• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.251-264
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• 1976

Forty three patients with disease of the aorta were admitted in this department during the period from beginning of 1956 to the end of 1976. They consisted of eighteen cases of aortic aneurysms, eight cases of Takayasu's arteritis, eight Leriche syndromes, six dissecting aneurysms, two aortic coarctations and one case of vascular ring. Of eighteen aortic aneurysms, twelve were operated resulting in eight survivors. Three of four mortalities were in shock preoperatively because of aneurysmal rupture. Among six dissecting aortic aneurysms, four were type III and two were type I according to DeBakey's classification. For the purpose of relief of acute arterial insufficiency in the lower extremities, a re-entry operation grafting a Y-shaped dacron vessel between abdominal aorta and common iliac arteries was performed. The patient regained consciousness soon after the operation and was well until postoperative second day, when severe convulsion developed abruptly and died. And in a chronic case of type III dissecting aneurysm, a dacron graft bypass shunt between ascending aorta and lower descending thoracic aorta with resection of the aneurysm was performed, but acute severe aortic insufficiency developed soon after the operation and fell into intractable heart failure resulting in death. The cause of the aortic insufficiency seems to be retrograde dissection from the proximal anastomosis site in the ascending aorta. Three cases were treated medically with Wheat's regimen. Two of them survived with relief of symptoms. Eight patients of Takayasu's arteritis were all females and aged between twenty and forty-four averaging twenty nine. Bypass graft operation between aortic arch and carotid arteries using Y-shaped nylon prostheses were performed in three patients resulting in death in two cases postoperatively due to severe cerebral arterial insufficiency during the procedure. All the patients with Leriche syndrome were males and over forty. In two cases, bypass graft with Y-shaped dacron vessel between terminal aorta and common iliac or femoral arteries were performed with good result. Thromboembolectomy or thromboendarterectomy was employed in three patients, of whom one was aggravated in sexual problem postoperatively. One out of two aortic coarctations and a vascular ring were treated surgically with excellent results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.740-744
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• 2002

Retrograde cerebral perfusion under hypothermic circulatory arrest is a simple and useful adjunct to avoid cerebral ischemic injury in the treatment of aortic arch pathology. In the surgery of distal aortic arch and proximal descending aortic lesions through the left thoracotomy incision, right atrium-retrograde cerebral perfusion (RA-RCP) through a venous cannula positioned into the right atrium is simpler than retrograde cerebral perfusion through superior vena cava. The time limits for RA-RCP during aortic arch reconstruction have yet to be clarified. We, herein, present a case with uneventful recovery after RA-RCP of 94 minutes during reconstruction of aortic arch and descending aorta. These data suggest that RA-RCP, as an adjunct to hypothermic circulatory arrest, may prolong the circulatory arrest time and thus prevent ischemic injury of the brain, even when RA-RCP exceeds 90 minutes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.604-610
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• 2001

Stanford type A aortic dissection after graft replacement of ascending aorta and/or aortic arch required careful follow-up due to progression of the enlarged false lumen or the recurrence of dissection. From June 1984 to June 200, 124 patients underwent operations for type A aortic dissection. Among them, 6 patients underwent reoperation due to recurred aneurysm or dissection. We evaluated that the causes of reoperation, including Marfan syndrome, the approach and result of reoperation, and strategy to reduce the risk of reoperation. Material and method: The first operation was done on acute stage in 4 cases, and chronic stage in 2 cases. There were Marfan syndromes in 3 cases. The entry site was the ascending aorta for all cases except one who underwent Bentall operation(n=3) or ascending aorta graft replacement(n=2). In one case, Bentall operation and total arch replacement was performed due to chronic type A dissection with multiple fenestrations. Mean interval of reoperation was 67.6months(range 5 months to 14 year 4months) after the first operation. Reoperations were performed with recurrence of dissection(n=4), threatening aneurysmal evolution of persisting dissection(n=1), and false aneurysm with infection(n=1). The redo operation involved the hemiarch in 1 case, distal ascending to total arch and descending thoracic aorta in 4 cases, and only descending thoracic aorta in 1 case. Result: There were Marfan syndromes in 18 patients. The mean age in type A dissection was 56.7 years and that in the first operation of reoperationc ases was 32.2 years. Especially in 3 patients with Marfan syndrome, the mean age was 29 years.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.469-475
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• 2000

