• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.174-179
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• 2015

Background: The endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) method has been used in coronary artery bypass surgery in many countries. We started using the EVH method recently, and investigated the results during the early learning period. Methods: Between March 2012 and June 2014, 75 patients (31 patients in the EVH method group, and 44 patients in the open method group) who underwent isolated first-time coronary artery bypass grafting using vein grafts were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the early outcomes including graft patency and risk factors for leg wound complications. For assessing the patency of vein graft, we performed coronary computed tomography angiography during the immediate postoperative period and 6 months later. Results: Mean harvesting time of endoscopic method was about 15 minutes. Patency rate during the immediate operative period and the 6-month patency rate were similar between the two groups (postoperative period: EVH 100% vs. open method 94.4%, p=0.493; at 6 months: EVH 93.3% vs. open method 90.9%, p=0.791). Leg wound complications occurred more frequently in the open method group (EVH 3.2% vs. open method 13.6%, p=0.127). According to the analysis, age was an independent risk factor for leg wound complications. Conclusion: EVH is a feasible method even for beginners and can be performed satisfactorily during their learning period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2011

Background: Although considerable efforts have been made to improve the graft patency in coronary artery bypass surgery, the role of biomechanical factors remains underrecognized. The aim of this study is to investigate the influences of geometric configurations of the bypass graft on hemodynamic characteristics in relation to anastomosis. Materials and Methods: The Numerical analysis focuses on understanding the flow patterns for different values of inlet and distal diameters and graft angles. The Blood flow field is treated as a two-dimensional incompressible laminar flow. A finite volume method is adopted for discretization of the governing equations. The Carreau model is employed as a constitutive equation for blood. In an attempt to obtain the optimal aorto-coronary bypass conditions, the blood flow characteristics are analyzed using in vitro models of the end-to-side anastomotic angles of $45^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$. To find the optimal graft configurations, the mass flow rates at the outlets of the four models are compared quantitatively. Results: This study finds that Model 3, whose bypass diameter is the same as the inlet diameter of the stenosed coronary artery, delivers the largest amount of blood and the least pressure drop along the arteries. Conclusion: Biomechanical factors are speculated to contribute to the graft patency in coronary artery bypass grafting.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.371-377
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• 2017

Background: Lesions in distal target arteries hinder surgical bypass procedures in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Methods: Between April 2012 and October 2015, 16 patients (18 limbs) with lifestyle-limiting claudication (n=12) or chronic critical limb ischemia (n=6) underwent femoral-above-knee (AK) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypass grafts with a bridging stent graft placement between the distal target popliteal artery and the PTFE graft. Ring-supported PTFE grafts were used in all patients with no available vein for graft material. Follow-up evaluations assessed clinical symptoms, the ankle-brachial index, ultrasonographic imaging and/or computed tomography angiography, the primary patency rate, and complications. Results: All procedures were successful. The mean follow-up was 12.6 months (range, 11 to 14 months), and there were no major complications. The median baseline ankle-brachial index of 0.4 (range, 0.2 to 0.55) significantly increased to 0.8 (range, 0.5 to 1.0) at 12 months (p<0.01). The primary patency rate at 12 months was 83.3%. The presenting symptoms resolved within 2 weeks. Conclusion: In AK bypasses with a diffusely diseased distal target popliteal artery or when below-knee (BK) bypass surgery is impossible, this procedure could be clinically effective and safe when used as an alternative to femoral-BK bypass surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.297-305
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• 1979

Occlusive coronary artery disease presents a potential threat to a significant population in the United States. According to many case reports, the increasing incidence of coronary artery disease due to atherosclerosis is noted in Korean, recently. Operative vascular procedures have increased steadily in number over the past 20 years in the United States. There have been many isolated case reports about coronary artery surgery, but these had little clinical impact. Nowadays, major three coronary bypass surgery has developed principally at three cardiac centers in the United States since 1967. Among three coronary bypass operation, the aorta-coronary artery saphenous vein bypass graft was first demonstrated by Favolaro and Effler at the Cleveland Clinic in 1967. We experienced one case of coronary artery disease, which was treated successfully by aorta-coronary saphenous vein graft with mild hypothermia under extracorporeal circulation in May, 1977. Saphenous vein was removed from above the knee and was 2.5 mm in diameter. The left ventricle was not vented for the left ventricle was not overdistended. Temporary artificial pace-maker-Medtronic-was implanted for the prevention and treatment of post-operative arrhythmia and heart block in post-operative first day. He is a 57 year old male businessman who had been suffered from hypertension [200 mmHg in systolic pressure] since 4 years ago, who had intermittent conservative treatment at local clinic. He had been afflicted with severe chest pain with choking sensation for 50 days. This symptom was aggravated exposing cold weather, or cold water, but was respond to rest. Pre-operative ECG revealed no any other ischemic sign except sinus bradycardia. Significant S-T segment depression was noted at lead II, AVF after double 5 minutes exercise, indicating positive Master`s test. Serum cholesterol was slight elevated to 253 mg/dl. Final pre-operative diagnosis was made by coronary arteriogram, which showed about 1.0-cm segmental 90 % occlusive atherosclerotic lesion in the proximal part of right coronary artery above the origin of acute marginal artery. Left coronary artery revealed good patency and there was no collateral circulation between right and left coronary artery .Hospital course was not eventful. He was discharged with good result on the post-operative day. He has been free from chest pain for longer than 2 years. And also the arterial flow in the coronary bypass graft is auscultated with the pocket-sized ultrasonic velocity detector, which shows the patency of the coronary bypass graft good.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.512-517
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• 2000

