• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2009

Background: Arteriovenous fistula formation is not always easy to perform in hemodialysis patients because of poor preservation of veins due to repeated venipuncture and cannulation. We analyzed the patency rate and complications of prosthetic arteriovenous fistulas using the vena comitantes as a venous outflow in the antecubital fossa, which are protected from venipuncture. Material and Method: Between January 2006 and June 2008, 12 patients underwent prosthetic arteriovenous fistula formation using the vena comitantes as a venous outflow. Arterial inflow was via the brachial artery and the graft was placed in a loop fashion. The male-to-female ratio was 7 : 5 and the mean age was $59{\pm}14$ years. Six patients had diabetes mellitus and 10 patients had hypertension. Result: There were no complications, such as a graft infection or bleeding. Five patients showed postoperative stenosis at an average of 3 months. The primary patency rate was 75.0, 65.6, and 52.2% at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. All the patients with stenosis were able to continue hemodialysis after intervention therapy. The secondary patency rate was 100% at 12 months. Conclusion: Creation of a prosthetic arteriovenous fistula using uninjured vena comitantes resulted in a good patency rate and this vein may become a substitute for inappropriate superficial veins.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.392-399
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• 2019

Background: The surgical strategies for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) vary in terms of the anesthesia method, neurological monitoring, shunt usage, and closure technique, and no gold-standard procedure has been established yet. We aimed to analyze the feasibility and benefits of CEA under regional anesthesia (RA) and CEA under general anesthesia (GA). Methods: Between June 2012 and December 2017, 65 patients who had undergone CEA were enrolled, and their medical records were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. A total of 35 patients underwent CEA under RA with cervical plexus block, whereas 30 patients underwent CEA under GA. In the RA group, a carotid shunt was selectively used for patients who exhibited negative results on the awake test. In contrast, such a shunt was used for all patients in the GA group. Results: There were no cases of postoperative stroke, cardiovascular events, or mortality. Nerve injuries were noted in 4 patients (3 in the RA group and 1 in the GA group), but they fully recovered prior to discharge. Operative time and clamp time were shorter in the RA group than in the GA group (119.29±27.71 min vs. 161.43±20.79 min, p<0.001; 30.57±6.80 min vs. 51.77±13.38 min, p<0.001, respectively). The hospital stay was shorter in the RA group than in the GA group (14.6±5.05 days vs. 18.97±8.92 days, p=0.022). None of the patients experienced a stroke or restenosis during the 27.23±20.3-month follow-up period. Conclusion: RA with a reliable awake test reduces shunt use and decreases the clamp and operative times of CEA, eventually resulting in a reduced length of hospital stay.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.469-475
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• 2007

Purpose : This study was performed to compare the safety, efficacy and clinical results of the Amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) for closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) with surgery. Methods : One hundred fifteen patients diagnosed as isolated secundum ASD in Gil Medical Center, Gachon University of Medicine from January 2000 to July 2006 were included. Seventy patients underwent surgical repair of ostium secundum ASD. Forty-five consecutive patients were treated with percutaneous closure using ASO. We compared the mortality, morbidity, hospital stay, and efficacy between two groups. Results : Male to female ratio was 1:2.4. The mean age and the size of defects were not statistically different. No mortality occurred in either group. The success rate was 97.8% in the device group and 100% in the surgical group. The overall rate of complications was higher in the surgical group than in the device group (64.0 vs. 15.6%, P<0.05). Hospital stay was shorter in the device group than in the surgical group ($4.2{\pm}1.2$ vs. $12.4{\pm}4.7days$, P<0.0001). Residual shunt rates were more frequent in the device group (8.9%) than in the surgical group (4.3%) at discharge. All residual shunts disappeared at 3 months follow-up. Conclusion : Percutaneous closure of ASD using ASO is a safe and effective alternative to surgical repair. The indications of percutaneous ASD closure with ASO would be expanded by accumulation of experiences and evolutions of device.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.190-194
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• 2010

Purpose : To investigate the nature of deviant voice physiology in preoperative children with congenital heart disease. Methods : Ninety-four children with congenital heart disease were enrolled. Their cries and related acoustic variables (fundamental frequency, duration, noise to harmonic ratio, jitter and shimmer) were analyzed using a multi-dimensional voice program. Results : The average fundamental frequency showed a significant decrease in patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, and tetralogy of Fallot, except in atrial septal defect and pulmonary stenosis. The length of the analyzed sample (duration) did not show a significant difference when compared with the control group. There was a significant increase in jitter percent in ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and atrial septal defect. There was an increase in shimmer in ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and atrial septal defect. The noise-to-harmonic ratio increased in ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and atrial septal defect but there was no significant difference in pulmonary stenosis and tetralogy of Fallot. While analyzing acoustic variables, the voice change was significantly higher, especially in patent ductus arteriosus followed by ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect. Most of these acoustic variables were deviant in left-to-right shunt lesions in congenital heart disease, especially in patent ductus artriosus. Conclusion : The results of the voice change analysis of preoperative children with congenital heart disease revealed that the acoustic variables differed by each congenital heart disease. Moreover, the acoustic variables were prominently deviant in congenital heart disease with left-to-right shunts.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 1996

