• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.373-378
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• 1999

Background: Minimally invasive technique for various cardiac surgeries has become widely accepted since it has been proven to have distinct advantages for the patients. We describe here the results of our experiences of minimal incision in cardiac surgery. Material and Method: From February 1997 to November 1998, we successfully performed 31 cases of minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Male and female ratio was 17:14, and the patients age ranged from 1 to 75 years. A left parasternal incision was used in 9 patients with single vessel coronary heart disease. A direct coronary bypass grafting was done under the condition of the beating heart without cardiopulmonary bypass support(MIDCAB). Among these, one was a case of a reoperation 1 week after the first operation due to a kinked mammary artery graft. A right parasternal incision was used in one case of a redo mitral valve replacement. Mini-sternotomy was used in the remaining 21 patients. The procedures were mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty in 6 patients, mitral valve replacement 5, double valve replacement 2, aortic valve replacement 1, removal of left atrial myxoma 1, closure of atrial septal defect 2, repair of ventricular septal defect 2, and primary closure of r ght ventricular stab wound 1. The initial 5 cases underwent a T-shaped mini-sternotomy, however, we adopted an arrow-shaped ministernotomy in the remaining cases because it provided better exposure of the aortic root and stability of the sternum after a sternal wiring. Result: The operation time, the cardiopulmonary bypass time, the aorta cross-clamping time, the mechanical ventilation time, the amount of chest tube drainage until POD#1, the chest tube indwelling time, and the duration of intensive care unit staying were in an acceptable range. There were two surgical mortalities. One was due to a rupture of the aorta cannulation site after double valve replacement on POD#1 in the mini-sternotomy case, and the other was due to a sudden ventricular arrhythmia after MIDCAB on POD#2 in the parasternal incision case. Postoperative complications were observed in 2 cases in which a cerebral embolism developed on POD#2 after a mini-sternotomy in mitral valve replacement and wound hematoma developed after a right parasternal incision in a single coronary bypass grafting. Neither mortality nor complication was directly related to the incision technique itself. Conclusion: Minimally invasive surgery using parasternal or mini-sternotomy incision can be used in cardiac surgeries since it is as safe as the standard full sternotomy incisions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.1 s.246
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• pp.13-22
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• 2005

It has been known that pulsatile flow is physiologic and more favorable to tissue perfusion than nonpulsatile flow. The purpose of this study is to directly compare the effect of pulsatile versus nonpulsatile blood flow to renal tissue perfusion in extracorporeal circulation by using a tissue perfusion measurement system. Material and Method: Total cardiopulmonary bypass circuit was constructed to twelve Yorkshire swines, weighing 20$\~ $30 kg. Animals were randomly assigned to group 1 (n=6, non pulsatile centrifugal pump) or group 2 (n=6, pulsatile T-PLS pump). A probe of the tissue perfusion measurement system $(QFlow^{TM}-500)$ was inserted into the renal pa­renchymal tissue. Extracorporeal circulation was maintained for an hour at a pump flow of 2 L/min after aortic cross-clamping. Tissue perfusion flow of the kidney was measured at baseline (before bypass) and every 10 minutes after bypass. Serologic parameters were collected at baseline and 60 minutes after bypass. Result: Baseline parameters were not different between the groups. Renal tissue perfusion flow was substantially higher in the pulsatile group throughout the bypass (ranged 48.5$\~$ 64 in group 1 vs. 65.8$\~$88.3 mL/min/100 g in group 2, p=0.026$\~$ 0.45) The difference was significant at 30 minutes bypass $(47.5{\pm}18.3\;in\;group\;1\;vs.\;83.4{\pm}28.5$ mL/min/100 g in group 2, p=0.026). Serologic parameters including plasma free hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine showed no differences between the groups at 60 minutes after bypass (p=NS). Conclusion: Pulsatile flow is more beneficial to tissue perfusion of the kidney in short-term extracorporeal circulation. Further study is suggested to observe the effects to other vital organs or long-term significance.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.5 s.262
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• pp.354-358
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• 2006

