• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.164-173
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• 2015

Background: Hypertrophied myocardium is especially vulnerable to ischemic injury. This study aimed to compare the early and late clinical outcomes of three different methods of myocardial protection in patients with aortic stenosis. Methods: This retrospective study included 225 consecutive patients (mean age, 65{\pm}10 years; 123 males) with severe aortic stenosis who underwent aortic valve replacement. Patients were excluded if they had coronary artery disease, an ejection fraction <50%, more than mild aortic regurgitation, or endocarditis. The patients were divided into three groups: group A, which was treated with antegrade and retrograde cold blood cardioplegia; group B, which was treated with antegrade crystalloid cardioplegia using histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution; and group C, treated with retrograde cold blood cardioplegia. Results: Group A contained 70 patients (31.1%), group B contained 74 patients (32.9%), and group C contained 81 patients (36%). The three groups showed significant differences with regard to the proportion of patients with a New York Heart Association functional classification ${\geq}III$ (p=0.035), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels (p=0.042), ejection fraction (p=0.035), left ventricular dimensions (p<0.001), left ventricular mass index (p<0.001), and right ventricular systolic pressure (p <0.001). Differences in cardiopulmonary bypass time (p=0.532) and aortic cross-clamp time (p=0.48) among the three groups were not statistically significant. During postoperative recovery, no significant differences were found regarding the use of inotropes (p=0.328), mechanical support (n=0), arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, p=0.347; non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, p=0.1), and ventilator support time (p=0.162). No operative mortality occurred. Similarly, no significant differences were found in long-term outcomes. Conclusion: Although the three groups showed some significant differences with regard to patient characteristics, both antegrade crystalloid cardioplegia with HTK solution and retrograde cold blood cardioplegia led to early and late clinical results similar to those achieved with combined antegrade and retrograde cold blood cardioplegia.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.505-509
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• 1991

Rupture or laceration of the aorta is a more common result of nonpenetrating traumatic injury than is generally appreciated. If the lesion is promptly diagnosed, a appropriate surgical treatment may be life-saving. Diagnosis may be difficult and at times the rupture may remain clinically silent for variable period.< A 34 - year old male patient had sustained steering wheel injury to his chest during automobile accident 8 weeks prior to admission. The diagnosis of traumatic aneurysm of the aorta was delayed as he was asymptomatic. Surgical repair of false aneurysm of the descending aorta was successfully performed by partial cardiopulmonary bypass through the femoral artery and vein.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.7 s.276
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• pp.508-511
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• 2007

The causes of aortic dissection are usually hypertension, connective tissue disease such as Marfan syndrome, congenital valvular abnormality such as bicuspid aortic valve, iatrogenic injury, pregnancy and drugs. Previous studies have shown that 50% of all dissections in women less than 40 years age were associated with pregnancy. Almost all aortic dissections during pregnancy occur during the third trimester or during labor and delivery. Marfan's syndrome is a particularly important predisposing factor for aortic dissection during pregnancy. We report here on a case of surgical treatment for acute type II aortic dissection in a Marfan syndrome patient who was 24 weeks pregnant, and we include a review of literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.481-487
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• 1998

The surgical management of acute type B dissection is controversial. The complexity of the repair usually requires a period of aortic cross-clamping exceeding 30 minutes, which can cause ischemic injury of the spinal cord. Several forms of distal perfusion have been considered for use to prevent this injury. To determine the safety and efficacy of a graft replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass in reparing acute dissection of descending thoracic aorta, we retrospectively reviewed our surgical experience treating 8 patients who had aortic dissection secondary to atherosclerosis, trauma, and carcinoma invasion. Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed with two aortic cannulas for simultaneous perfusion of the upper and lower body and one venous cannula for draining venous blood from the right atrium or inferior vena cava. Although aortic cross-clamp time was relatively long (average, 117.8 minutes; range, 47 to 180 minutes) in all cases, there was no neurologic deficit immediately after graft replacement for the aortic lesion. Two patients(25%) of relatively old age died on the postoperative 31st and 41st days, respectively, because of delayed postoperative complications, such as pulmonary abscess and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Although any of several maneuvers may be appropriate in managing dissection of the descending aorta, graft replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass during aortic cross-clamping may be a safe and effective method for the treatment of acute dissection of the descending thoracic aorta.

• 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.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.816-822
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• 1989

Aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta can be caused by various etiologies. So, its abrupt rupture leads life-threatening state, it must be operated as soon as possible. Surgical treatment of the descending thoracic aortic aneurysm requires temporary cross-clamping of major artery. The obligatory occlusion of the descending thoracic aorta during management causes proximal arterial hypertension and distal arterial hypotension. The former may leads to left ventricular failure, or cerebrovascular accident, whereas the latter may leads to spinal cord ischemia or renal injury. Some have recommended insertion of temporary shunt around the occluded descending aorta to prevent above problems. Still others would favor expeditious operation employing simple aortic occlusion during the repair of the descending aorta. Recently we had experienced two cases of dissecting aneurysms of descending thoracic aorta which performed aortoplasty with Gore-Tex conduit under simple aortic occlusion. The one was 34-year-old female patient with traumatic dissecting aortic aneurysm [5 em X 5 cm] on the descending thoracic aorta distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery and the other was 58-year-old female patient with atherosclerotic dissecting descending thoracic aortic aneurysm [6 cmX7 cm] and diffuse abdominal aortic aneurysms [3X5 cm]. Both patients performed standard left posterolateral thoracotomy. After the aneurysmal sac was mobilized, occluding vascular clamps were placed on the transverse aorta proximal to the origin of the left subclavian artery, and on the distal descending aorta without adjuvant bypass procedures for 31 and 32 minutes, respectively, and the aneurysmal sac was repaired with 18 mm ringed Gore-Tex conduit graft. Both patients postoperative courses were uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.774-776
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• 2009

