• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.96-103
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• 1998

Purpose : To assess the clinical utility of turbo contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography(CE MRA) in the evaluation of the aortic arch and its major branches and to compare the image quality of CE MRA among different coils used. Materials and Methods : Turbo three-phase dynamic CE MRA encompassing aortic arch and its major branches was prospectively performed after manual bolus IV injection of contrast material in 29 patients with suspected cerebrovascular diseases at 1.0T MR unit. the raw data were obtained with 3-D FISH sequence (TR 5.4ms, TE 2.3ms, flip angle 30, slab thickness 80nm, effective slice thickness 4.0mm, matrix size $100{\times}256$, FOV 280mm). Total data acquisition time was 4. to 60 seconds. We subjectively evaluated the imge quality with three-rating scheme : "good" for unequivocal normal finding, "fair" for relatively satisfactory quality to diagnose 'normal' despite intravascular low signal, and "poor" for equivocal diagnosis or non-visualization of the origin or segment of the vessels due to low signal or artifacts which needs catheter angiography. At the level of the carotid bifurcation, it was compared with conventional 2D-TOF MRA image. Overall image quality was also compared visually and quantitatively by measuring signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the ascending aorta, the innominate artery and both common carotid arteries among the three different coils used(CP body array(n=12), CP neck array(n=9), and head-and-neck(n=8). Results : Demonstration of the aortic arch and its major branches was rated as "good" in 55% (16/29) and "fair" in 34%(10/29). At the level of the carotid bifurcation, image quality of turbo CE MRA was same as or better than conventional 2D-TOF MRA in 65% (17/26). Overall image quality and SNR were significantlygreater with CP body array coil than with CP neck array or head-and-neck coil. Conclusions : Turbo CE MRA can be used as a screening exam in the evaluation of the major branches of the aortic arch from their origin to the skull base. Overall imagequality appears to be better with CP body array coil than with CP neck array coil or head-and-neck coil.

• 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.49 no.4
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• pp.232-241
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• 2016

Background: Paraplegia is a devastating complication following operations on the thoracoabdominal aorta. We investigated whether histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution could reduce the extent of ischemia/reperfusion (IR) spinal cord injuries in a rat model using a direct delivery method. Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into four groups. The sham group (n=6) underwent a sham operation, the IR group (n=6) underwent only an aortic occlusion, the saline infusion group (saline group, n=6) underwent an aortic occlusion and direct infusion of cold saline into the occluded aortic segment, and the HTK infusion group (HTK group, n=6) underwent an aortic occlusion and direct infusion of cold HTK solution into the occluded aortic segment. An IR spinal cord injury was induced by transabdominal clamping of the aorta distally to the left renal artery and proximally to the aortic bifurcation for 60 minutes. A neurological evaluation of locomotor function was performed using the modified Tarlov score after 48 hours of reperfusion. The spinal cord was harvested for histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. Results: The spinal cord IR model using direct drug delivery in rats was highly reproducible. The Tarlov score was 4.0 in the sham group, $1.17{\pm}0.75$ in the IR group, $1.33{\pm}1.03$ in the saline group, and $2.67{\pm}0.81$ in the HTK group (p=0.04). The histopathological analysis of the HTK group showed reduced neuronal cell death. Conclusion: Direct infusion of cold HTK solution into the occluded aortic segment may reduce the extent of spinal cord injuries in an IR model in rats.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.428-432
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• 2010

A 67 years old male patient was admitted with back pain that had recurred from 6 months previously. Eleven years previously, he underwent stent grafting at the descending thoracic aorta for a chronic Stanford type B aortic dissection. The preoperative computed tomography showed aortic dissection from the origin of the left subclavian artery to the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta, and there was a type I endoleak at the proximal portion of the stent graft and aneurysmal dilatation of the descending aorta. A hybrid endovascular repair was successfully performed, and this involved debranching and rerouting the aortic arch vessels under extracorporeal cardiopulmonary bypass and then this was followed 13 days later by stenting in the ascending aorta, the aortic arch and the descending aorta. The postoperative computed tomography showed complete exclusion of the type I endoleak. After discharge, he has been followed up for 8 months without any problems.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.130-133
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• 1980