Background: Pulsatile pumps for extracorporeal circulation have been known to be better for tissue perfusion than non-pulsatile pumps but be detrimental to blood corpuscles. This study is intended to examine the risks and benefits of $T-PLS^{TM}$ through the comparison of clinical effects of $T-PLS^{TM}$ (pulsatile pump) and $Bio-pump^{TM}$ (non-pulsatile pump) used for coronary bypass surgery. Material and Method: The comparison was made on 40 patients who had coronary bypass using $T-PLS^{TM}\;and\;Bio-pump^{TM}$ (20 patients for each) from April 2003 to June 2005. All of the surgeries were operated on pump beating coronary artery bypass graft using cardiopulmonary extra-corporeal circulation. Risk factors before surgery and the condition during surgery and the results were compared. Result: There was no significant difference in age, gender ratio, and risk factors before surgery such as history of diabetes, hypertension, smoking, obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary infarction, and renal failure between the two groups. Surgery duration, hours of heart-lung machine operation, used shunt and grafted coronary branch were little different between the two groups. The two groups had a similar level of systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure and mean arterial pressure, but pulse pressure was measured higher in the group with $T-PLS^{TM}\;(46{\pm}15\;mmHg\;in\;T-PLS^{TM}\;vs\;35{\pm}13\;mmHg\;in\;Bio-pump^{TM},\;p<0.05)$. The $T-PLS^{TM}$-operated patients tended to produce more urine volume during surgery, but the difference was not statistically significant $(9.7{\pm}3.9\;cc/min\;in\;T-PLS^{TM}\;vs\;8.9{\pm}3.6\;cc/min\;in\;Bio-pump^{TM},\;p=0.20)$. There was no significant difference in mean duration of respirator usage and 24-hour blood loss after surgery between the two groups. Plasma free Hb was measured lower in the group with $T-PLS^{TM}\;(24.5{\pm}21.7\;mg/dL\;in\;T-PLS^{TM}\;versus\;46.8{\pm}23.0mg/dL\;in\;Bio-pump^{TM},\;p<0.05)$. There was no significant difference in coronary infarction, arrhythmia, renal failure and morbidity rate of cerebrovascular disease. There was a case of death after surgery (death rate of 5%) in the group tested with $T-PLS^{TM}$, but the death rate was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Coronary bypass was operated with $T-PLS^{TM}$ (Pulsatile flow pump) using a heart-lung machine. There was no unexpected event caused by mechanical error during surgery, and the clinical process of the surgery was the same as the surgery for which $Bio-pump^{TM}$ was used. In addition, $T-PLS^{TM}$ used surgery was found to be less detrimental to blood corpuscles than the pulsatile flow has been known to be. Authors of this study could confirm the safety of $T-PLS^{TM}$.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2008

Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) shows fewer side effects than cardiopulmonary by. pass, and other benefits include myocardial protection, pulmonary and renal protection, coagulation, inflammation, and cognitive function. We analyzed the clinical results of our cases of OPCAB. Material and Method: From May 1999 to August 2007, OPCAB was performed in 100 patients out of a total of 310 coronary artery bypass surgeries. There were 63 males and 37 females, from 29 to 82 years old, with a mean age of $62{\pm}10$ years. The preoperative diagnoses were unstable angina in 77 cases, stable angina in 16, and acute myocardial infarction in 7. The associated diseases were hypertension in 48 cases, diabetes in 42, chronic renal failure in 10, carotid artery disease in 6, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 5. The preoperative cardiac ejection fraction ranged from 26% to 74% (mean $56.7{\pm}11.6%$). Preoperative angiograms showed three-vessel disease in 47 cases, two-vessel disease in 25, one-vessel disease in 24, and left main disease in 23. The internal thoracic artery was harvested by the pedicled technique through a median sternotomy in 97 cases. The radial artery and greater saphenous vein were harvested in 70 and 45 cases, respectively (endoscopic harvest in 53 and 41 cases, respectively). Result: The mean number of grafts was $2.7{\pm}1.2$ per patient, with grafts sourced from the unilateral internal thoracic artery in 95 (95%) cases, the radial artery in 62, the greater saphenous vein in 39, and the bilateral internal thoracic artery in 2. Sequential anastomoses were performed in 46 cases. The anastomosed vessels were the left anterior descending artery in 97 cases, the obtuse marginal branch in 63, the diagonal branch in 53, the right coronary artery in 30, the intermediate branch in 11, the posterior descending artery in 9 and the posterior lateral branch in 3. The conversion to cardiopulmonary bypass occurred in 4 cases. Graft patency was checked before discharge by coronary angiography or multi-slice coronary CT angiography in 72 cases, with a patency rate of 92.9% (184/198). There was one case of mortality due to sepsis. Postoperative arrhythmias or myocardial in-farctions were not observed. Postoperative complications were a cerebral stroke in 1 case and wound infection in 1. The mean time of respirator care was $20{\pm}35$ hours and the mean duration of stay in the intensive care unit was $68{\pm}47$ hours. The mean amounts of blood transfusion were $4.0{\pm}2.6$ packs/patient. Conclusion: We found good clinical outcomes after OPCAB, and suggest that OPCAB could be used to expand the use of coronary artery bypass grafting.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.473-479
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• 2009

