• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2016

A 49-year-old female presented with severe dyspnea. She was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade combined with ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm and rupture, which was caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae infection. This extremely rare condition was managed by an emergency pericardiostomy and two separate aortic operations. Antibiotics active for the K. pneumoniae isolate were used throughout. The patient was well for nine months after discharge and continues to be followed up for signs of possible reinfection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.172-178
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• 2021

Background: Complicated acute type B aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to report a single-center experience with endovascular stent-graft repair of acute type B dissection of the thoracic aorta and to evaluate the mid-term outcomes. Methods: We reviewed 18 patients treated for complicated acute type B aortic dissection by thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) from September 2011 to July 2017. The indications for surgery included rupture, impending rupture, limb ischemia, visceral malperfusion, and paraplegia. The median follow-up was 34.50 months (range, 12-80 months). Results: The median interval from aortic dissection to TEVAR was 5.50 days (range, 0-32 days). There was no in-hospital mortality. All cases of malperfusion improved except for 1 patient. The morbidities included endoleak in 2 patients (11.1%), stroke in 3 patients (16.7%), pneumonia in 2 patients (11.1%), transient ischemia of the left arm in 1 patient (5.6%), and temporary visceral ischemia in 1 patient (5.6%). Postoperative computed tomography angiography at 1 year showed complete thrombosis of the false lumen in 15 patients (83.3%). Conclusion: TEVAR of complicated type B aortic dissection with a stent-graft was effective, with a low morbidity and mortality rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.558-563
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• 2007

Background: Traumatic aortic rupture is a highly fatal condition in which a patient's outcome is strongly affected by other associated injuries. Selection of the appropriate surgical timing and the management plan is important. Material and Method: The medical records of the 15 traumatic descending thoracic aortic rupture patients who underwent the clamp & sew technique were retrospectively reviewed and checked for the presence of associated injuries and the postoperative course. Result: The hospital mortality was 6.07% (one patient). This patient died intra-operatively and the cause of the death was delayed hemoperitoneum. The mean operative time and aortic clamp time were $231{\pm}53.1$ and $13.1{\pm}5.3$ minutes, respectively. One patient complained the bowel obstructive symptoms at postoperative 10 days. We found the mechanical bowel obstruction on computed tomography of the abdomen, and segmental bowel resection was done. Conclusion: Although several surgical strategies may be appropriate for managing traumatic aortic rupture, the clamp & sew technique is a safe and effective method for the treatment of traumatic aortic injury.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.255-261
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• 2023

Background: The surgical threshold for bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)-related aortopathy is a matter of debate due to its uncertain etiology and prognosis. This study investigated the prognosis of unrepaired BAV aortopathy in patients undergoing surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 720 patients (age, 60.8±11.5 years; 246 women) who underwent SAVR for BAV disease without aortic repair between 2005 and 2020 at Asan Medical Center. The clinical endpoints were defined as occurrences of sudden death, aortic dissection or rupture, and elective aortic repair. To estimate postoperative changes in the dimensions of the unrepaired aorta, the individual annual aortic expansion rate was calculated. Multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate the risk of aortic expansion. Results: The mean ascending aortic diameter was 39.5±4.6 mm, and 299 patients (41.5%) had a baseline ascending aorta diameter >40 mm. During 70.0±68.3 months of follow-up, the mean annual aortic expansion rate was 0.39±1.96 mm/yr, no aortic dissection or rupture was observed, and sudden deaths were reported in 12 patients (0.34% per person-year). Linear regression analysis revealed no significant correlation between the baseline ascending aortic diameter and postoperative aortic expansion (R²=0.004, β=-0.84, p=0.082). Conclusion: In selected patients undergoing SAVR for a BAV (<55 mm), the risk of adverse aortic events was very low. As this observation contradicts current practice guidelines advocating for proactive aortic replacement in dilated ascending aortas measuring >45 mm, the study results need further validation by studies involving larger populations or randomized controlled trials.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.100-103
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• 2009

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta is the second most common cause of death from motor vehicle accidents after head injury. About 85% of these patients do not survive to reach the hospital. The most common mechanism for this is deceleration injury, as occurs in a high speed motor vehicle accident. The aortic isthmus is the site of disruption for about 95% of all blunt thoracic aortic injuries. Another mechanism is crush injury which causes compression of the aorta between the displaced sternal body or manubrium and the thoracic vertebral column. These forces tear the inner layer of the aortic wall at an unusual location. We report here on a case of aortic arch dissection where the injury clearly occurred due to a crush injury and not because of deceleration. The surgical repair was delayed for 10 days after administering intensive medical therapy. The ascending aorta and aortic arch were replaced with an artificial graft with the patient under circulatory arrest and cerebral protection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.301-309
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• 1983