his study was undertaken to assess the residual interventricular shunt following surgical closure of the isolated ventricular septal defect. From January 1989 through December 1993, 211 patients underwent surgical closure of the isolated ventricular septal defect. All patients had 2D-Echocardlo-graphic study after operation to rule out residual ventricular septal defect. There was a 9.5% incidence of a definite residual shunt. The type of ventricular septal defect, closure method of the defect and cardiopulmonary bypass time showed no significant differences between two groups. The sue of ventricular septal defect (6.3 $\pm$ 3.7mm versus 10.6 $\pm$ 5.8mm : p : 0.0034), aortic cross-clamping time(32.6 $\pm$ 15.0 minutes versus 48.5 $\pm$ 20.0 minutes, p : 0.0003), pulmonary-to-systemic pressure ratio(0.31 $\pm$ 0.22 versus 0.51 $\pm$ 0.33, p=0.019) and mean pulmonary artery pressure(20.3 $\pm$ 11.9 mmHg versus 29.1 $\pm$ 16.2 mmHg, p : 0.009) were meaningfully different between two groups. There were 9 insta ces of spontaneous closure of the residual shunts at mean 21 months of following up (ranged 1 ~43 months). In conclusion, we suggest that the size of ventricular septal defect, aortic cross-clamping time and mean pulmonary artery pressure may play an important role in occurance of residual ventricular septal defect.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 1972

Studies of blood gas and lung histopathology were done in 10 dogs after intrapericardlal aorto-right pulmonary arterial anastomosis with proximal ligation of the right pulmonary antery. Among the 5 expired during or after operation, in 3 cases, the causes of the death were due to surgical bleeding and, in 2 cases, acute cardiopulmonary insufficiency because of large anastomosis stoma measured respectively 7mm and 10mm. In the 5 of survivals, one was sacrificed because of empyema at postoperative 7 days and 2 were at postoperative one month and remained 2 at postoperative 3 month respectively. The following observations were made. 1.In every survival, continuous machinary murmur was auscultated and the angiograms of all long term survivals showed the good patency of the anastomosis stoma. 2.After the ligation of the right pulmonary artery, the values of $PO_2$ and $PCO_2$ in arterial and venous blood were generally decreased comparing with the preoperative values. The mean value of $P_aO_2$ noted $83.30{pm}11.875$[p<0.01]. After the shunts operation with ligation of the right pulmonary artery, the immediate values of PH, $PO_2$ and $PCO_2$showed no significant changes comparing with that of right pulmonary artery ligation only. In the cases of survivals more than one month, the values of $PO_2$ and $PCO_2$ in the arterial and venous blood were generally higher than that of ligation of the right pulmonary artery only. The $P_aO_2$ value noted $103.750{pm}7.395$[p<0.01]. The mean values of $P_aO_2$, $PCO_2$ and PH in the arterial and venous blood almost returned to that of preoperative studies. 3.In the specimens of lung from the cadavors expired due to acute cardiopulmonary insufficiency after the operation, there were massive congestion, hemorrhage in the alveolar spaces and bronchioles. In specimens obtained at postoperative one month, there were dilatation of alveolar spaces with partial rupture, slight congestion, and alveolar wall thickening in the lung parenchyme, but there was no significant changes in pulmonary vasculature except dilation of pulmonary capillaries. In the specimens obtained at postoperative three months, the alveolar walls were more thickened in the lung parenchyme than the finding of the specimens obtained at postoperative one month. In the wall of pulmonary capillaries, there was only slight thickening with connective tissue proliferatlon.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.488-493
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• 2009

Purpose : The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of recent-generation patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure devices applied by a new selection strategy according to the characteristics of each PDA. Methods : From February 2003 to January 2006, 138 patients underwent transcatheter closure of PDA (study group). According to the size and morphology of each ductus, a COOK Detachable Coil or 'flex' PFM Nit-Occlud was used for a small ductus (group 1, n=43); 'medium' PFM Nit-Occlud (group 2, n=49) for a moderate ductus; and an Amplatzer Duct Occluder (group 3, n=46) for a large ductus. The 83 patients who underwent transcatheter closure of PDA from February 2000 to January 2003 were defined as the comparison group. The Qp/Qs ratio, pulmonary/aorta pressure ratio, and MD of the ductus were compared. Immediate and follow-up results including residual shunts and complications were also evaluated and compared among groups. Results : In all 138 patients, complete occlusions were confirmed without major complications, while procedure failure (n=2, 2.2%), device embolization (n=1, 1.1%), and persistent residual shunt (n=4, 4.5%) were documented in the comparison group. Total complication rates were lower in the study group than in the comparison group (study group, 1.4%; comparison group, 9.0%; P<0.05). Conclusion : A novel strategy adopting the merits of various recent-generation devices for transcatheter closure of PDA provides excellent clinical results with minimal risk.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.573-579
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• 2002