A 57-year-old man with dyspnea was transferred to our institution. Echocardiography demonstrated grade III aortic valve regurgitation with a bicuspid aortic valve. The preoperative coronary angiography showed a left single nary artery. Replacement of the aortic valve was performed. Ventricular fibrillation developed during weaning patient of cardiopulmonary bypass after aortotomy repair. An anomalous origin of the coronary arteries is an incidental finding. However, in patients who are undergoing aortic valve replacement, a can significantly complicate the procedure. If this is present, then it is imperative that the clearly identified and the required procedure should be modified to avoid injury to these.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.406-408
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• 2014

A 66-year-old male patient arrived at the emergency room with a crush injury to his chest. Multiple rib fractures, hemothorax on both sides, left scapular fracture, liver laceration, and retroperitoneal hematoma were found upon the radiologic examination. After closed thoracostomy, the patient had been initially admitted to the intensive care unit, but he was transferred to the general ward on the next day. On the 4th post-trauma day, the patient complained of severe pain and there was bloody drainage through the chest tube. This case is an exploration with the consideration of the possibility of major bleeding and the subsequent repair of the descending thoracic aorta. This case is regarded as a case in which the aorta wall was damaged as the sharp margin of the fractured ribs caused continuous irritation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.979-983
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• 1988

Calcium channel blockers may prevent myocardial injury during cardioplegia and reperfusion. This study was done to evaluate the effects of diltiazem cardioplegia on myocardial protection during ischemic arrest and recovery of myocardial function after reperfusion. Four formulations of crystalloid cardioplegic solutions, GIK solution[group I, n=12], diltiazem[lug/ml GIK] in GIK solution[group II, n=7], ],diltiazem[2ug/ml GIK] in GIK solution[group III, n=6] and diltiazem[4ug/ml GIK] in GIK solution[group IV, n=6] were compared in isolated working rat heart subjected to a long period [2 hours] of hypothermic arrest with multi-dose infusion. Diltiazem cardioplegia[group II, III and IV]was found to be superior in nearly all aspects. Diltiazem cardioplegia showed faster recovery of regular rhythm and lower incidence of ventricular fibrillation than group I did. In comparing mechanical function in all experimental hearts, the mean postischemic recoveries of aortic flow, cardiac output, peak aortic pressure, stroke volume and stroke work[expressed as a percentage of its preischemic control] were significantly greater in group II, III and IV[diltiazem cardioplegia] than in group I. The infused amount of cardioplegic solution was more increased by the addition of diltiazem to GI K solution. [p < 0.01] Creatine kinase leakage tended to be lower in hearts receiving diltiazem cardioplegia, especially in group III and IV[p<0.05] than in those receiving GIK solution only[group I]. Diltiazem cardioplegia results in the increased flow of cardioplegic solution and the decreased ischemic injury of myocardium during ischemic arrest and the improved recovery of myocardial function after reperfusion, and a dose-response relation must be established before clinical use.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.6 s.263
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• pp.440-448
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• 2006

Background: Surgery of descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta has the potential risk of causing neurological injury including spinal cord damage. This study was designed to find out the risk factors leading to spinal cord and brain damage after surgery of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. Material and Method: Between October 1995 and July 2005, thirty three patients with descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic disease underwent resection and graft replacement of the involved aortic segments. We reviewed these patients retrospectively. There were 23 descending thoracic aortic diseases and 10 thoracoabdominal aortic diseases. As an etiology, there were 23 aortic dissections and 10 aortic aneurysms. Preoperative and perioperative variables were analyzed univariately and multivariately to identify risk factors of neurological injury. Result: Paraplegia occurred in 2 (6.1%) patients and permanent in one. There were 7 brain damages (21%), among them, 4 were permanent damages. As risk factors of spinal cord damage, Crawford type II III(p=0.011) and intercostal artery anastomosis (p=0.040) were statistically significant. Cardiopulmonary bypass time more than 200 minutes (p=0.023), left atrial vent catheter insertion (p=0.005) were statistically significant as risk factors of brain damage. Left heart partial bypass (LHPB) was statistically significant as a protecting factor of brain (p=0.032). Conclusion: The incidence of brain damage was higher than that of spinal cord damage after surgery of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. There was no brain damage in LHPB group. LHPB was advantageous in protecting brain from postoperative brain injury. Adjunctive procedures to protect spinal cord is needed and vigilant attention should be paid in patients with Crawford type II III and patients who have patent intercostal arteries.