• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.462-469
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• 2022

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is used to treat carotid stenosis, which is associated with cerebral infarction and may result in neurologic deficits such as stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and local nerve injury. To decrease surgery-related complications and improve patient satisfaction with esthetic outcomes, efforts have been made to minimize incision size instead of using a standard longitudinal incision. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 151 cases of CEA, of which 110 used conventional incisions and 41 used high mini-skin incisions (HMIs), from March 2015 to December 2021 at a single institution. Short-term (30-day) postoperative results were evaluated for rates of mortality, stroke, TIA, and cranial/cervical nerve injuries. Risk factors for nerve injury were also assessed. Results: The HMI group showed significantly (p<0.01) shorter operative and clamp times than the conventional group. The HMI group also had significantly shorter incision lengths (5.3±0.9 cm) than the conventional group (11.5±2.8 cm). The rates of stroke, TIA, and death at 30 days were not significantly different between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in the rate of cranial and cervical nerve injuries, and all injuries were transient. A high lesion level (odds ratio [OR], 9.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.21-28.42; p<0.01) and the clamp time (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03-1.12; p<0.01) were found to be risk factors for nerve injuries. Conclusion: Use of the HMI in CEA for carotid stenosis was advantageous for its shorter operative time, shorter internal carotid artery clamp time, reduced neurologic complications, and improved esthetics.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.532-536
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• 1990

We experienced surgical correction of 2 cases of discrete membranous subaortic stenosis. Case 1 was 19 years old male patient. His complaints were fatigue, exertional dyspnea, syncope and angina for 8 years. Ejection. systolic murmur was heard at the second right intercostal space and diastolic murmur was heard at the apex. A thrill was palpated over the second right intercostal space and area of the carotid artery. 2-D echo, cardiac cath and left ventriculogram revealed discrete membranous subaortic stenosis and VSD. Complete excision of discrete membrane without mymectomy was done. VSD was closed with dacron patch and aortic valve was replaced with St. Jude medical valve. Case 11 was 16 years old female whose complaints were exertional dyspnea and syncope. Ejection systolic murmur was heard at second right intercostal space, but diastolic murmur was not heard. A thrill was palpated over the second right intercostal space and the area of carotid artery. 2-D echo, cardiac cath and left ventriculogram revealed discrete membranous subaortic stenosis. Complete excision of fibrous tissue and myotomy were made and aortic valve was replaced with St. Jude medical valve. Operative finding was followed: both aortic valves showed deformity of leaflets. Subaortic region had a thickened central fibrous body from which the ridge protruded. Both patient`s postoperative course were uneventful and short-term follow-up results were good except soft systolic murmur at the aortic area.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2016

Carotid-artery stenosis may reduce cerebral perfusion, and affect cerebral neuronal activities. We examined the question of whether the recovery of cerebral-perfusion reserve after carotid-artery stenting (CAS) can affect the EEG power-spectrum. Nineteen candidates for CAS were initially recruited. Subtraction imaging of single photon emissary computerized tomography (SPECT) and an electroencephalogram (EEG) were taken twice, before and 1 month after CAS. At each time point, the EEGs were recorded before and after injection of acetazolamide (pre-ACZ EEG and post-ACZ EEG). Finally, 7 patients were enrolled after exclusion of incomplete studies. We obtained the spectral ratio (SR) of each hemisphere. SR was defined as the divided value of the power-spectrum sum of fast activities by that of slow activities. The power-spectrum values between hemispheres were compared using the inter-hemispheric index of spectral ratio (IHISR), and we examined the correlation between the power-spectrum and the cerebral-perfusion reserve. Cerebral-perfusion reserve improved after CAS on the stent side in 6 of 7 patients. In 3 patients with unilateral carotid-artery stenosis, CAS increased SR on the pre-ACZ EEGs, and IHISR on the post-ACZ EEGs. The increases of SR and IHISR were concordant with the increment of cerebral-perfusion reserve. In contrast, the results in the other patients with bilateral stenosis showed complex patterns. The SR of pre-ACZ EEGs and IHISR of post-ACZ EEGs may be useful electrophysiological markers for the blood-flow reserve after CAS in patients with unilateral carotid-artery stenosis, but not in those with bilateral stenosis.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.281-286
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• 2002

