ventricular septal defects, 1 foreign body in aorta, 3 partial atrioventricular septal defects, 1 total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(cardiac type), and 1 tetralogy of Fallot. After creating a small lower midline skin incision starting as down as possible from the sternal notch, a vertical midline sternotomy extended from xyphoid process to the level of the second intercostal space, where one of the T-, J-, I- or inverted C-shaped lower lying mini-sternotomy was completed with a creation of unilateral right or bilateral trap door sternal opening. A conventional direct aortic and bicaval cannulation was routine. Result: A mean length of skin incision was 6.1${\pm}$1.0(range: 4.0∼9.0) cm. A mean distance between the suprasternal notch and the upper most point of the skin incision was 4.0${\pm}$1.1 (range: 2.0∼7.0) cm. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, and the operation time were 62.9${\pm}$20.0(range: 28∼147), 29.8${\pm}$12.8(range: 11∼79), and 161.1${\pm}$34.5 (range: 100-250) minutes. A mean total amount of postoperative blood transfusion was 71.0${\pm}$68.1 (range: 0∼267) cc. All patients were extubated mean 11.3${\pm}$13.8(range: 1∼73) hours after operation. A mean total amount of analgesics used was 0.8${\pm}$1.8(range: 0∼9) mg of morphine. The mean duration of stay in intensive care unit and hospital stay were 35.0${\pm}$32.2 (range: 10∼194) hours and 6.2${\pm}$2.0(range: 3∼11) days. There were no wound complications and hospital deaths. Conclusion: This short-term experience disclosed that the minimally invasive technique can be feasibly applied in a selected group of congenital heart disease as well as is cosmetically more attractive approach.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.155-157
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• 1989

Median sternotomy is the incision of choice to allow access to the anterior mediastinum, heart, or both lungs. The vertical skin incision generally gives a poor cosmetic result. In certain patients particularly those who are asymptomatic and undergoing short, low risk procedures, cosmetic considerations are of relatively greater importance. A bilateral horizontal submammary skin incision with dissection of a flap including the subcutaneous tissue and breast allows exposure of the sternum so that a median sternotomy can be performed. We have performed this incision in 12 patients undergoing open heart surgery. Although obtaining the usual midsternal exposure takes some extra time, results have shown the va1ue of this approach and its benefit to the patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.438-441
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• 1999

Background: Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has emerged as a new approach to the conventional median sternotomy. The suggested advantages of the minimally invasive technique includes improved cosmesis, simplicity of opening and closing the chest, less postoperative pain, less risk of infection and bleeding, early rehabilitation, and reduced length of hospital stay. Material and Method: Between March 1997 and December 1997, we performed 36 cases of minimally invasive cardiac surgery via three different approaches ; right paramedian, transverse sternotomy and mini-sternotomy with upper sternal split. Result: There was no operative mortality. Postoperative complications were atrial fibrillation in 4 patients, bleeding that required reoperation in 1 patient, and delayed wound closure in 1 patient who underwent 3rd redo operation. Average length of skin incision was 9.1${\pm}$0.9 cm. Average duration of stay in the intensive care unit was 48${\pm}$29 hours and the patients were discharged 10${\pm}$7 days after the operation. Conclusion: In spite of the difficulties in defibrillation, deairing, and cardiac decompensation, minimally invasive approaches will be applied increasingly because of the suggested advantages.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.792-798
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• 1998

Background: There are various tracheal diseseas which cause the obstruction of the trachea: postintubation tracheal stenosis, tracheal cancer, thyroid cancer, endotracheal tuberculosis, et al. Recently surgical resection and reconstruction of the trachea has been adopted as the safe method for tracheal lesions. Materials and methods: We report our experience and results of resection and reconstruction for various obstructive tracheal lesions in 38cases from 1985 to 1996. Length of resection of the trachea was up to 6 cm. Twenty lesions were approached by cervical collar incision, 12 lesions by cervicosternal incision and 4cases needed transthoracic approach. Surgical procedures consisted of resection and tracheotracheal anastomosis in 32 cases, resection and laryngotracheal anastomosis in 6cases and in addition laryngeal release was necessary to release anastomotic tension in 3cases. Results: The complications were 4 minor wound infections, 2 mild suture line granulomas, 1 vocal cord palsy, 2 pneumonias and 1 systemic candidiasis. Two patients who had poor consciousness and pnemonia and one who developed systemic candidiasis were expired after operation. Conclusion: We suggests resection and reconstruction of trachea is optimal procedure for up to 6cm long tracheal lesions. However, for the patients with poor consciousness or poor general conditions would be the conservative treatment preferred to the tracheal reconstruction because of high serious complications and mortalities.