• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.434-439
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• 2023

Pseudoaneurysms are rare but devastating complications of penetrating head traumas. They require rapid surgical or endovascular intervention due to their high risk of rupture; however, complex presentations may limit treatment options. Our objective is to report a case of severe vasospasm, flow diversion, and in-stent stenosis complicating the treatment of a middle cerebral artery pseudoaneurysm following a gunshot wound. A 33-year-old woman presented with multiple calvarial and bullet fragments within the right frontotemporal lobes and a large right frontotemporal intraparenchymal hemorrhage with significant cerebral edema. She underwent an emergent right hemicraniectomy for decompression, removal of bullet fragments, and evacuation of hemorrhage. Once stable enough for diagnostic cerebral angiography, she was found to have an M1 pseudoaneurysm with severe vasospasm that precluded endovascular treatment until the vasospasm resolved. The pseudoaneurysm was treated with flow diversion and in-stent stenosis was found at 4-month follow-up angiography that resolved by 8 months post-embolization. We report the successful flow diversion of an middle cerebral artery (MCA) pseudoaneurysm complicated by severe vasospasm and later in-stent stenosis. The presence of asymptomatic stenosis is believed to be reversible intimal hyperplasia and a normal aspect of endothelial healing. We suggest careful observation and dual-antiplatelet therapy as a justified approach.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.639-644
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• 2009

Characterized by unique phenotypic features such as aortic aneurysm/dissection, hypertelorism, bifid uvula/cleft palate and generalized tortuosity in the arterial system, Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a newly described aggressive connective tissue disorder associated with mutation in the gene encoding transforming growth factor-$\beta$ receptor type I or type II. Some phenotypic manifestations of Loeys-Dietz syndrome overlap with those of Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV. However, due to its more malignant pathophysiologic nature, physicians should be alert to Loeys-Dietz syndrome. High suspicion, early diagnosis, preventive surgery and serial imaging assessments are warranted for optimal management of Loeys-Dietz syndrome. We present here a case of a young patient with Loeys-Dietz syndrome who had aortic rupture, bifid uvula and hypertelorism. We also present a review of the medical literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.331-336
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• 2009

Background: Open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms was initiated by Dubost in 1952. Despite the rapid expansion of percutaneous endovascular repair, open surgical repair is still recognized for curative intent. We retrospectively analyzed surgical outcome, complications, and mortality-related factors for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms over a 6 year period. Material and Method: We analyzed 18 patients who underwent surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysms between March 2002 and March 2008. The indications for surgery were rupture, a maximal aortic diameter >60 mm, medically intractable hypertension, or pain. Result: The mean age was $66.6{\pm}9.3$ years (range, $49\sim81$ years). Twelve patients (66.7%) were males a 6 patients were females. Extension of the aneurysm superior to the renal artery existed in 6 patients (33.3%), and extension to the iliac artery existed in 13 patients (72.2%). Five patients (27.8%) had ruptured aortic aneurysms. The mean maximal diameter of the aorta was $72.2{\pm}12.9$ mm (range, $58\sim109$ mm). Surgery was performed by a midline laparotomy, and 6 patients underwent emergency surgery. The mean total ischemic time from aorta clamping to revascularization was $82{\pm}42$ minutes (range, $35\sim180$ minutes). The mortality rate was 16.7%; the mortality rate for patients with ruptured aneurysms was 60%, and the mortality rate for patients with unruptured aneurysms was 0%. The postoperative complications included one each of renal failure, femoral artery and vein occlusion, and wound infection. The patients who were discharged had a long-term survival of $34{\pm}26$ months (range, $4\sim90$ months). Rupture and emergency surgery had a statistically significant mortality-related factor (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Emergency surgery for ruptured aortic aneurysms continues to have a high mortality, but unruptured cases are repaired with relative safety. Successfully operated patients had long-term survival. Even though endovascular aortic repair is the trend for abdominal aortic aneurysms, aggressive application should be determined with care. Experience and systemic support of each center is important in the treatment plan.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.705-710
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• 2001