Since the first report of an operation for prolapsed intervertebral disk by Mixter and Barr[1934], many thousands of operations have been successfully performed without incident. Linton and White in 1945 reported the vascular complication, but perforation of large vessels is rare complication of operation for prolapsed disk. A medical student, aged 22 years, was performed to a disk operation [L4-5, Rt. on May 1977.] From postoperative 10th day, palpitation, generalized edema and substernal pain were noted, and 2 months later, wide pulse pressure [70-80 mmHg], continuous bruit and thrill on the Rt. low abdomen were followed. Aortography revealed arteriovenous fistula between just proximal to abdominal aortic bifurcation and inferior vena cava. So, fistulectomy [Resection of proximal 2 cm of C.I.A., Rt, including fistula opening and end to end anastomosis] was performed on July, 77. During follow up study, remained fistula between Rt. internal lilac artery and lilac vein was found 2 months later. Re-operation [Double ligation of the Rt. internal lilac artery] was don on January 1978. Postop. results were excellent, except impossible to ejaculation.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.3 s.61
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• pp.261-271
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• 2000

The present study investigated flow dynamics of a two-dimensional abdominal aortic bifurcation model under sinusoidal flow conditions considering wall motion. impedance phase angle(time delay between pressure and flow waveforms), and non-Newtonian fluid using computational fluid dynamics. The wall shear stress showed large variations in the bifurcated region and the wall motion reduced amplitude of wall shear stress significantly. As the impedance phase angle was changed to more negative values, the mean wall shear stress (time-averaged) decreased while the amplitude (oscillatory) of wall shear stress increased. At the curvature site on the outer wall where the mean wall shear stress approached zero. influence of the phase angle was relatively large. The mean wall shear stress decreased by $50\%$ in the $-90^{\circ}$ phase angle (flow wave advanced pressure wave by a quarter period) compared to the $0^{\circ}$ phase angle while the amplitude of wall shear stress increased by $15\%$. Therefore, hypertensive patients who tend to have large negative phase angles become more vulnerable to atherosclerosis according to the low and oscillatory shear stress theory because of the reduced mean and the increased oscillatory wall shear stresses. Non-Newtonian characteristics of fluid substantially increased the mean wall shear stress resulting in a less vulnerable state to atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.325-332
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• 2018

Carotid angiography covering the aortic arch includes contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEA), which is applied to a large region and usually employs contrast media. However, the use of contrast media can be dangerous in infants, pregnant women, and patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). Follow-up patients informed of a lesion may also want to avoid constant exposure to contrast media. We aimed to apply time-of-flight (TOF) angiography to a large region and compare its usefulness with that of CEA. Ten patients (mean age, 58 years; range, 45~75 years) who visited our hospital for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) participated in this study. A 3.0 Tesla Achieva magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (Philips, Netherland) and the SENSE NeuroVascular 16-channel coil were employed for both methods. Both methods were applied simultaneously to the same patient. Three TOF stacks were connected to cover the aortic arch through the circle of Willis, and CEA was applied in the same manner. For the quantitative assessment, the acquired images were used to set the regions of interest (ROIs) in the common carotid artery (CCA) bifurcation, internal carotid artery, external carotid artery, middle cerebral artery, and vertebral artery, and to obtain the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) for the soft tissues. Three radiologists and one radiological resident performed the qualitative assessment on a 5-point scale - 1 point, "very bad"; 2 points, "bad"; 3 points, "average"; 4 points, "good"; and 5 points, "very good" - with regard to 4 items: (1) sharpness, (2) distortion, (3) vein contamination, and (4) expression of peripheral vessels. For the quantitative assessment, we estimated the mean SNR and CNR in each of the 5 ROIs. In general, the mean SNR was higher in TOF angiography (166.1, 205.2, 154.39, 172.23, and 161.95) than in CEA(92.05, 95.43, 84.76, 73.69, and 88.3). Both methods had a similar mean CNR: 67.62, 106.71, 55.9, 73.74, and 63.46 for TOF angiography, and 67.82, 71.19, 60.52, 49.45, and 64.07 for CEA. In all ROIs, the mean SNR was statistically significant (p<0.05), whereas the mean CNR was insignificant (p>0.05). The mean values of TOF angiography and CEA for each item in the qualitative assessment were 4.2 and 4.28, respectively for item 1; 2.93 and 4.55, respectively, for item 2; 4.6 and 3.13, respectively, for item 3; and 2.88 and 4.65, respectively, for item 4. Therefore, TOF angiography had a higher mean for item 3, and CEA had a higher mean for items 2 and 4; there was no significant difference between the two methods for item 1. The results for item 1 were statistically insignificant (p>0.05), whereas the results for items 2~4 were statistically significant (p<0.05). Both methods have advantages and disadvantages and they complement each other. However, CEA is usually applied to a large region covering the aortic arch. Time-of-flight angiography may be useful for people such as infants, pregnant women, CRF patients, and followup patients for whom the use of contrast media can be dangerous or unnecessary, depending on the circumstance.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1570-1577
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• 1992