Background: Thoracic aortomyoplasty is one of the surgical treatment for heart failure and has advantages over artificial heart or intraaortic balloon pumps. It uses autogenous skeletal muscles and solves problems such as energy source. However its use in clinical settings has been limited. This preliminary study was designed to develop surgical technique and to determine the effect of acute descending thoracic aortomyoplsty. Material and Method: Thirteen adult Mongrel dogs were used. The left latissimus dorsi muscle was wrapped around the descending aorta under general anesthesis. Swan-Ganz and microtipped Millar catheter were used for the hemodynamics and endocaridial viability ratio. Data were collected with myostimulator on and off in normal hearts and the ischemic hearts. Result: In normal hearts, the mean aortic diastolic pressure increased from 72$\pm$15mmHg at baseline to 78$\pm$13mmHg with stimulator on. Coronary perfusion pressure increased from 61$\pm$11mmHg to 65$\pm$9mmHg. Diastolic time increased from 0.288$\pm$0.003 msec to 0.290$\pm$0.003msec. Systolic time decreased from 0.164$\pm$0.002msec to 0.160$\pm$0.002 msec. Endocardial viability ratio increased from 1.21$\pm$0.22 to 1.40$\pm$0.18. In ischemic hearts, mean aortic diastolic pressure incrased from 56$\pm$21mmHg at baseline to 61$\pm$15mmHg with stimulator on. Coronary perfusion pressure increased from 48$\pm$17mmHg to 52$\pm$15mmHg. Diastolic time increased from 0.290$\pm$0.003 msec to 0.313$\pm$0.004msec. Systolic time decreased from 0.180$\pm$0.002 msec to 0.177$\pm$0.003 msec. Endovascular viability ratio increased from 0.9$\pm$0.31 to 1.1$\pm$0.31. The limited number of cases ruled out the statistic significance. Conclusion: Descending thoracic aortomyoplasty is a simple operation designed to use patient's own skeletal muscles. It trends to increase diastolic augmentation and coronary perfusion pressure. Modification of surgical technique and stimulator protocol would maximize the effect to assist the heart.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2009

Background: Background: Computed tomography (CT) is the main tool for detecting abnormalities of the thoracic aorta, but conventional CT only shows the cross-sectional images. These CT images have some limitations fo accuratly measuring the thoracic aortic diameters at various levels. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) overcomes these limitations. We measured the thoracic aortic diameter perpendicular to the loop-shaped thoracic aortic course and this was studied in relation to age, gender, height, weight, the body surface area, the body mass index and the presence of hypertension. Material and Method: Thirty hundred thirty one patients (males: 141 patients and females: 190 patients) who had no abnormalities of the thoracic aorta were investigated using MDCT aortography. They were divided into three age categories: 20~39 years old, 40~59 years old and over age 60. The image was reformed with multiplanar reconstruction and the diameter of the aorta was measured perpendicular to the aortic course at 5 anatomic segments. Level A was the mid-ascending aorta, level B was the distal ascending aorta, level C was the aortic arch, level D was the aortic isthmus and level E was the mid-descending aorta. Result: The mean age was 49.5 years old for males and 54.9 years old for females (p<0.05). The mean diameter of the thoracic aorta at level A was 31.1 mm, that at level B was 30.2 mm, that at level C was 26.5 mm, that at level D was 24.0 mm and that at level E was 22.6 mm. The diameters at all the levels were gradually increased with age. Hypertensive patients had larger diameters than did the non-hypertensive population. There was a positive correlation between the ascending aortic diameter (levels A&B) and height and the body surface area, but there were no statistical differences at the aortic arch (level C) and the descending aorta (levels D&E). There were no statistical differences of the weight and body mass index at all levels. Conclusion: The diameters of the thoracic aortas were directly correlated with gender, age and hypertension. Height and the body surface area were only correlated with the ascending aorta. Weight and the body mass index have no statistical difference at all levels. We measured the age related thoracic aortic diameters and the upper normal limits and we provide this data as reference values for the thoracic aortic diameter in the Korean population.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.206-211
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• 1991

