• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Complex lesions of the thoracic aorta are traditionally treated in 2 surgical steps with the elephant trunk technique. A relatively new approach is the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique, which potentially allows combined lesions of the thoracic aorta to be treated in a 1-stage procedure combining endovascular treatment with conventional surgery using a hybrid prosthesis. These are very complex and time-consuming operations, and good results can be obtained only if appropriate strategies for myocardial, cerebral, and visceral protection are adopted. However, the FET technique is associated with a non-negligible incidence of spinal cord injury, due to the extensive coverage of the descending aorta with the excessive sacrifice of intercostal arteries. The indications for the FET technique include chronic thoracic aortic dissection, acute or chronic type B dissection when endovascular treatment is contraindicated, chronic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, and chronic aneurysm of the distal arch. The F ET technique is also indicated in acute type A aortic dissection, especially when the tear is localized in the aortic arch; in cases of distal malperfusion; and in young patients. In light of the great interest in the FET technique, the Vascular Domain of the European Association for cardio-thoracic Surgery published a position paper reporting the current knowledge and the state of the art of the FET technique. Herein, we describe the surgical techniques involved in the FET technique and we report our experience with the F ET technique for the treatment of complex aortic disease of the thoracic aorta.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.372.1-372.1
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• 2016

Recently, there are a lot of diseases all around the world. Out of them, Atherosclerosis (AS) is the most common cause of stroke, cardiovascular mortality, and myocardial infarction. The macrophage-derived foam cell, which is formed by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), is the crucial marker for AS. In this study, we report a label-free capacitance imaging technique with multi-electrode array (MEA). The lipid-rich aorta arch lesions, which are derived from an apolipoprotein-E receptor-deficient (apoE-/-) mouse, exhibit higher capacitance than the lipid-free aorta arch, allowing the capacitance imaging of lipid region in atherosclerosis. To improve the contacts between MEA and tissue, polypyrrole(PPy)-coated multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) multi electrode array (PPy-MWNTs-MEA) was fabricated. Compared to TiN-MEA, PPy-MWNTs-MEA yielded lower contact impedance and better capacitance images. In addition, we have also developed a flexible MEA using single walled carbon nanotubes on a PET substrate. The lipid region could be discriminated in the capacitance images of the lipid-rich aorta arch lesions measured using flexible MEA, demonstrating a feasibility of in vivo applications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.404-410
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• 1987

An 18-day-old male neonate with hypoplastic left heart syndrome underwent surgical intervention by modification of the Norwood procedure on September 23, 1986. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a serious congenital cardiac anomaly that has a fatal outlook if left untreated. Included in this anomaly are [1] aortic valve atresia, and hypoplasia of the ascending aorta and aortic arch, [1] mitral valve atresia or hypoplasia, and [3] diminutive or absent left ventricle. Patent ductus arteriosus is essential for any survival, and there is usually a patent foramen ovale. Coarctation of the aorta is frequently associated with the lesion.z With a limited period of cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermia, and circulatory arrest, the ductus arteriosus was excised. The main pulmonary artery was divided immediately below its branches, and the distal stump of the divided pulmonary artery was closed with a pericardial patch. The aortic arch was incised, and a 1 5mm tubular Dacron prosthesis was inserted between the main pulmonary artery and the aortic arch. A 4mm shunt of polytetrafluoroethylene graft was established between the new ascending aorta and the right pulmonary artery to provide controlled pulmonary blood flow. Following rewarming, the heart started to beat regularly, but the patient could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. At autopsy, the patient was found to have hypoplasia of the aortic tract complex with mitral atresia and aortic atresia. A secundum atrial septal defect was noted. Right atrial and ventricular hypertrophy was present, and the left ventricle was entirely absent. Although unsuccessful in this case report, continuing experience with hypoplastic left heart syndrome will lead to an improvement in result.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.360-370
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• 1985