In this study, blood flow in a carotid artery supplying blood to the human's brain has been numerically simulated to find out how the blood flow affects the genesis and the growth of atherosclerosis and arterial thrombosis. Velocity Profiles and hemodynamic parameters have been investigated for the carotid arteries with three different stenoses under physiological flow condition. Blood has been treated as Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid. To model the shear thinning properties of blood for non-Newtonian fluid, the Carreau-Yasuda model has been employed. The result shows that the wall shear stress(WSS) increases with the development of stenosis and that the wall shear stress in Newtonian fluid is highly evaluated compared with that in non-Newtonian Fluid. Oscillatory shear index has been employed to identify the time-averaged reattachment point and this point is located farther from the stenosis for Newtonian fluid than for non-Newtonian fluid The wall shear stress gradient(WSSG) along the wall has been estimated to be very high around the stenosis region when stenosis is developed much and the WSSG peak value of Newtonian fluid is higher than that of non-Newtonian fluid.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.603-608
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• 2022

Vertebral artery (VA) occlusion is frequently encountered, usually without acute ischemic injury of the brain. However, when it is accompanied by hypoplasia or stenosis of the opposite VA, brain ischemia may develop due to insufficient collateral supply. Both hemodynamic instability and embolic infarction can occur in VA occlusion, which may cause severe symptoms in a patient. Extracranial carotid-VA bypass should be considered for symptomatic VA occlusion patients, especially when the patient has repeated ischemic brain injuries. In this report, the cases of three extracranial carotid-VA bypass patients are introduced, along with a brief description of the surgical techniques. All three cases were treated with different bypass methods according to their disease location.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2013

Objective : The introduction and development of the embolic protecting device (EPD) has resulted in a decreased rate of stroke after carotid artery stenting (CAS). The authors performed a retrospective study to investigate the risk factors for developing large emboli after CAS which can lead to ischemic events. Methods : A total of 35 consecutive patients who underwent CAS between January 2009 and March 2012 were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups including those with small emboli (group A; grade 1, 2) and those with large emboli (group B; grade 3, 4). The size and number of emboli were assigned one of four grades (1=no clots, 2=1 or 2 small clots, 3=more than 3 small clots, 4=large clots) by microscopic observation of the EPD after CAS. We compared demographic characteristics, medical history, and angiographic findings of each group. Results : Thirty-five patients underwent CAS, and technical success was achieved in all cases. Twenty-three patients were included in group A and 12 patients in group B. Our results demonstrated that advanced age [odds ratio (OR) 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.52; p=0.044] and smoking (OR 42.06; CI 2.828-625.65, p=0.006) were independent risk factors for developing large emboli after CAS. Conclusion : In patients with carotid artery stenosis treated with CAS, advanced age and smoking increased the number and size of emboli. Although use of an EPD is controversial, it may be useful in CAS in patients with risk factors for large emboli in order to reduce the risk of ischemic events.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.291-302
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• 2023

Purpose: Early detection of carotid stenosis can reduce cardiovascular risk. In this study, the maximum-carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), the mean-CIMT, and the presence of plaque were examined in healthy young Thai adults. Additionally, correlations between CIMT and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Materials and Methods: Left and right carotid arteries of 302 participants(15-45 years old) were scanned, with CIMT measured at the far walls of the common carotid artery, carotid bulb, and internal carotid artery. Demographics and risk factors were assessed using a questionnaire. Ten random participants were re-scanned after 4 weeks. Results: The study included 123 (40.70%) male and 179 (59.30%) female participants. The max-CIMT, mean-CIMT, and plaque thickness were 0.400±0.100, 0.403±0.095 and 1.520±0.814 mm, respectively. Male participants had significantly higher CIMT values for nearly all locations and age groups. The right-sided CIMT values were higher for all locations. The carotid bulb had the greatest CIMT values(0.437±0.178 mm), followed by the common (0.403±0.095 mm) and internal(0.361±0.099 mm) carotid arteries. Plaque was present in 18 locations (1.00%), affecting 15 participants (4.97%). These plaques were found in the right carotid bulb (n=9; 0.50%), left carotid bulb (n=7; 0.39%), and right internal carotid artery (n=2; 0.11%). Adjusted multivariable regression revealed significant positive associations between CIMT and male, increased age and "other" occupation (P<0.05). Conclusion: Both max-CIMT and mean-CIMT were approximately 0.4 mm. Plaque was observed in 4.97% of patients, with an average thickness of 1.5 mm. The most influential risk factors for increased CIMT were sex, age, and occupation.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.769-773
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• 2001