Objective : Postoperative seizure is a well documented complication of aneurysm surgery. The purpose of the present study was to analyze risk factors for postoperative seizure. Methods : Between January 1990 and December 1996, we performed craniotomy for ruptured cerebral aneurysms in 321 patients. Among them 206 patients who could be followed up for more than 1 year(range, 1 to 4.6 years) were enrolled to present study. All patients were treated with anticonvulsants for 3 to 18 months postoperatively. We analyze the incidence of postoperative seizure in different sex and age groups, and risk factors associated with postoperative seizures following aneurysm rupture. For statistical processing chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used. Results : In the follow-up period of 1 to 4.6 years(mean, 1.8 years) postoperative seizure appeared in 18 out of 206 patients(8.7%). Mean latency between the operation and the first seizure was 6 months(range, 3 weeks to 18 months). The age of the patients has significant influence on the risk of seizure, it occurred more often in younger patients(p =0.0014). Aneurysm location in the MCA was associated with a significantly a higher risk of seizure(p = 0.042). Eight patients(19%) out of 42 patients who suffered delayed ischemic neurologic deficit(DID) developed seizure. Delayed ischemic neurologic deficit was associated with significantly a higher risk of seizure(p =0.019). Infarct and hypertension were associated with significantly a higher risk of seizure(p <0.05). pre- or postoperative intracranial hematoma(intracerebral or epidural hematoma) was associated with significantly a higher risk of seizure(p <0.0001). H-H grade, Fisher grade, Glasgow Outcome Scale of patients and timing of operation after subarachnoid hemorrhage had no significant relation with the risk of seizure. Conclusion : Factors associated with the development of postoperative seizure were middle cerebral artery aneurysm, delayed ischemic neurologic deficit, infarct on late postoperative CT scan, hypertension, pre or postoperative intracranial hematoma(intracerebral or epidural hematoma). Identification of the risk factors may be help to focus the antiepileptic drug threapy in cases prone to develop seizures. Prospective evaluation is indicated.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2015

Objective : Elevated cellular retinoic acid binding protein-I (CRABP-I) is thought to be related to the abnormal proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Accordingly, a higher CRABP-I level could cause disorganized vessel walls by causing immature SMC phenotypes and altering extracellular matrix proteins which could result in vulnerable arterial walls with inadequate responses to hemodynamic stress. We hypothesized that elevated CRABP-I level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could be related to subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Moreover, we also extended this hypothesis in patients with vascular malformation according to the presence of hemorrhage. Methods : We investigated the CSF of 26 patients : SAH, n=7; unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA), n=7; arteriovenous malformation (AVM), n=4; cavernous malformation (CM), n=3; control group, n=5. The optical density of CRABP-I was confirmed by Western blotting and presented as mean${\pm}$standard error of the measurement. Results : CRABP-I in SAH ($0.33{\pm}0.09$) was significantly higher than that in the UIA ($0.12{\pm}0.01$, p=0.033) or control group ($0.10{\pm}0.01$, p=0.012). Hemorrhage presenting AVM (mean 0.45, ranged 0.30-0.59) had a higher CRABP-I level than that in AVM without hemorrhage presentation (mean 0.16, ranged 0.14-0.17). The CRABP-I intensity in CM with hemorrhage was 0.21 and 0.31, and for CM without hemorrhage 0.14. Overall, the hemorrhage presenting group (n=11, $0.34{\pm}0.06$) showed a significantly higher CRABP-I intensity than that of the non-hemorrhage presenting group (n= 10, $0.13{\pm}0.01$, p=0.001). Conclusion : The results suggest that elevated CRABP-I in the CSF could be related with aneurysm rupture. Additionally, a higher CRABP-I level seems to be associated with hemorrhage development in vascular malformation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.277-280
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• 2008

Tuberculous aortitis is a very rare disease. Furthermore, it is all the more rare for it to be complicated by the development of an aortic aneurysm or the formation of aorto-bronchial fistula. If it is complicated by rupture of the aorta, mortality is very high. If the patient didn't contract tuberculosis, but was expectorating blood, we would have to carry out a chest CT promptly, in order to make a rapid and accurate diagnosis of this disease. A 46-year-old male patient was admitted due to the sudden onset of intermittent hemoptysis and chest discomfort. CT scans of the chest showed an aneurysmal change to the descending thoracic aorta, and the formation of an aorto-bronchial fistula, which originated from this aneurysm and communicated with its left lower lobe. We operated with an artificial vessel graft interposition of the descending thoracic aorta and a left lower lobectomy. Because the diagnosis was of tuberculosis, we started anti-Tbc medication and long term anti-Tbc medication was recommended.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.5
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• pp.1191-1196
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• 2023

Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare disease, and multiple aneurysms of a single bronchial artery are rarer. Regardless of the size of the lesion, it is at risk of rupture and can cause massive hemoptysis or severe pain. We report a rare case of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) of multiple aneurysms of a single bronchial artery. During medical examination, a 64-year-old female was diagnosed with multiple BAAs and endobronchial lesions in the right lower lung on CT 10 years prior to presentation to our hospital. Further evaluation of the lesions was recommended; however, the patient was lost to follow-up. The patient complained of dyspnea and visited our hospital, and the size of the BAA had increased on CT. BAE was done successfully using N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate and detachable coils. Follow up CT after BAE showed significant decrease in extent of inflammatory lesion in the right lung.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.122-126
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• 2001

A non-traumatic, spontaneous hemothorax is rare. The most common causes are coagulopathy, due to anticoagulation treatment, and cancers with a metastasis to the pleural surface. Other unusual causes include thoracic endometriosis, ruptured aortic aneurysm, pulmonary arterio-venous malformation, coagulopathy, Osler-Rendeu-Weber syndrome, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome et cetera. A type 1 neurofibromatosis(Von Recklinghausen's disease) is an autosomal dominant disease that is characterized by multiple skin tumors(neurofibroma) and abnormal skin pigmentation(caf$\acute{e}$-au-lait spots). Some are accompanied by vasculopathy, and are present with a spontaneous hemothorax. Such cases are unusual but fatal. We have recently experienced a case where a young male patient with neurofibromatosis initially presented with hypovolemic shock due to a spontaneous hemothorax. Later, aortography revealed that the cause of the hemothorax was a rupture of a pseudoaneurysm of the right internal mammary artery and as a result, an embolization was performed. Here we report this case with a review of the appropriate literature.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.424-432
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• 2017

