• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.591-594
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• 1999

Supravalvular aortic stenosis is an uncommon, congenital narrowing of the ascending aorta which originates just distal to the level of the ostium of the coronary artery. We conducted a successful surgical treatment in a 39 year- old female patient with a congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation who did not show signs of William's syndrome. After we performed an inverted Y-shaped aortotomy toward the noncoronary sinus and right coronary sinus, pantaloon shaped prosthetic patch(Vascutek, Ino, USA) was used to repair the narrowing sinotubular junction. The aortic valve was replaced concommittently using Sorin Bicarbon 19mm. Her postoperative course was uneventful. The patient discharged at 9th postoperative day in good health.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.170-176
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• 1995

Fourty nine patients out of 127 esophageal cancer were managed surgically from January 1986 to December 1991, at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Jeonbuk National University Hospital. Most frequent preoperative symptom was dysphagia and its mean duration was 3.1 months. In histopathologic examination, squamous cell carcinomas were 44 cases [89.8% , and adenocarcinomas 5 [10.2% . The tumor location were the upper esophagus in 6.1%, middle esophagus in 57.2%, lower and cardiac portion of stomach in 36.7%. Involved and metastatic organs, which were detected perioperatively, were celiac lymph nodes in 6 cases, aorta 2, stomach 2, pericardium 2, cervical lymph node 1. The esophagus was resected radically, and the procedures for esophageal replacement were performed with esophagogastrostomy in 45 cases, esophagocologastrostomy 3, and esophagojejunostomy 1. Postoperative complications occurred in 16 cases [hospital morbidity = 32.6% ,anastomotic leak 3, anastomotic stricture 2, respiratory insufficiency 2, hemoperitoneum 1, chylothorax 1, intussusception 1, empyema 1, non-A,non-B hepatitis 1, and mediastinitis 1. Hospital deaths were experienced 3 cases [ hospital mortality = 6.1% . The 6 month, one, two, and five year actuarial survival rates were 85.7%, 71.4%, 57.1%, and 27.9%, respectively. One year survival rates of stages were 100% in stage I, 90.9% in stage IIa, 63.6% in stage IIb, 25.0% in stage III, and 7.2% in stage IV.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.439-448
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• 2021

Remodeling is a commonly encountered term in the field of cardiothoracic surgery that is often used to describe various pathophysiological changes in the dimension, structure, and function of various cardiac chambers, including the aorta. Stanford type A or DeBakey type 1 aortic dissection (TAAD) is a perplexing pathologic condition that can present surgical teams with the need to navigate a maze of complex decision-making. Ascending or hemi-arch replacement leaves behind a significant amount of distal diseased aortic tissue, which might have a persistent false lumen or primary or secondary intimal tears (or communications between lumina), which can lead to dilatation of the aortic arch. Unfavorable aortic remodeling is a major cause of distal aortic deterioration after the index surgery. Cardiac surgeons are aware of post-surgical cardiac chamber remodeling, but the concept of distal aortic remodeling is still idealized. The contemporary literature from established aortic centers supports aggressive management of the residual aortic pathology during the index surgery, and with continuing technical advancements, endovascular stenting options are readily available for patients with TAAD or for complicated type B aortic dissection cases. This review discusses the pathophysiology and treatment options for favorable distal aortic remodeling, as well as its impact on mid- to long-term outcomes following TAAD repair.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.755-759
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• 2022

Brachial artery aneurysms are rare diseases that may be caused by infection or trauma. We report a case of a 71-year-old man who presented with a mass in his right antecubital fossa that increased in size slowly over time. Three years ago, the patient underwent ascending and total-arch replacement with artificial vessel graft to treat aortic root and ascending aorta aneurysm. Preoperative physical examination of right upper extremity showed a nonpulsatile mass with normal pulse of axillary, brachial, and radial arteries. The mass was removed and brachial artery reconstruction was done initially using saphenous vein graft. Two months later, the patient revisited with recurrent pseudoaneurysm, involving the bifurcation point of brachial artery. Aneurysm was totally resected and the brachial artery was reconstructed by interposition graft using a bifurcated GORE-TEX artificial vessel graft. The patient healed without complication and no recurrence was observed. Artificial vessel graft is an available option for reconstruction, and revascularization of vessel defect after excision of brachial artery aneurysm may involve bifurcation point.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.220-224
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• 1989