Interruption of the aortic arch may be defined as discontinuity of the aortic arch in which either an aortic vessel or a patent ductus arteriosus supplies the descending aorta. This anomaly is a rare congenital malformation that usually occurs with severe associated intracardiac congenital anomalies, such as ventricular septal defect, patent foramen ovale and abnormal arrangement of the brachiocephalic arteries. Rarely, transposition of the great vessel, truncus arteriosus are coexistent. We experienced a case of the interrupted aortic arch [Type A] associated with VSD, PDA and patent foramen ovale in a 16 years old female. One stage total correction was done under profound hypothermia with total circulatory arrest. Aortic continuity was established using patent ductus arteriosus with anterior wall of main pulmonary artery, which was anastomosed obliquely to anteromedial side of the ascending aorta. Ventricular septal defect was closed using Dacron patch and patent foramen ovale was closed directly. Postoperative course was uneventful, except mild hoarseness.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.955-958
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• 1993

Pseudocoarctation is extremely rare and is due to elongation and kinking of aortic arch which mimiks true coarctation but has no pressure gradient across it. This state is essentially benign entity and needs no surgical intervention, but it frequently tends to progress into the aortic aneurysm that results in compressive symptom due to mass effect and unawared rupture and death.We experienced a descending aortic aneurysm secondary to pseudocoarctation. The patient was 53 year-old female presented as easy f`atiguability and facial flushing. The aortogram revealed tortuous and enlarged aorta at the level of ligamentum arteriosum. The aneurysm was resected and was end-to-end anastomosed successfully under partial cardiopulmonary bypass. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on postoperative 10 day.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.409-413
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• 1982

The incidence of syphilitic aortic aneurysm was decreased now a day. The predilection site of cardiovascular syphilis is the thoracic aorta, especially ascending portion. The form of syphilitic aneurysm is characterized by saccular or fusiform. We have experienced 58 year old female complained of intermittent left chest pain for these 2 years. Saccular aneurysm of 7 cm in diameter at the descending thoracic aorta just distal to the left subclavian artery was confirmed with aortogram, and etiologic lesion was suspected as syphilis by her strong positive finding of serum VDRL test. Excision of the aneurysm was done under temporary bypass with heparinized 10mm silicone bypass cannula, and 23 mm Dacron aortic prosthetic graft in 10 cm segment was replaced, and excised aortic segment was confirmed as syphilitic aneurysm on light microscopic examination. Postoperative hospital course was uneventful, and discharged 3 weeks after operation in good normotensive condition. The patient died of CVA 3 months after discharge at home.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.725-731
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• 1991

Four patients with traumatic rupture of aorta underwent operative repair at Seoul national university hospital. All cases were confirmed by preoperative aortography. Rupture site was aortic isthmus or just distal to it. Operations were somewhat delayed due to the low degree of suspicion and difficulties in diagnosis: ranging from 5 hours to 8 days. Operation was performed as same manners in all cases: resection of the ruptured portion and tubular woven dacron graft interposition in conjunction with shunt or bypass procedures, TDMAC-Heparin shunt between ascending and descending aorta was used in 3 cases, and LA-femoral centrifugal pump was used in one case. There were no intraoperative or postoperative mortality. Hoarseness was developed in all patients but paraplegia or other significant complications were not found in any of patients. We concluded that 1] high degree of suspicion is essential in the early diagnosis and treatment of traumatic aortic rupture and 2] any kind of shunt or bypass procedure is necessary in operative repair of traumatic aortic rupture and use of centrifugal pump without systemic heparinization is easier and safer procedure than others for the maintenance of adequate distal flow.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.455-459
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• 1994

We experienced 20 cases of acquired aortic diseases during last 1 year [Sep. 1992-Aug. 1993] with newly developed surgical strategies. There were 13 cases[65%] of aortic dissections, 5 cases[25%] of aortic aneurysms and 2 cases of Takayasu arteritis with mean age of 56 + 16 years[range:5-78].In ten cases of patients requiring ascending aortic replacement, femoral artery and femoral vein &/or RA auricle were used as cannulation site. With deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and retrograde cerebral perfusion of cold oxygenated blood via SVC, we can replace the ascending aorta and part of arch if necessary. The mean duration of circulatory arrest was 30 minutes[17-45 min]. In 5 cases of patients who requiring descending and thoracoabdominal aorta replacement, we used simple aortic crossclamping under normothermia with no heparin. The mean duration of aortic crossclamping was 37 minutes[25-50 min].The results of operation were as follow:Operative mortality[2 cases, 10%], delayed cerebral infarct[1], low extremity weakness[1] and intraoperative myocardial infarct[1]. There are no delayed complication or mortality as yet.