Objective : Small unruptured aneurysms (<5 mm) are known for their very low risk of rupture, and are recommended to be treated conservatively. However, we encounter many patients with small ruptured aneurysms in the clinical practice. We aimed to investigate the incidence and characteristics of patients with small ruptured aneurysms. Methods : We reviewed all patients admitted to our hospital with subarachnoid hemorrhage from January 2005 to December 2015. The patients were divided into two groups : those with aneurysms <5 mm (group S) and those with aneurysms ${\geq}5mm$ (group L). The patient's age and sex, size and location of aneurysms, and risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, alcohol use, and smoking were compared between the two groups. Results : Eight-hundred eleven patients were diagnosed with ruptured aneurysms, and 337 (41.6%) were included in group S. The mean size of all aneurysms was $6.10{\pm}2.99mm$ (range, 0.7-37.7); aneurysms with a diameter of 4-5 mm accounted for the largest subgroup of all aneurysms. Female sex was significantly associated with the incidence of small ruptured aneurysms (odds ratio [OR] 1.50, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.02-2.19, p=0.037). Despite female predominance in the incidence of small ruptured aneurysms, the proportion of small ruptured aneurysms in young (<50 years) men was high. In men, there were no significant differences regarding the location of the aneurysms between group S and group L (p=0.267), with the most frequent location being the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) in both group S (50.9%) and group L (51.4%). However, in women, there were significant differences regarding the location of the aneurysms between group S and group L (p=0.023), with the most frequent locations being the ACoA (33.0%) in group S, and the posterior communicating artery (30.6%) in group L. In women, two locations were significantly associated with small (<5 mm) ruptured aneurysms: the ACoA (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.01-4.54, p=0.047) and anterior cerebral artery (OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.19-10.54, p=0.023). Multiplicity and smoking were significantly associated with large (${\geq}5mm$) ruptured aneurysms in women. The use of alcohol was related to small ruptured aneurysms in men over 50 years of age (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.03-4.84, p=0.042). Conclusion : In this study, small (<5 mm) ruptured aneurysms exhibited different incidences by age, sex, location, and risk factors such as multiplicity, smoking, and alcohol use.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.364-374
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• 1980

Twenty-two patients were selected for evaluation of pre-and postoperative pulmonary function. These patients were performed open cardiac surgery with the extracorporeal circulation from March 1979 to July 1980 at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungbook National University Hospital. Patients were classified with ventricular septal defect 5 cases, atrial septal defect 5 cases, tetralogy of Fallot 5 cases, mitral stenosis 4 cases, rupture of aneurysm of sinus Valsalva 1 case, left atrial myxoma I case, and aortic insufficiency 1 case. The pulmonary function tests were performed and listed: [1] respiratory rate, tidal volume [TV], and minute volume[MV], [2] forced vital capacity [FVC] and forced expiratory volume[FEV 0.5 & FEV 1.0], [3] forced expiratory flow [FEF 200-1200 ml & FEF 25-75%]. [4] Maximal voluntary ventilation [MVV], [5] residual volume [RV] and functional residual capacity[FRC], measured by a helium dilution technique. Respiratory rate increased during the early postoperative days and tidal volume decreased significantly. These values returned to the preoperative levels after postoperative 5-6 days. Minute volume decreased slightly, but essentially unchanged. Preoperative mean values of the forced vital capacity, functional residual capacity and total lung capacity decreased [63.2%, 87.2% & 77.3% predicted, respectively], and early postoperatively these values decreased further [19.6%, 76.0% & 38.0% predicted], but later progressively increased to the preoperative levels. In residual volume, there was no decline in the preoperative mean values [100.9% predicted] and postoperatively the value rather increased [106.3-161.7% predicted]. Forced expiratory volume [FEV 0.5 & FEV 1.0] and forced expiratory flow [FEF 200-1200 ml & FEF 25-75%] also revealed significant declines in the early postoperative period. There was no significant difference in values of the spirometric pulmonary function tests, such as FEF 1.O and FEF 25-75% between successful weaning group [17 cases] extubated within 24 hrs post-operatively and unsuccessful weaning group [5 cases] extubated beyond 24 hrs. Static compliance and airway resistance measured for the two cases during assisted ventilation, however, any information was not obtained. Long term follow-up pulmonary function studies were carried out for 8 cases in 9 months post-operatively. All of the results returned to the pre-operative or to normal predicted levels except FVC, FEV 1.0, and FEF 25-75% those showed minimal declines compared to the pre-operative figures.