• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.749-756
• /
• 2009

Background: Vascular ring is a rare anomaly of the aortic arch. We did surgical repair procedures on 16 cases of vascular ring over the past 12 years. This article reviews our results. Material and Method: Between 1995 and 2007, 16 patients (5 with double aortic arch, 7 with right aortic arch-left ligamentum, 4 with pulmonary artery sling) underwent surgical repair. Mean age at the time of the operation were as follows: double aortic arch, $5.7{\pm}5.5$ years; right aortic arch-left ligamentum, $6.1{\pm}13.4$ years; pulmonary artery sling, $2.9{\pm}2.6$ years. Five patients (71%) with right aortic arch-left ligamentum had an associated Kommerell's diverticulum. Two patients (40%) with double aortic arch, 2 patients (28.6%) with right aortic arch-left ligament and 4 patients (100%) with pulmonary artery sling had associated airway stenosis. Cardiac anomalies were present in 8 of 16 patients. Result: There was no peri-operative or post-operative mortality. The mean hospital stay was $27.1{\pm}38.2$ days. None of our patients underwent reoperation. Conclusion: Vascular ring is rare, but, it needs surgical correction. It is important to suspect the diagnosis and to validate with echocardiography. Preoperative and postoperative computed tomography and bronchoscopy are useful to evaluate the airway and surrounding structures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.263-269
• /
• 1997

From April 1987 to May 1996, 13 infants underwent a Norwood operation for complex congenital heart diseases including hypoplastic left heart syndrome (n : 7), mitral stenosis with small VSD and subaortic stenosis (n : 1), mitral atresia with ventricular septal defect, coarctation of aorta, and subaortic stenosis (n = 1), interrupted aortic arch with ventricular septal defect and subaortic stenosis (n : 1), tricuspid atresia with transposition of the great arteries (n = 1), and complex double-inlet left ventricle (n : 2). All patients without hypoplastic left heart syndrome were associated wit hypoplasia of ascending aorta and arch. Age at operation ranged from 3 days to 8.7 months (mean 60.6 $\pm$ 71.6 days, median 39 days). The operative mortality( < 30 days) was 46% (6 patients). Late mortality was 15% (2 patients). All operative deaths occured during the Erst 24 hours after the operation as a result of cardiopulmonary bypass weaning failure (5 patients) and sudden hemodynamic instability postoperatively (1 patient). Late death was due to aspiration pneumonia in two cases. There are 5 long-term survivals (39%). Three of them have undergone a two-stage repair with a modified Fontan operation in two and total cavopulmonary shunt in one at 12, 17, 4.5 months after Norwood procedure with no mortality. Two patients have entered a three-stage repair strategy by undergoing a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt at 3 and 5.5 months after initial operation with 1 operative death. The actuarial survival rate for all patients at the first-stage operation, including hospital deaths and ate death was 30.8% at 1 year. In conclusion, the operative mortality of Norwood operation was relatively high compared to other operation for major cardiac anomalies, continuing experience will lead to an improvement in result.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.44 no.2
• /
• pp.78-83
• /
• 2008

Objective : To understand the anatomic characteristics of the aortic arch (AA) and its major branches to build a foundation toward performing endovascular surgery safely. Methods : A total of 25 formalin fixed Korean adult cadavers were used. The authors investigated : anatomical variations of the AA and its major branches; curvature of the AA; distance from the mid-vertebrae line to the origin of the major branches; distances from the origin of the major branches of AA to the origin of its distal branches; and the angle of the three major branches, the brachiocephalic trunk (BCT), the left common carotid artery (LCCA) and the left subclavian artery (LSCA) arising from AA. Results : The three major branches directly originated from AA in 21 (84%) of the cadavers. In two (8%) of remaining four cadavers. orifice of LCCA was slightly above the stem of BCT. In remaining two (8%) cadavers, the left vertebral artery (LVA) was directly originated from AA. Average angle of AA curvature to the coronal plane was 62.2 degrees. BCT originated 0.92 mm on the right of the mid-vertebrae line. LCCA and LSCA originated from 12.3 mm and 22.8 mm on the left of the mid-vertebrae line. Mean distance from the origin of the BCT to the origin of the RCCA was 32.5 mm. Mean distance from the origin of the LSCA to the origin of the LVA was 33.8 mm. Average angles at which the major branches arise from the AA were 65.3, 46.9 and 63.8 degrees. Conclusion : This study may provides a basic anatomical information to catheterize AA and its branches for safely performing endovascular surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.53 no.6
• /
• pp.346-352
• /
• 2020

Background: We aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent surgical repair of Kommerell diverticulum (KD) with individualized surgical methods. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of adult patients (aged ≥17 years) who underwent surgery to treat KD between June 2008 and October 2019. Results: Nine patients (median age, 45 years; range, 19-67 years; 7 men) underwent surgical repair. The indications for surgical therapy were acute aortic dissection in 2 patients, the presence of compressive symptoms due to dilated KD in 4 patients, and aneurysm growth in 3 patients. Various surgical techniques were used: (1) resection of the diverticulum stump and revascularization of the aberrant subclavian artery (n=3), (2) one-stage total-arch replacement including the diverticulum segment (n=3), and (3) hybrid repair (n=3). Early mortality occurred in 1 case of hybrid repair. Transient paraparesis occurred in a patient who underwent total arch repair as part of complicated acute aortic dissection. During follow-up (median duration, 30 months; range, 7-130 months), no late death or associated aortic complications were documented. All survivors were free from symptoms and had no abnormal findings on follow-up computed tomography. Conclusion: With a customized surgical approach and appropriate consideration of patient-specific anatomy and associated comorbidities, KD can be repaired with favorable outcomes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.499-503
• /
• 2008