Twenty-three patients with aneurysm were operated between Jan. 1956 to July 1983 at the Department of Thoracic surgery, Seoul National University Hospital. There were 18 males and 5 females in this series. The age ranged from 14 to 68 years with the mean age of 41 years. The etiology of aortic aneurysms was atherosclerosis in 10, trauma in 2, annuloaortic ectasia in 4, syphilis in 1, and unknown etiology in six cases. Among the 4 patients with ascending aortic aneurysm, aortic valve replacement with aneurysmorrhaphy in three patients and Bentall operation in one patient were performed successfully. One patient with entire aortic arch aneurysm was received Dacron graft replacement with anastomosis of brachiocephalic arteries separately under cardiopulmonary bypass. There was no complication. Among 6 patients involving the descending thoracic aorta, three patients were managed by prosthetic bypass graft and aneurysm resection, and another three patients were also managed by prosthetic graft replacement. There were three hospital deaths. There were two thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. One patient in shock state due to preoperative rupture died from cardiac arrest during operative procedure. In another patient who had extensive involvement from the midportion of descending thoracic aorta to the terminal abdominal aorta, the aneurysm was successfully repaired with Dacron graft. In this instance celiac axis, superior and inferior mesenteric arteries and right renal artery were anastomosed separately. Eight of the 10 abdominal aortic aneurysms was replaced with prosthetic graft. One saccular aneurysm was treated by resection and primary closure. In another patient, cardiac arrest occurred during operation before definitive procedure. There was one another hospital death in the patient with preoperative rupture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 1970

This is a report on two cases of aortic prostheses using Nylon tube. (Edwards-Tapp A-G Tube, Chemically treated braided Nylon arterial grafts). Especially, the complications after infection of synthetic graft are discussed with reviewing literature. First case was the patient who came to our hospital with rupture of the right femoral artery at the femoral fossa due to pyogenic necrotic process. After femoral arterial prostheses, good pulsation of dorsal artery of foot was obtained. However, the tube was obstructed after 8 weeks postoperatively due tll the complication of infection. In spite of the tube was removed because of obstruction and foreign body reaction of synthetic graft, an amputation of the leg was not necessary for formation of good collateral circulation. Second case was a case of aortic aneurysmal rupture in thoraco-abdominal junction which developed by the trauma of rib resection for osteomyelitis of the left 12th. rib An implantation of aortic graft was performed at the lowest tho13cic aorta by the way of thoraco-abdominal bypass without arterial pump. However, infection produced pyothorax in the left pleural cavity, exposing the tube within the pyothorax. The rupture of the anastomosed upper line occurred in 8 weeks postoperatively and the patient expired.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.872-875
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• 2004

The treatment modalities of the intramural hematoma (IMH) remain controversial. Nowadays, the IMH of the descending thoracic aorta is generally classified in the medical treatment category. We describe a patient with IMH of the descending thoracic aorta who received the medical treatment. During the follow-up, we speculated that the IMH had been aggravated leading to an aortic rupture including hemothorax. Therefore, we performed an emergency operation. Contrary to our expectations, operative findings showed a well-organized aortic wall and serous pleural effusion. The exact diagnosis was IMH of the descending thoracic aorta with penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU). This case reminded us of the importance of accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 1992

Truamatic aortic rupture is usually fatal if left untreated. Prompt diagnosis is the cornerstone of suscessful management. But the usual screening tests are non specific and the accuracy of computerized tomography is low, Aortography which is a time consuming procedure may result in false-positive interpretations and significant morbidity. Recently transesophageal echocardiography provides a rapid, effective and relatively safe means of evaluating the distal aortic arch and also affords the opportunity to evaluate the heart during the same study, which may be of benefit in cases of suspected cardiac injury. The experience with the traumatic aortic ruptured patient and a critical review of the literature suggests that transesophageal echocardiography is a useful technique for the diagnosis of ruptured aorta following blunt chest trauma.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.172-175
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• 2019

Although thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has grown to become the standard of care to treat blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI), the long-term effects of TEVAR are still unclear. We here present a 72-year-old man with BTAI due to a traffic accident. He successfully underwent TEVAR and was transferred to another rehabilitation hospital 2 months after the accident. However, 1 month later, he underwent gastroscopy with fever and hematemesis and was diagnosed with aorto-esophageal fistula (AEF). After being re-transferred to Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, we tried to convince him to undergo surgical treatment, but he strongly refused. He received palliative care and died due to rupture of the aortic pseudoaneurysm 3 days after the hospital transfer. Fatal complications like AEF may occur after TEVAR, so clinicians need to carefully follow patients who underwent TEVAR.