Background: Retrograde autologous priming (RAP) is known to be useful in decreasing the need of transfusions in cardiac surgery because it prevents excessive hemodilution due to the crystalloid priming of cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. However, there are also negative side effects in terms of blood conservation. We analyzed the intraoperative blood-conserving effect of RAP and also investigated the efficacy of autotransfusion and ultrafiltration as a supplemental method for RAP. Material and Method: From January 2005 to December 2007, 117 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass operations using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were enrolled. Mean age was 63.9$\pm$9.1 years (range 36$\sim$83 years) and 34 patients were female. There were 62 patients in the RAP group and 55 patients in he control group. Intraoperative autotransfusion was performed via the arterial line. RAP was done just before initiating CPB using retrograde drainage of the crystalloid priming solution. Both conventional (CUF) and modified (MUF) ultrafiltrations were done during and after CPB, respectively. The transfusion threshold was less than 20% in hematocrit. Result: Autotransfusions were done in 79 patients (67.5%) and the average amount was 142.5$\pm$65.4 mL (range 30$\sim$320 mL). Homologous red blood cell (RBC) transfusion was done in 47 patients (40.2%) and mean amount of transfused RBC was 404.3$\pm$222.6 mL. Risk factors for transfusions were body surface area (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.00 $\sim$ 0.63, p=0.030) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 $\sim$ 1.08, p=0.019). RAP was not effective in terms of the rate of transfusion (34.5% vs 45.2%, p=0.24). However, the amount of transfused RBC was significantly decreased (526.3$\pm$242.3ml vs 321.4$\pm$166.3 mL, p=0.001). Autotransfusion and ultrafiltration revealed additive and cumulative effects decreasing transfusion amount (one; 600.0$\pm$231.0 mL, two; 533.3$\pm$264.6 mL, three; 346.7$\pm$176.7 mL, four; 300.0$\pm$146.1 mL, p=0.002). Conclusion: Even though RAP did not appear to be effective in terms of the number of patients receiving intraoperative RBC transfusions, it could conserve blood in terms of the amount transfused and with the additive effects of autotransfusion and ultrafiltration. If we want to maximize the blood conserving effect of RAP, more aggressive control will be necessary - such as high threshold of transfusion trigger or strict regulation of crystalloid infusion, and so forth.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.272-274
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• 2004

We report an unusual case of left atrial auricular abscess which was successfully treated by surgical resection, treatment with antibiotics and mediastinal irrigation. A 9-year-old female patient with previous history of urinary tract infection was admitted because of persistent fever. Echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed massive pericardial effusion and a mass lesion at the left upper cardiac border. Pericardiocentesis isolated Staphylococcus aureus on culture. The patient underwent mass removal under cardiopulmonary bypass. The mass was located within the left atrial auricular wall with fibropurulent abscess formation inside. Postoperative mediastinal irrigation was performed. Pathologic examination of the mass showed organized thrombi with chronic fibrosing mural endocarditis. She discharged on the 21st postoperative day without complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 1984

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection [TAPVC] defines a group of congenital heart disease which have in common the entire pulmonary venous drainage returning directly or indirectly to the right atrium instead of to the left atrium. Although this disorder represents only 1.3% of cases of congenital heart disease, if untreated the resultant mortality is greater than 80% in the 1st year of life. And since there is no satisfactory palliative treatment, correction of TAPVC Is high on the list of indications for open heart surgery in the 1st year of life. This paper describes 10 patients who underwent surgical correction of this disorder at SNUH between 1978 and 1983. 1. 7 were males and 3 females, with ages ranging from 5 months to 24 years. 2. 7 were supracardiac type, 2 cardiac type, and 1 mixed type TAPVC. We didnt experience infracardiac type. 3. All showed some degree of pulmonary hypertension preoperatively. 4. In 4 cases of supracardiac type, total circulatory arrest was used in brief period during anastomosis between common pulmonary venous trunk and left atrium. In the other cases, usual cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate to deep hyperthermia was used. 5. There were 2 cases of mortality; 1 died at operation, and the other at 4 months due to congestive heart failure. 6. Mortality seemed not closely related to age, body weight, or severity of pulmonary hypertension.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 1979