Background: Onlay vein patch coronary angioplasty has been known to be an option for coronary artery stenosis in the selective iesions Material and method: During the period between July 1997 and August 1999, coronary angioplasty using autologous saphenous vein was done on 16 sites in 14 cases for the stenotic lesion at the bifurcation area and significantly stenosis distal to anastomosis. Result: Early patency of the angioplasty site was 85.7% at postoperative day 7. There was no statistically difference in graft patency, operative parameters, and complications compared to conventional anatomosis(p>0.05). Conclusion: Despite the small number of cases, the patency rate of the coronary patch angioplasty was comparable to the conventional CABG. Coronary artery only patch angioplasty could be performed in highly selected coronary arteries.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.84-91
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• 2011

Hemodialysis is essential for patients with end stage renal failure. It is important to improve the patency rate and to minimize occurrence of the stenosis. Also, the blood flow to the artificial kidney can affect the blood flow characteristics through arteriovenous graft. Thus, the delivered dose are important factors for analyzing hemodynamic characteristics during hemodialysis access. In this study, the numerical analysis was performed for the effect of the delivered dose during hemodialysis access on the blood flow through the graft. As a result, The adverse pressure gradient occurred in case of a larger delivered dose through a catheter than standard dose and the flow instability increased. Also the circulation flow appeared largely at anastomotic site of the vein when the delivered dose was exceeded about half blood flow of inlet blood flow.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.469-476
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• 2011

Hemodialysis is essential for patients with end stage renal failure. It is important to improve the patency rate and to minimize occurrence of the stenosis. Also, the blood flow to the artificial kidney can affect the blood flow characteristics though arteriovenous graft. Thus, the delivered dose are important factors for analyzing hemodynamic characteristics during hemodialysis access. In this study, the numerical analysis was performed for the effect of the delivered dose during hemodialysis access on the blood flow through the graft. As a result, The adverse pressure gradient occurred in case of a larger delivered dose through a catheter than standard dose and the flow instability increased. Also the circulation flow appeared largely at anastomotic site of the vein when the delivered dose was exceeded about half blood flow of inlet blood flow.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.801-803
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• 1994

We report a case of a 45-year-old woman with Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by the obstruction of the inferior vena cava just below the diaphragm. Transatrial dilatation or membranotomy was not possible due to the severe fibrotic obliteration of the inferior vena cava. Instead, cavoatrial bypass with a Dacron graft[20 mm-Vascutek] was performed under the median sternotomy and median abdominal incision.The postoperative course was uneventful and generalized symptoms were much improved. During the following period[6 month] the graft patency was maintained with no recurrence of symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.86-94
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• 1996

Coronary angiography should be performed to verify the patency of bypass graft if coronary artery disease is said to be surgically corrected. Rest/stress myocardial SPECT could be used as a noninvasive alternative to prove patency of bypass graft and functional significance of graft patency by showing improvement of rest perfusion and perfusion reserve after operation. We evaluated the outcome of coronary artery bypass graft surgery by comparing rest/dipyridamole-stress myocardial SPECT before and after operation. Myocardial SPECT were performed $19{\pm}23$ days before and $108{\pm}19$ days after operation in 44 patients(M:F=25:19). Segmental perfusion were scored with 0(normal) to 3(defect) independently for each image set of rest and stress. Perfusion scores were compared between pre and postoperative images. Rest/stress images of pre and post-operative SPECT were compared in paired sets. Postoperative change of perfusion was determined as no change, improvement or aggravation for each artery territory. Postoperative outcome of patients were analyzed. Overall, 74%(158 segments) of 215 segments which had perfusion decrease before operation showed improvement. Among 60 artery territories, 37 territories(62%) improved. Among 42 patients with perfusion decrease in preoperative SPECT, 21 patients(47%) improved after operation. Severe persistent defects improved in 43%(6/14). We concluded that bypass surgery improved myocardial perfusion in dipyridamole stress induced or persistent decrease and that rest/stress myocardial SPECT could be used as a guide for which artery should be operated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.487-491
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• 2009

Background: Salvaging prosthetic arteriovenous grafts can be performed using surgical or endovascular techniques. We conducted a retrospective analysis to compare the efficacy of these two methods for restoring dialysis graft function. Material and Method: We studied 41 patients who had received surgical thrombectomy with revision (Group A) or percutaneous thrombectomy with angioplasty (Group B) from January 2006 to December 2007. We compared them according to the patient characteristics and the location of stenotic lesions, and we analyzed the post-intervention primary patency rates. Result: 21 patients underwent surgery and 20 patients underwent percutaneous balloon angioplasty. There were no significant differences of the patients' characteristics between the two groups. Venous anastomotic stenosis was the most common cause of graft thrombosis in both groups. In Group A, 90.5% of the grafts remained functional at 6 months and 38.1% remained functional at 12 months. In Group B, 55.0% of the grafts were functional at 6 months and 20.0% of the grafts were functional at 12 months. The post-intervention primary patency rate was significantly better in Group A (p=0.034). Conclusion: Surgical treatment resulted in significantly longer post-intervention primary patency in this study, and this supports its use as the primary method of management for most patients in whom dialysis graft obstruction develops.