A case of complete interruption of aortic arch with aortopulmonary window, patent ductus arteriosus, and aberrantly originated right subclavian artery from proximal descending aorta, in a four year old boy is reported in detail. This is the only reported case in Korea, who has had a successful one-stage total anatomical correction of this combination of defects. Under deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest, aortic continuity was established using patent ductus arteriosus and anterior wall of pulmonary artery, which was anastomosed obliquely to anteromedial side of ascending aorta. Aortopulmonary window was closed using Impra patch via pulmonary arteriotomy. Then pulmonary arteriotomy was reconstructed primarily except at the junction of right pulmonary artery and main pulmonary artery, where a small piece of pericardium was used to close the defect to prevent kinking and narrowing of right pulmonary artery. Postoperative cardiac catheterization demonstrated a good reconstruction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.588-593
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• 1988

We experienced a case of interrupted aortic arch[Type A] associated with PDA, VSD, mitral regurgitation and single coronary artery. The patient was 7 years old boy, who showed congestive heart failure[NYHA functional class III]. One stage total correction was performed under profound hypothermia with total circulatory arrest. Aortic continuity was established using PDA with anterior wall of main pulmonary artery flap. VSD was closed with Dacron patch and mitral regurgitation repaired by Reed`s annuloplasty method. The postoperative cardiac catheterization revealed no pressure gradient between ascending aorta and descending aorta, decreased pulmonary artery pressure and trivial residual shunt[Qp/Qs: 1.28]. The aortogram showed good continuity of the aorta without narrowing of the anastomotic site. During the period of 1 year follow up, heart failure symptoms were nearly subsided.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.295-297
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• 2017

A 27-year-old man was admitted with a penetrating injury at the mid-manubrium. Computed tomographic (CT) angiography showed a f illing def ect in the aortic arch. This was evaluated as a sign of injury and the patient underwent an emergency operation. No active bleeding or clot was f ound in the mediastinum during the operation. The laceration point was between the innominate and the left carotid artery posteriorly. The injury was approached using hypothermic circulatory arrest. Aortotomy and exploration showed a 2-cm-long full-thickness aortic injury with an overlying clot. A filling defect on angiography as a sign of a penetrating arch injury has never been reported previously, but was the main pathological finding on CT angiography in our case. The aorta is a high-pressure system and injuries to it should be treated aggressively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.44-46
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• 2017

We report the case of a newborn with a rare anatomic variation: a right aortic arch with a retroesophageal left subclavian artery and an anomalous origin of the pulmonary artery from the aorta. This variation was diagnosed using echocardiography and computed tomography, and we treated the condition surgically.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.464-466
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• 2013

Floating thrombi in the aortic arch are very rare and an unusual source of systemic embolism. Herein, a case of a 3-cm thrombus in the aortic arch is reported. It was a floating, highly mobile thrombus attached to the lesser curvature of the aortic arch. The patients had a hypercoagulable disorder induced by protein C and S deficiency. The thrombus was operatively removed with a favorable outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.338-341
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• 2012

Vascular ring, caused by Kommerell's diverticulum and ligamentum arteriosum, in a patient with right aortic arch and mirror image branching is extremely rare. A 10-month-old boy with coughing and stridor was diagnosed as having tracheo-esophageal stenosis, which is caused by a vascular ring with Kommerell's diverticulum, ligamentum arteriosum, right aortic arch, and mirror image branching. Kommerell's diverticulum was successfully resected via a left thoracotomy. The patient has been free from tracheo-esophageal stenosis for a year after the surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.129-132
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• 2014

Various surgical techniques have been developed for the repair of an interrupted aortic arch. However, tension and Gothic arch formation at the anastomotic site have remained major problems for these techniques: Excessive tension causes arch stenosis and left main bronchus compression, and Gothic arch configuration is related to cardiovascular complications. To resolve these problems, we adopted a modified surgical technique of distal aortic arch augmentation using an autologous main pulmonary artery patch. The descending aorta was then anastomosed to the augmented aortic arch in an end-to-side manner. Here, we report two cases of interrupted aortic arch that were repaired using this technique.