Background: In this study, the role and the surgical outcome of the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt in the treatment of the infants with cyanotic complex congenital heart diseases were investigated. Material and Method: Over the last 12 years, 105 modified BT shunts were performed in 100 infants. Postoperative course, shunt patency rate, complications, mortality and its risk factors were reviewed restrospectively. Result: The mean age at operation was 43.0$\pm$36.6 days. Sex ratio was 60:40(M:F). The postoperative oxygen saturations were lowest after mean duration of 11 hours after the shunt procedure. The operative mortality was 8%(8) with 3 late deaths. Causes of operative death included failure of maintenance of minimum oxygenation during the procedure(2), immediate postoperative shunt occlusion(2), respiratory failure(2), low cardiac output due to heart failure and pericardial effusion(2) and sepsis(2). Late deaths resulted from acute cardiac arrest during the follow up cardiac catheterization, hypoxic myocardial failure, and arrhythmia. Year of surgery, shunt size, age at operation, and complexity of the anomalies were not the risk factors for mortality. Six month shunt patency rate was 97% and overall patency rate was 96%. Postoperative complications comprised of shunt occlusion(6), phrenic nerve palsy(3), and wound infection(2). Conclusion: We demonstrated that modified Blalock-Taussig shunt was a useful tool to palliate the infants with complex cyanotic heart disease in whom early complete repair was not feasible with acceptable mortality and patency rate. An adequate postoperative management and a meticulous surgical technique may be key factors for the better results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.434-440
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• 2009

Background: Surgical closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) can be considered when conservative medical treatment is ineffective or contraindicated. Low weight and earlier gestational age neonates who are treated with conservative medical therapy generally showed a higher failure rate. The morbidity of surgical PDA closure in such extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates is also high. Here we present the early results of a new technique for approaching the PDA through a dorsal minithoracotomy. Material and Method: From March 2006 to November 2008, 24 premature neonates underwent surgical PDA closure. The procedures were performed in the newborn intensive care unit via a 2 cm long dorsal minithoracotomy with the baby in the prone position with the left hemithorax elevated 30$^{\circ}$. Bimanual cotton swab blunt dissection completed the extrapleural accesstothe PDA and then two clips were applied. Tube thoracostomy was avoided if there was no meaningful pleural laceration. Result: The infants mean gestational age was 26.5$\pm$2.1 weeks (range: 23 to 30 weeks) and the average age at operation was 11$\pm$11 days. The mean body weight at operation was 933$\pm$271 grams (range: 570 to 1,700 grams). Eight patients expired, but there was no procedure-related death. Postoperative echocardiography revealed two cases of residual shunt but none of these shunts were detected on the follow up echocardiogram that was performed on the post operative 5 and 59 days. Conclusion: We concluded that the technique described here is an effective procedure in view of the satisfactory operative exposure and the low rate of complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.5 s.250
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• pp.335-348
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• 2005

Background: This retrospective review examines the preoperative condition, postoperative course, mortality and cause of death for the patients who underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunt for complex congenital heart defects in early infancy. Material and Method: Fifty eight patients underwent modified Blalock-Taussig shunts from January 2000 to November 2003. The mean age at operation was $23.1\pm16.2$ days ($5\~81\;days$), and the mean body weight was $3.4\pm0.7\;kg\;(2.1\~4.3\;kg)$. Indications for surgery were pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect in 12 cases, pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum in 17, single ventricle (SV) in 18, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) in 11. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) was associated with SV in 4 cases. Result: There were 11 ($19.0\%$) early, and 5 ($10.6\%$) late deaths. Causes of early death included low cardiac output in 9, arrhythmia in 1, and multiorgan failure in 1. Late deaths resulted from pneumonia in 2, hypoxia in 1, and sepsis in 1. Risk factors influencing mortality were preoperative pulmonary hypertension, metabolic acidosis, use of cardiopulmonary bypass, HLHS and TAPVR. Twenty four patients ($41.4\%$) had hemodynamic instability during the 48 postoperative-hours. Six patients underwent shunt revision for occlusion, and 1 shunt division for pulmonary overflow. Conclusion: Modified Blalock-Taussig shunt for complex congenital heart defects in early infancy had satisfactory results except in high risk groups. Many patients had early postoperative hemodynamic instability, which means that continuous close observation and management are mandatory in this period. Aggressive management may appear warranted based on understanding of hemodynamic changes for high risk groups.