In candidates for aortic valve replacement [AVR]it is our primary intention to implant the largest possible vale prosthesis of at least 23 mm in diameter in patients with severe valvular aortic stenosis. However, in many patients there is an additional subvalvular asymmetric septal hypertrophy which in some cases may cause an postextrasystolic increase of the LV-aortic gradient. Another component of the aortic stenosis syndrome is a narrow valvular ring, or a combination of both. After complete removal of the diseased valve and decalcification the narrow aortic ring [< 23 mm] can be widened firstly by transaortic subvalvular septal myectomy- [TSM] thus unfolding the left ventricular outflow tract[LVOT]and secondly by extending the oblique aortic incision into the aortic valve ring or further down into the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The sub-and supra-valvular defect will be closed by patch enlargement of the aortic root [PEAR] using autologous pericardium. These techniques allow a considerable enlargement of the valvular ring of about 4 to 10 mm in circumference. In a retrospective study using a computerized program, 847 patients with AVR [1980-1984]were reviewed to evaluate the intraoperative hemodynamic results mainly concerning relief of the transvalvular gradient. In 626 patients AVR was performed, 151 patients had double valve replacement [AVR+MVR], and 70 patients had AVR plus additional surgical procedures. Concentrating on the AVR-group [n=626] there were 103 patients with TSM, 24 patients with PEAR and 20 patients with TSM+PEAR which demonstrated that in a total, of 147 patients of this groups [23.5%] an additional procedure was necessary. The Statistical evaluation of the intraoperative pressure measurements before and after AVR in relation to the size of the implanted prostheses indicated the lowest preoperative mean gradient in patients with AVR alone, the highest in patients who afforded TSM plus PEAR. However, after AVR the mean gradients in all three groups were very low [mean 5 to 10 mmHg]. These data indicate that in patients with a narrow aortic ring and additional considerable ASH, TSM and PEAR are suitable techniques to enlarge the aortic root to enable the implantation of an adequate aortic valve prosthesis. Long-term controls have shown that autologous pericardium is a qualified graft material for the ascending aorta.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.921-927
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• 2003

Arterial switch operation (ASO) has been the most effective surgical option for transposition of the great arteries. But, the inappropriate dilation of the neoaortic root has been reported and its effect on neoaortic valve function and growth of aorta has not been well documented. Material and Method: Forty-eight patients who underwent cardiac catheterization during follow up after arterial switch operation were included in this study. Arterial switch operation was performed at a median age of 18 days (range 1∼211 days). Preoperative cardiac catheterization was performed in 26 patients and postoperative catheterization was performed in all patients at 15.8$\pm$9.6 months after ASO. Postoperative ratios of the diameters of neoaortic annulus, root and aortic anastomosis against the descending aorta were compared to the size of preoperative pulmonary annular, root and sinotubular junction. Preoperative and operative parameters were analyzed for the risk factors of neoaortic insufficiency. Result: There were two clinically significant neoaortic insufficiencies (grade$\geq$II/IV) during follow up, one of which required aortic valve replacement. Another patient required reoperation due to aortic stenosis on the anastomosis site. Post-operatively, neoaortic annulus/DA ratio increased from 1.33$\pm$0.28 to 1.52$\pm$.033 (p=0.01) and neoaortic root/DA ratio increased form 2.02$\pm$0.40 to 2.56$\pm$0.38 (p<0.0001). However, the aortic anastomosis/DA ratio showed no statistically significant difference (p=0.06). There was no statistically significant correlation between the occurrence of neoaortic insufficiency and neoaortic annulus/DA ratio and neoaortic root/DA ratio. Non-neonatal repair (age>30days) (p=0.02), preopeative native pulmonaic valve stenosis (p=0.01), and bisuspid pulmonic valve (p=0.03) were the risk factors for neoaortic insufficiency in univariate risk factor analysis. Conclusion: After ASO, aortic anastomosis site showed normal growth pattern proportional to the descending aorta, but neoaortic valve annulus and root were disproportionally dilated. Significant neoaortic valve insufficiency rarely developed after ASO and neoaortic annulus and root size do not correlate with the presence of postoperative neoarotic insufficiency. ASO after neonatal period, preoperative native pulmonary valve stenosis, and bicuspid native pulmonic valve are risk factors for the development of neoaortic insufficiency.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.532-535
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• 1999

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and analyze the surgical techniques and postoperative complications in patients undergoing operations for descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. Material and Method: The data of 22 major operations between March 1987 and August 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. Result: There were 18 men and 4 women with a mean age of 49 years (range 33 years to 82 years). The cause of the aneurysm was aortic dissection in 13 patients, atherosclerosis in 3, mycotic in 3, trauma in 2 and uncertain in 1. The operative techniques were resection and graft replacement in 16, axillofemoral bypass graft in 2, femorofemoral bypass graft in 2, exclusion, aneurysmorrhaphy in 1 and transfemoral stent insertion in 1. During the operation, 16 cases were performed under total aortic clamp. Among the 16 patients, femorofemoral bypass was used in 14 cases and previously made shunt in 2 cases. The mean total aortic clamp time was 91 minutes and the mean extracorporeal circulation time was 116 minutes. One death occurred in an excluded patient on the 52 postoperative day due to a rupture of the aneurysm. Postoperative complications were paraplegia in 1 case, acute renal failure in 1 case and acute respiratory failure in 1 case. Conclusion: Although surgical treatment of the descending thoracic aneurysm has many postoperative complications, good surgical results can be achieved with a proper patient selection and fine surgical techniques.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.255-261
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• 2014