Moyamoya disease is defined as the development of collateral pathways, associated with bilateral chronic progressive stenosis of the carotid fork. Persistent trigeminal artery is the vessel most frequently observed to persist into adult life among persistent carotid-basilar and carotid-vertebral anastomotic vessels. The authors present a man who had a sudden, severe headache and brain CT showed subarachnoid hemorrhage in left interpeduncular and prepontine cistern. Four-vessel angiogram revealed moyamoya disease associated with aneurysm arising from the junction of persistent trigeminal artery aneurysm and basilar artery. As a treatment, coil embolization was tried but it was failed because of anatomical difficulty of aneurysm. The aneurysm was successfully treated with clipping surgery 10 days later. To our knowledge, this is the first case being reported.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2016

Background: Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with selective shunting is the surgical method currently used to treat patients with carotid artery disease. We evaluated the incidence of major postoperative complications in patients who underwent CEA with selective shunting under transcranial Doppler (TCD) at our institution. Methods: The records of 45 patients who underwent CEA with TCD-based selective shunting under general anesthesia from November 2009 to June 2015 were reviewed. The risk factors for postoperative complications were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Preoperative atrial fibrillation was observed in three patients. Plaque ulceration was detected in 10 patients (22.2%) by preoperative computed tomography imaging. High-level stenosis was observed in 16 patients (35.5%), and 18 patients had contralateral stenosis. Twenty patients (44.4%) required shunt placement due to reduced TCD flow or a poor temporal window. The 30-day mortality rate was 2.2%. No cases of major stroke were observed in the 30 days after surgery, but four cases of minor stroke were noted. Univariate analysis showed that preoperative atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [OR], 40; p=0.018) and ex-smoker status (OR, 17.5; p=0.021) were statistically significant risk factors for a minor stroke in the 30-day postoperative period. Analogously, multivariate analysis also found that atrial fibrillation (p<0.001) and ex-smoker status (p=0.002) were significant risk factors for a minor stroke in the 30-day postoperative period. No variables were identified as risk factors for 30-day major stroke or death. No wound complications were found, although one (2.2%) of the patients suffered from a hypoglossal nerve injury. Conclusion: TCD-based CEA is a safe and reliable method to treat patients with carotid artery disease. Preoperative atrial fibrillation and ex-smoker status were found to increase the postoperative risk of a small embolism leading to a minor neurologic deficit.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.52-63
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• 2022

Direct numerical simulation of blood flow in a stenosed, patient-specific carotid artery was conducted to explore the transient behavior of blood flow with special emphasis on the wall-shear stress distribution over the transition region. We assumed the blood as an incompressible Newtonian fluid, and the vessel was treated as a solid wall. The pulsatile boundary condition was applied at the inlet of the carotid. The Reynolds number is 884 based on the inlet diameter, and the maximum flow rate and the corresponding Womersley number is approximately 5.9. We found the transitional behavior during the acceleration and deceleration phases. In order to quantitatively examine the wall-shear stress distribution over the transition region, the probability density function of the wall-shear stress was computed. It showed that the negative wall-shear stress events frequently occur near peak systole. In addition, the oscillatory shear stress index was used to further analyze the relationship with the negative wall-shear stress appearing in the systolic phase.