Berry syndrome (a distal aortopulmonary window and a right pulmonary artery originating from the ascending aorta, an intact ventricular septum, a patent ductus arteriosus and an interrupted aortic arch) is a rare complex congenital cardiac malformation. We describe a case of one stage repair with using an autologous arterial flap in a 19-day-old neonate who was suffering with this malformation, and we report on the development of postoperative right pulmonary artery stenosis and its successful management with performing multiple balloon angioplasties.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.40 no.1 s.270
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 2007

Background: Cerebral protection is one of the most important procedures during aortic arch surgery. We can minimize neurological complications through short period of total circulatory arrest and resuming of brain perfusion. We evaluated 11 patients who underwent arch replacement using antegrade brain perfusion via right axillary artery. Material and Method: Between July 2004 and July 2006, 11 patients (male 9, female 2) underwent aortic arch replacement with antegrade brain perfusion via right axillary artery. Preoperative diagnosis was listed; 5 type A aortic dissections (5/11, 45.5%), 5 aortic aneurysms (5/11, 45,5%) and 1 type A IMH (intramural hematoma, 1/11, 9%). The mean age at the time of operation was $60.3{\pm}12.8$ years. For antegrade brain perfusion, we performed right axillary artery cannulation in all patients. Retrograde brain perfusion was used briefly during total circulatory arrest. Result: The mean total circulatory arrest time was $31.1{\pm}16.9$ minutes and the mean retrograde brain perfusion time was $21{\pm}17.8$ minutes. Mean antegrade brain perfusion time was $77.9{\pm}17.5\;(43{\sim}101)$ minutes. We had neither operative mortality nor permanent neurological complications. Conclusion: By means of antegrade brain perfusion via right axillary artery, that could lead to decrease circulatory arrest time and minimize damages to severely atheromatous arch vessels, we can expect to reduce neurological complications after aortic arch replacement. Further investigation with iarge patient populations will be required.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.274-279
• /
• 1980

A 21 years old male student was admitted because of mediastinal mass that was noticed in routine physical examination. He complained progressive hoarseness, mild dysphagia, and anterior chest pain on deep respiration. This mediastinal mass was diagnosed as aortic aneurysm involving ascending, transverse, and descending thoracic aorta with aid of aortogram. Total prosthetic replacement of aneurysm was performed successfully using extracorporeal circulation and hypothermia. For myocardial protection during aortic cross clamping, cardioplegic solution was used and topical myocardial cooling was also adapted For simplicity of cardiopulmonary bypass, Y-shaped connectors took cerebral perfusion catheters to the main perfusion line beyond the arterial pump. Total bypass time was 219 minutes, and aortic cross clamp time was 104 minutes. Recovery was uneventful except respiratory insufficiency for first 4 days. Isotope aortogram checked on post operative 30th day showed normal aortic configuration. He was discharged on post operative 35th day. A follow-up chest X-ray study 5 months later showed nearly normal anatomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.390-395
• /
• 2012

Background: Conventional open repair is a suboptimal therapy for blunt traumatic aortic injury (BTAI) due to the high postoperative mortality and morbidity rates. Recent advances in the thoracic endovascular repair technique may improve outcomes so that it becomes an attractive therapeutic option. Materials and Methods: From August 2003 to March 2012, 21 patients (mean age, 45.81 years) with BTAI were admitted to our institution. Of these, 18 cases (open repair in 11 patients and endovascular repair in 7 patients) were retrospectively reviewed and the early perioperative results of the two groups were compared. Results: Although not statistically significant, there was a trend toward the reduction of mortality in the endovascular repair group (18.2% vs. 0%). There were no cases of paraplegia or endoleak. Statistically significant reductions in heparin dosage, blood loss, and transfusion amounts during the operations and in procedure duration were observed. Conclusion: Compared with open repair, endovascular repair can be performed with favorable mortality and morbidity rates. However, relatively younger patients who have acute aortic arch angulation and a small aortic diameter may be a therapeutic challenge. Improvements in graft design, delivery sheaths, and graft durability are the cornerstone of successful endovascular repair.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.424-427
• /
• 2010

Recently, stent-graft insertion has been widely used along with surgery for treatment of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm. However, use of stent-graft insertion is controversial in descending aortic dissection. We report here on our experience of a patient who received a stent-graft for descending aortic dissection that nearly ruptured. Based on CT findings at three months follow up, results were satisfactory.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.296-299
• /
• 2012

The aorta is the most common major thoracic artery injured by blunt chest trauma. Injuries to major aortic arch branch arteries can also occur but are much less common than aortic injuries in the setting of blunt trauma. Although internal mammary artery (IMA) injury is uncommon and rarely diagnosed in cases of blunt chest trauma, it is one of the important sources of bleeding in chest trauma. IMA bleeding can cause ongoing blood loss and may lead to serious conditions such as extensive hemothorax, anterior mediastinal hematoma or its catastrophic complication, cardiac tamponade. However such arotic and branch artery injuries are not easily detected by plain radiograph, and are detected indirectly because of associated mediastinal hematoma. Herein, we report a case of IMA injury caused by blunt chest trauma secondary to pedestrian traffic accident. The injured patient was successfully treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE).