• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.97-107
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• 1999

Background: This study was designed to develop a Korean version of the heparin-coated vascular bypass shunt by using a physical dispersing technique. The safety and effectiveness of the thrombo-resistant shunt were tested in experimental animals. Material and Method: A bypass shunt model was constructed on the descending thoracic aorta of 21 adult mongrel dogs(17.5-25 kg). The animals were divided into groups of no-treatment(CONTROL group; n=3), no-treatment with systemic heparinization(HEPARIN group; n=6), Gott heparin shunt (GOTT group; n=6), or Korean heparin shunt(KIST group; n=6). Parameters observed were complete blood cell counts, coagulation profiles, kidney and liver function(BUN/Cr and AST/ ALT), and surface scanning electron microscope(SSEM) findings. Blood was sampled from the aortic blood distal to the shunt and was compared before the bypass and at 2 hours after the bypass. Result: There were no differences between the groups before the bypass. At bypass 2 hours, platelet level increased in the HEPARIN and GOTT groups(p<0.05), but there were no differences between the groups. Changes in other blood cell counts were insignificant between the groups. Activated clotting time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and thrombin time were prolonged in the HEPARIN group(p<0.05) and differences between the groups were significant(p<0.005). Prothrombin time increased in the GOTT group(p<0.05) without having any differences between the groups. Changes in fibrinogen level were insignificant between the groups. Antithrombin III levels were increased in the HEPARIN and KIST groups(p<0.05), and the inter-group differences were also significant(p<0.05). Protein C level decreased in the HEPARIN group(p<0.05) without having any differences between the groups. BUN levels increased in all groups, especially in the HEPARIN and KIST groups(p<0.05), but there were no differences between the groups. Changes of Cr, AST, and ALT levels were insignificant between the groups. SSEM findings revealed severe aggregation of platelets and other cellular elements in the CONTROL group, and the HEPARIN group showed more adherence of the cellular elements than the GOTT or KIST group. Conclusion: Above results show that the heparin-coated bypass shunts(either GOTT or KIST) can suppress thrombus formation on the surface without inducing bleeding tendencies, while systemic heparinization(HEPARIN) may not be able to block activation of the coagulation system on the surface in contact with foreign materials but increases the bleeding tendencies. We also conclude that the thrombo-resistant effects of the Korean version of heparin shunt(KIST) are similar to those of the commercialized heparin shunt(GOTT).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 1996

Between 1987 and 1994, 21 patients were treated surgically for aortic aneurysm involving the thoracoabdominal aorta. There were 11 males and 10 females, and their age ranged from 20 to 67 years old and mean age was 41.5 years. Many complained of back pain, chest pain or discomfort, and flank pain, but three patients were asymptomatic. 15 patients had chronic dissection (71.4%) and 6 had nondissecting fusiform or saccular aneurysm(28.5%), and of those 15 patients with chronic dissection, 6(28.5%) had atherosclerosis assniated with hypertension, 5 (23.8%) were Martian syndrome, and 2 (9.5%) were associated with pregnancy. The diameter of an aneurysm ranged from 6cm to 12cm, and their extent was classified as type I in 7(33.3%), type II in 8(38.1%), type III in 3(14.3%), and type IV in 3(14.3%) patients based on Crawford classification for TAA . Diseased aorta was replaced with artificial vascular graft in all but one patient. In whom the aortic tear site due to pseudoaneurysm was closed by primary suture. For the spinal cord protection during the operation, we used partial cardiopulmonary bypass (FV-FA or PA-FA bypass) in 12 patients (57.1%), Biopump (LA-FA bypass) in 4(19.0%), total circulartory arrest and CPB in 2 (9.5%), Gott's heparinized shunt in 1(4.7%), and simple aortic cross clamping in 2 (9.5%). The most common complication after the operation was hoarseness due to unilateral vocal cord palsy which onured in 5 patients (23.8%), and the next common complication was wound infection in 4 patients(19.0%), paraplegia in 2 patients (9.5%), chylothorax in 1 patient(4.7%). The hospital mortality rate was 9.5% (2deaths), and there was no late death. Our experience shows that the graft replacement of TAAA had reasonable rate of mortality, low rate of serious complication, and provided good post operative state of the pati nts, and since the thoracoabdominal aortic operation is not a high risky procedure anymore, we recommend a radical operation for the indicated patients.