The vascular surgery is the field that has developed in early 20 century and is progressing nowadays. Recent advance in surgical technique accompanying with excellent medical diagnosis and treatment, prompt angiographic usage, development of variable prosthetic material, and concomitant use of anti-coagulant have made remarkable results of vascular surgery. 83 cases of vascular surgery have been performed at Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department of Pusan National Unversity Hosaital since 1971 till 1990, for 20 years and their results are followed. Patient ductus arteriosus and Buerger`s disease were omited in this study. 1. The age distribution shows that the fifth and sixth decades are most frequently affected and mean age was 56.1 years old. Male to female ratio is 1: 2.32. 2. Among the 83 cases of all, number of occlusive vascular disease is 46 and that of aneurysmal disease is 33. 3. In clinical manifestation, most common symptom of occlusive disease is pulselessness and pain was next. Mass sensation is most commonly complained by patients of aneurysmal disease. 4. CT scan was more important in diagnosis of aneurysmal diseases and angiogram was more commonly used in occlusive diseases. 5. The common site of arterial occlusion was common iliac artery, femoral artery, aortic bifurcation, and external iliac artery, as its frequency rate. The most commonly affecting portion of aortic aneurysm was abdminal aorta, and descending thoracic aorta and femoral artery were next 6. Preoperative associated diseases were atherosclerosis[41 cases], hypertension[21 cases], valvular heart disease[11 cases], and diabetes mellitus[9 cases], etc, 7. Operative methods in ocllusive diseases were thrombectomy[36.9%], endarterectomy [10.9%], and bypass graft insertion[52.7%]. Among the bypass graft, Y-graft was used in 7 case, straight graft was used in 17 cases, and saphenous venous graft was used in 2 cases. 8. Postoperative complications were developed in 17 cases, and morbidity rate was 36. 9. Eleven patient were died within 1 month after operation, so operative mortality rate was 13.3%. 10. Duration of patency was beteween 7 and 58 months[average 27.5 months] in occlusive diseases and their 5-year patency rate was 56.3%. Duration of patency of aneurysmal disease was 20 months in aveage and their 5-year patency rate was 51.3%. 11. Patients of eleven cases of occlusive disease and two cases of aneurysmal disease required reoperation for variable reason. 12. 35 cases of patient have used anticoagulants: coumadin, ticlid, and persanthin-ASA combination.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.61-64
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• 2016

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV (EDS IV) is a hereditary disorder of the connective tissue, characterized by easy bruising, thin skin with visible veins, and spontaneous rupture of the large arteries, uterus, or bowel. EDS IV is caused by mutations of the gene for type III procollagen (COL3A1), resulting in insufficient collagen production or a defect in the structure of collagen. EDS IV can have fatal complications such as the rupture of great vessels or organs, which can cause hemorrhaging and sudden unexpected death. Here, we report a case of a 43-year-old female who collapsed after a struggle with a neighbor. In this patient, the bifurcation of the bilateral common iliac artery ruptured, with no evidence of trauma, inflammation, or atherosclerosis. Genetic analysis of COL3A1 showed the presence of a c.2771G>A (p.Gly924Arg) mutation, which may be associated with EDS IV. The forensic pathologist should consider the possibility that the spontaneous visceral or arterial rupture was caused by EDS IV. Genetic analysis is not currently a routine procedure during autopsy. However, in this case, we suggest that the patient possibly had an underlying EDS IV condition, and we recommended family members of the deceased to seek genetic analysis and counseling.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2018

Objective : Duplication of the vertebral artery (VA) is a rare vascular variant. This paper describes the anatomy and embryological development of duplicated VAs and reviews the clinical significance. Methods : Computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed in 3386 patients (1880 females, 1506 males) between March 2014 and November 2015. We defined duplication of the VA as a condition in which the VA has two origins that fused at different levels of the neck. Results : Ten of the 3386 patients (0.295%) who received CT angiography had a dual origin of the VA; three on the left side, and seven on the right side. In all seven with right dual origin of the VA, both limbs of the VA origin originated from the right subclavian artery. In all three patients with left dual origin of the VA, both limbs of the VA originated from the left subclavian artery and aortic arch. In all 10 patients, the medial limb of the duplicated VA was located posteriorly and medially to the common carotid artery (CCA) and anteriorly and laterally to the vertebral transverse foramen. In two patients, the medial limb of the duplicated VA was located in close proximity to the CCA. In another two patients, the medial limb of the duplicated VA was located in close proximity to the CCA, carotid bifurcation, and proximal internal carotid artery. Conclusion : Although duplication of the VA is asymptomatic in most patients, clinicians should consider this anomaly during diagnosis and treatment.