• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2021

Purpose: This study investigated the clinical outcomes of trauma patients with blunt thoracic aortic injuries at a single institution. Methods: During the study period, 9,501 patients with traumatic aortic injuries presented to Trauma Center of Gil Medical Center. Among them, 1,594 patients had severe trauma, with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of >15. Demographics, physiological data, injury mechanism, hemodynamic parameters associated with the thoracic injury according to chest computed tomography (CT) findings, the timing of the intervention, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Results: Twenty-eight patients had blunt aortic injuries (75% male, mean age, 45.9±16.3 years). The majority (82.1%, n=23/28) of these patients were involved in traffic accidents. The median ISS was 35.0 (interquartile range 21.0-41.0). The injuries were found in the ascending aorta (n=1, 3.6%) aortic arch (n=8, 28.6%) aortic isthmus (n=18, 64.3%), and descending aorta (n=1, 3.6%). The severity of aortic injuries on chest CT was categorized as intramural hematoma (n=1, 3.6%), dissection (n=3, 10.7%), transection (n=9, 32.2%), pseudoaneurysm (n=12, 42.8%), and rupture (n=3, 10.7%). Endovascular repair was performed in 71.4% of patients (45% within 24 hours), and two patients received surgical management. The mortality rate was 25% (n=7). Conclusions: Traumatic thoracic aortic injuries are life-threatening. In our experience, however, if there is no rupture and extravasation from an aortic injury, resuscitation and stabilization of vital signs are more important than an intervention for an aortic injury in patients with multiple traumas. Further study is required to optimize the timing of the intervention and explore management strategies for blunt thoracic aortic injuries in severe trauma patients needing resuscitation.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.146-150
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• 2016

Purpose: Traumatic aortic injuries are rare, but life threatening condition. They usually occur after high velocity impact on the chest or abdomen such as traffic accident or fall. We report the experiences of the traumatic aortic injuries at a single center. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of nine patients with aortic injury resulting from the blunt trauma from Jan. 2010 to May. 2016. Results: The mean age was $51.1{\pm}20.8$ years old, and ten (90.9%) were men. The mechanisms of injury were traffic accidents in seven patients (motorcycle accidents; 3, car accidents; 4), and four in fall injury. Most common injured sites were thoracic aorta (9, 81.8%). Aortic injuries were repaired by endovascular approach in four patients, and by open graft surgery in four. Two patients were managed conservatively. Nine patients survived without any complications. Conclusion: We had experienced different approaches for management of aortic injuries after blunt trauma according to locations and severity of lesions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.774-780
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• 2004

Although traumatic thoracic aortic rupture is potentially a fatal condition requiring surgical attention, the presence of concomitant injury involving other parts of the body may greatly increase the risk of cardio-pulmonary bypass. We report our experience of treating associated injuries prior to the thoracic aortic rupture in these patients. Material and Method: From 1997 to 2003, the medical records of 24 traumatic aortic rupture patients were retrospectively reviewed and checked for the presence of associated injury, surgical method, postoperative course, and complications. Surgical technique comprised thoracotomy with proximal anastomosis under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest followed by side arm perfusion to reestablish cerebral circulation. CSF drainage was performed to prevent lower extremity paraplegia. Result： Major concomitant injuries (n=83) were noted in all of the reviewed patients, Of these, there were 49 thoracic injuries, 18 musculoskeletal injuries, and 13 abdominal injuries, Operations for associated injuries (n=16) were performed in 12 patients on mean 7.6$\pm$12.6 days following the injury. The diagnosis of aortic rupture at the time of injury was detected in only 18 patients. Delayed surgery of the thoracic aorta was performed on average 695$\pm$1350 days after injury and there were no deaths or progression of rupture in any of these patients during the observation period. There were no operative deaths and no major postoperative complications. Conclusion: Treating concomitant major injuries prior to the aortic injury in traumatic aortic rupture may reduce surgical mortality and morbidity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.407-410
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• 2017

Traumatic chylothorax after blunt chest trauma alone is considered rare. Our patient was a 27-year-old female who was in a motorcycle accident and sustained blunt thoracic and traumatic thoracic aortic injuries with T1-T2 vertebral subluxation. She underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair from T4 to T9 without any thoracic or spinal surgery. On postoperative day 7, the drainage from her left chest turned into a milky-white fluid indicative of chyle leakage. The patient was treated conservatively for 2 weeks and then the chest drain was safely removed. The results show that traumatic chylothorax can be successfully managed with conservative treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.881-884
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• 1995

Improvements in the operative management of traumatic aortic transection have resulted in safe and expeditious repair. Nonetheless, multisystem injuries continue to inflict significant numbers of deaths. We have experienced a case of acute traumatic aortic transection in 41 years old male patient by a traffic accident. The transection was just distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery. We have done a synthetic graft interposition under left atrium to left femoral artery bypass with centrifugal pump. His postoperative course was smooth, and discharged without any complications.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.174-176
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• 2018

Most of aortic injuries after blunt chest trauma usually occur at the aortic isthmus and are identified in the emergency department soon after arrival. Delayed aortic injures by fractured posterior ribs, however, are relatively rare and have been reported only a few times. We recently experienced an iatrogenic descending aortic injury sustained as a result of a direct puncture by a sharp rib end after surgical stabilization of rib fractures.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.66-71
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• 2018

Patients with traumatic aortic rupture rarely reach the hospital alive. Even among those who arrive at the hospital alive, traumatic aortic rupture after high-speed motor vehicle accidents leads to a high in-hospital mortality rate and is associated with other major injuries. Here, we report a rare case of descending midthoracic aortic rupture with blunt diaphragmatic rupture. Successful management with emergency laparotomy after an immediate endovascular procedure resulted in a favorable prognosis in this case.

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

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 1988

Currently numerous methods are in use for myocardial hypothermia as a myocardial preservation modality for cardiac operation. During cardiac ischemia after crystalloid cardioplegia[4C GIK solution], topical cold saline[Group I, a=9], topical ice slush[Group II, n=9] and topical ice chip[Group III, a=10] have been compared for myocardial surface cooling in the isolated rat heart model of cardiopulmonary bypass. During postischemic period, hemodynamic functions[aortic flow, coronary flow, peak aortic pressure and heart rate], biochemical enzymatic activities and cellular injuries with electron microscope were evaluated in this isolated rat heart perfusion model. Postischemic aortic flow, cardiac output and peak aortic pressure in Group I and Group II recovered better than Group III.[p< 0.05] Postischemic creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase leakages in Group II and Group III increased more than Group l and postischemic mitochondrial swelling in Group III was more severe than Group I, and Group II.[p< 0.05] These results suggest that topical cold saline was the better method than topical ice slush or topical ice chip as a myocardial preservation modality in the isolated rat heart model of cardiopulmonary bypass.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.782-784
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• 1990

We present a case of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm caused by blunt injury. The patient was 23-year-old soldier injured by a motor vehicle accident. Injuries sustained a contused abdominal aorta. At the time of aortic repair, the involved segment formed huge pseudoaneurysm, and which had intimal tear. Aorto-iliac graft replacement was carried out with a woven-dacron Y-graft prosthesis, which restored satisfactory circulation to both lower limbs. The postoperative course was uneventful.