Background: To determine the predictors of clinical outcomes following surgical descending thoracic aortic (DTA) repair. Methods: We identified 103 patients (23 females; mean age, $64.1{\pm}12.3$ years) who underwent DTA replacement from 1999 to 2011 using either deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (44%) or partial cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB, 56%). Results: The early mortality rate was 4.9% (n=5). Early major complications occurred in 21 patients (20.3%), which included newly required hemodialysis (9.7%), low cardiac output syndrome (6.8%), pneumonia (7.8%), stroke (6.8%), and multi-organ failure (3.9%). None experienced paraplegia. During a median follow-up of 56.3 months (inter-quartile range, 23.1 to 85.1 months), there were 17 late deaths and one aortic reoperation. Overall survival at 5 and 10 years was $80.9%{\pm}4.3%$ and $71.7%{\pm}5.9%$, respectively. Reoperation-free survival at 5 and 10 years was $77.3%{\pm}4.8%$ and $70.2%{\pm}5.8%$. Multivariable analysis revealed that age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 1.15; p<0.001) and left ventricle (LV) function (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.96; p<0.003) were significant and independent predictors of long-term mortality. CPB strategy, however, was not significantly related to mortality (p=0.49). Conclusion: Surgical DTA repair was practicable in terms of acceptable perioperative mortality/morbidity as well as favorable long-term survival. Age and LV function were risk factors for long-term mortality, irrespective of the CPB strategy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.229-238
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• 2008

Background: Protection of the brain is a major concern during thoracic aortic surgery using hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA). This study compares the surgical outcomes of two different cerebral protection methods in thoracic aortic surgery using HCA: retrograde cerebral protection (RCP) and antegrade cerebral protection (ACP). Material and Method: We retrospectively reviewed data on 146 patients who underwent thoracic aortic surgery from May 1995 to February 2007 using either RCP (114 patients, Group 1) or ACP (32 patients, Group 2) during HCA. There were 104 dissections (94 acute and 10 chronic) and 42 aneurysms (41 true aneurysms and 1 pseudoaneurysm), and all patients underwent ascending aortic replacement. There were 33 cases of hemiarch replacement, 5 of partial arch replacement, and 21 of total arch replacement. Result: The two groups were similar in preoperative and operative characteristics, but Group 2 had more elderly (over 70 years old) patients (34.4% vs. 10.5%), more coronary artery diseases (18.8% vs. 4.4%), more total arch replacements (46.9% vs. 5.3%) and longer HCA time ($50{\pm}24$ minutes vs. $32{\pm}17$ minutes) than Group 1. The operative mortality was 4.4% (5/114) and 3.1% (1/32), the incidence of permanent neurologic deficits was 5.3% (6/114) and 3.1% (1/32), and the incidence of temporary neurologic deficits was 1.8% (2/114) and 9.4% (3/32) in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in operative mortality, postoperative bleeding, or neurologic deficits (permanent and temporary). Conclusion: The early outcomes of aortic surgery using HCA were favorable and showed no statistical difference between RCP and ACP. However, the ACP patients endured longer HCA times and more extended arch surgeries. ACP is the preferred brain protection technique when longer HCA time is expected or extended arch replacement is needed.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.225-233
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• 1996

From August 1992 to July 1996, 63 consecutive patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. The mean age of these patient was 57 years(range form 30 to 71years). There were 44 men and 19 women. Preoperative 12 patients had stable angina pectoris and 23 patients were unstable angina pectoris. 8 patients had previous myocardial infarctation history and emergency or urgent myocardial revascularization were performed in 9 cases. In the risk factors of coronary atherosclerosis, 25 patients(40%) were hypercholesterolemia, 38 patients(60%) have smoking history and 19 patients(30%) have hypertension history. In the patterns of disease, 9 patients were single vessel disease, 18 patients were two vessele disease and 33 patients were three vessel disease. We performed total 284 distal anastomosis(mean 3.5 anastomosis per patient) and performed one case of ascending aorta graft interposition, two cases of mitral valve replacement, one case of aortic valve replacement, one case of ventricular septal defect repair and one case of atrial septal defect repair and the mean aortic cross clamp time was 115.3 minutes. The common complications were arrhythmia(7cases), wound infection(5cases), perioperative myocardial infarction(4cases), reoperation for bleeding control(4cases) and stroke(4cases). There were six hospital deaths due to low cardiac output syndrome, ventricular arrhythmia and respiratory failure. In the evaluation of operative risk factors, preoperative intravenous nitroglycerin requirement and prolonged aortic cross clamp tirne(>2hours) were found to be predective factor of morbidity and old age(>65years) was found to be predective factor of mortality.