• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.710-718
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• 2009

Background: The Cox maze procedure has been used as a standard surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation for about 20 years. Recently, the creators have used a bipolar radiofrequency electrode (Cox maze IV procedure) instead of the incision and suture (cut-sew) technique to make atrial ablation lesions for persistent atrial fibrillation. We investigated clinical outcomes for the Cox maze procedure with a bipolar radiofrequency electrode and cryoablator in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, and compared results with clinical outcomes of the cut-sew procedure. Material and Method: Between April 2005 and July 2007, 40 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation underwent Cox maze IV procedure with a bipolar radiofrequency electrode and cryoablator (bipolar radiofrequency group). Surgical outcomes were compared with those of 35 patients who had the cut-sew technique for the Cox maze III procedure. All patients had concomitant cardiac surgery. Postoperatively, the patients were followed up every 1 to 2 months. Result: At 6 months postoperatively, the conversion rate to regular sinus rhythm was not significantly different between the two groups: 95.0% for the bipolar radiofrequency ablation group; 97.1% for the cut-sew technique (p=1.0). At the end of the follow-up period, the conversion rate to regular sinus rhythm was also not significantly different (92.5% vs. 91.6%, p=1.0). In multivariate analysis using a Cox-regression model, the postoperative atrial dimension was an independent determinant of sinus conversion in the bipolar radiofrequency ablation group (hazard ratio 31, p=0.005). In the Cox-regression model for both groups, atrial fibrillation at 6 months postoperatively (hazard ratio 92.24, p=0.003) and the postoperative left atrial dimension (hazard ratio 16.05, p=0.019) were independent risk factors of continuance or recurrence of atrial fibrillation after Cox maze procedures. Aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were significantly shorter in the radiofrequency group than in the cut-sew group. Conclusion: In the Cox maze procedure for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, the use of bipolar radiofrequency ablation and a cryoablator is as good as the cut-sew technique for conversion to sinus rhythm. The postoperative left atrial dimension is an independent determinant of postoperative continuance and recurrence of atrial fibrillation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.329-334
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• 2008

Background: Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support. (PCPS) has the potential to rescue patients in cardiogenic shock who might otherwise die. PCPS has been a therapeutic option in a variety of the clinical settings such as for patients with myocardial Infarction, high-risk coronary intervention and postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock, and the PCPS device is easy to install. We report our early experience with PCPS as a life saving procedure in cardiogenic shock patients due to acute myocardial infarction. Material and Method: From January 2005 to December 2006, eight patients in cardiogenic shock with acute myocardial infarction underwent PCPS using the CAPIOX emergency bypass system($EBS^{(R)}$, Terumo, Tokyo, Japan). Uptake cannulae were inserted deep into the femoral vein up to the right atrium and return cannulae were inserted into the femoral artery with Seldinger techniques using 20 and 16-French cannulae, respectively. Simultaneously, autopriming was performed at the $EBS^{(R)}$ circuit. The $EBS^{(R)}$ flow rate was maintained between $2.5{\sim}3.0L/min/m^2$ and anticoagulation was performed using intravenous heparin with an ACT level above 200 seconds. Result: The mean age of patients was $61.1{\pm}14.2$ years (range, 39 to 77 years). Three patients were under control of the $EBS^{(R)}$ before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), three patients were under control of the $EBS^{(R)}$ during PCI, one patient was under control of the $EBS^{(R)}$ after PCI, and one patient was under control of the $EBS^{(R)}$ after coronary bypass surgery. The mean support time was $47.5{\pm}27.9$ hours (range, 8 to 76 hours). Five patients (62.5%) could be weaned from the $EBS^{(R)}$ after $53.6{\pm}27.2$ hours. (range, 12 to 68 hours) of support. All of the patients who could successfully be weaned from support were discharged from the hospital. There were three complications: one case of gastrointestinal bleeding and two cases of acute renal failure. Two of the three mortality cases were under cardiac arrest before $EBS^{(R)}$ support, and one patient had an intractable ventricular arrhythmia during the support. All of the discharged patients are still surviving at $16.8{\pm}3.1$ months (range, 12 to 20 months) of follow-up. Conclusion: The use of $EBS^{(R)}$ for cardiogenic shock caused by an acute myocardial infarction could rescue patients who might otherwise have died. Successfully recovered patients after $EBS^{(R)}$ treatment have survived without severe complications. More experience and additional clinical investigations are necessary to elucidate the proper installation timing and management protocol of the $EBS^{(R)}$ in the future.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.643-652
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• 2002

As the prevalence of coronay artery disease is increasing, the surgical treatment has been universalized and operative outcome has been improved. We analyzed the short and mid-term results of 292 CABGs performed in Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital. Material and Method: From June 1994 to December 2001, 292 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. There were 173 men and 119 women and their ages ranged from 39 to 84 years with a mean of $61.8{\pm}9.1$ years. We analyzed the preoperative risk factors, operative procedures and operative outcome. In addition, we analyzed the recurrence of symptoms, long-term mortality and complications via out-patient follow-up for discharged patients. Result: Preoperative clinical diagnoses were unstable angina in 137(46.9%), stable angina in 34(11.6%), acute myocardial infarction in 40(13.7%), non-Q myocardial infarction in 25(8.6%), postinfarction angina in 22(7.5%), cardiogenic shock in 30(10.3%) and PTCA failure in 4(1.4%) patients. Preoperative angiographic diagnoses were three-vessel disease in 157(53.8%), two-vessel disease in 35 (12.0%), one-vessel disease in 11(3.8%) and left main disease in 89(30.5%) patients. We used saphenous veins in 630, internal thoracic arteries in 257, radial arteries in 50, and right gastoepiploic arteries in 2 distal anastomoses. The mean number of distal anastomoses per patient was $3.2{\pm}1.0$ There were 18 concomitant procedures ; valve replacement in 8(2.7%), left main coronary artery angioplasty in 6(2.1%), patch closure of postinfarction ventricular septal defect(PMI-VSD) in 2(0.7%), replacement of ascending aorta in 1(0.3%) and coronary endarterectomy in 1(0.3%) patient. The mean ACC time was $96.6{\pm}35.3 $ minutes and the mean CPB time was $179.2{\pm}94.6$ minutes. Total early mortality was 8.6%, but it was 3.1% in elective operations. The most common cause of early mortality was low cardiac output syndrome in 6(2.1%) patients. The stastistically significant risk factors for early mortality were hypertension, old age($\geq$ 70 years), poor LV function(EF＜40%), congestive heart failure, preoperative intraaortic balloon pump, emergency operation and chronic renal failure. The most common complication was arrhythmia in 52(17.8%) patients. The mean follow-up period was $39.0{\pm}27.0$ months. Most patients were free of symptoms during follow-up. Fourteen patients(5.8 %) had recurrent symptoms and 7 patients(2.9%) died during follow-up period. Follow-up coronary angiography was performed in 13 patients with recurrent symptoms and they were managed by surgical and medical treatment according to the coronary angiographic result. Conclusion: The operative and late results of CABG in our hospital, was acceptable. However, There should be more refinement in operative technique and postoperative management to improve the results.