The development of aortic insufficiency radically alters the physical findings which are generally associated with ventricular septal defect that was not hemodynamically significant, and the combination of the two lesions produces a typical clinical picture, that may be serious and life-threatening when it is left untreated. Therefore, the selection of patients, type and timing of surgical treatment is considered to be important. Among 114 cases of ventricular septal defect treated surgically utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 7 cases were associated with aortic insufficiency. 1. Five cases were male, and 2 cases were female. Ages were from 4 years to 24 years, and mean age was 11.9 years. 2. In all cases, ventricular septal defect was closed with Teflon patch. In a case, a aortic valvuloplasty and in another, a aortic valve replacement with Hancock valve 23 mm., 5 months after the closure of ventricular septal defect were done. 3. Four cases were type I ventricular septal defect by Kirklin`s classification, 3 cases were type II ventricular septal defect, and diameters of ventricular septal defect were from 3.5 cm. to 0.7 cm. A PDA. was combined to a type I ventricular septal defect. 4. In 5 cases, herniation of the aortic cusp through the ventricular septal defect and in a case, annulus dilatation on the aortic valve was noted. 5. Two cases with type I ventricular septal defect and severe pulmonary hypertension expired. A re-opened case with type II ventricular septal defect expired. 6. Four cases were alive, and all of them show decrease of pulse pressure and aortic insufficiency.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 1975

Up to October 31, 1975, 34 cases of atrial septal defect, secundum type, operated in this department, were presented. This is 23.2% of all congenital heart diseases, operated utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass, in this department during this period [34 out of 146]. Out of 34 cases, 32 cases are pure ostium secundum type and one case is sinus venosus and another one is ostium secundum type with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. Six cases of endocardial cushion defect and 3 cases of trilogy of Fallot are excluded in this report. All 34 cases are repaired under direct vision utilizing extracorporeal circulation. Among 34 cases of atrial septal defect, 16 cases are male, and 18 cases are female. Their ages range between 3 to 48 years, but over 59% of the cases are below the ages of 20 years. Thirty-two cases are repaired by direct sutures while 2 cases are repaired with Teflon patches. The average perfusion time is 30 minutes; the shortest 12 and the longest 81 minutes. The number of the defect is single in 31 cases, double in 2 cases, triple in one case. But the associated defect except the main defect are so small as can be closed by simple direct suture. The size of the defect is average $12cm^2$; the smallest 0.7 and the largest $25cm^2$. The surgical mortality is 2 cases [5.6%] and other cases are found to be excellent in the follow up studies.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.996-1002
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• 1988

A clinical analysis was performed on 115 cases of -patent ductus arteriosus treated surgically during the period of 11 years from Aug. 1977 to Jul. 1988. at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chungnam National University Hospital. Among 115 cases, male was 38 and female was 77 and ages ranged 12 days to 27 years old with the average of 8 7/12 years. The major clinical symptoms on admission were frequent URI attack[77.4%], dyspnea on exertion[32.2%] and palpitation[13%]. On auscultation, continuous machinery murmurs were detected in 97 cases[84.3%] and loud systolic murmurs were detected in 18 cases[15.7%]. Preoperative electrocardiographic findings were as follows: LVH 59[51.3%], RVH 12[10.4%], BVH 16[13.9%] and WNL 28[24.3%]. Radiologically, there were increased pulmonary vascularity in 104[90.4%] and cardiomegaly 62[53.9%]. Cardiac catheterization were performed in 101 cases and mean systolic pulmonary arterial pressure was 49.84*29.7mmHg and mean Qp/Qs was 2.95k1.8. Methods of operation were multiple ligation in 96, division in 11 and transpulmonary arterial repair using cardiopulmonary bypass in 8. Complication were recannalization in 2, temporary hoarseness due to left recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis in 3 and respiratory distress in 1 and overall mortality rate was 1.7%[2 cases].