• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.389-393
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• 2014

Retroesophageal aortic arch, in which the aortic arch crosses the midline behind the esophagus to the contralateral side, is a rare form of vascular anomaly. The complete form may cause symptoms by compressing the esophagus or the trachea and need a surgical intervention. We report a rare case of a hypoplastic left heart syndrome variant with the left retroesophageal circumflex aortic arch in which the left aortic arch, retroesophageal circumflex aorta, and the right descending aorta with the aberrant right subclavian artery encircle the esophagus completely, thus causing central bronchial compression. Bilateral pulmonary artery banding and subsequent modified Norwood procedure with extensive mobilization and creation of the neo-aorta were performed. As a result of the successful translocation of the aorta, the airway compression was relieved. The patient underwent the second-stage operation and is doing well currently.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.604-608
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• 1993

Coarctation of aorta is rather common congenital cardiovascular disease in the western contries, but it is known to be less than 2 % in Korea. From June 1986 to December 1992, seven patients of surgically treated coarctation of aorta who were less than 2 years old, were experienced at Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yeungnam University Hospital. The patients included six male and one female, with ages in the range of one month and 24 months. Four patients were preductal type and three juxtaductal. Associated cardiac anomalies were present in all patients and they were PDA[6 cases], ASD[3], VSD[2], bicuspid aortic valve[2], aortic stenosis[1], mitral regurgitation[1], and tricuspid regurgitation[1]. The operative procedures were four end to end anastomosis and three subclavian flap aortoplasty. Mean aortic cross clamping times were 37.3 minutes in patients with end to end anastomosis and 30.3 minutes in patients with subclavian flap aortoplasty. There were two operative deaths in patients who were treated with subclavian flap aortoplasty and pulmonary artery banding. One patient who had been treated with subclavian flap aortoplasty was complicated with postoperative mild paraplegia in lower limb. Pulmonary artery banding has been disappointing in our patients, and the data was suggestive that earlier total repair of complicated coarctation might improve survival.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.665-671
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• 1988

Between 1981 and 1987, five patients with an interruption of the aortic arch were operated upon. All had a ventricular septal defect and a patent ductus arteriosus as associated anomalies. A two-stage procedure was employed in these cases, the initial procedure being repair of the interrupted arch, ligation of the patent ductus arteriosus, banding of the main pulmonary artery and a lung biopsy which was followed, 5 to 49 months later, by the repair of the ventricular septal defect. Four patients completed the two-stage procedure with one postoperative mortality. The remaining patient is yet to complete the second stage procedure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.448-455
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• 1984

Coarctation of the Aorta is a congenital constriction of aorta of varying degree, usually located at or near the aortic ismuth with frequent associations of other cardiac anomalies. Various modes of surgical corrections, such as resection and end-to-end anastomosis, graft interposition, angioplasty using prosthetic patch or subclavian flap have been used according to the status of coarctation and age of the patient. We have experienced two cases of surgically treated coarctation of the aorta, one of which was preductal coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch and ventricular septal defect in a 4 year old boy, and the other case was juxtaductal type with aortic regurgitation. Subclavian flap angioplasty with additional pulmonary artery banding procedure was done in the first case and wedge resection with end-to-end anastomosis and aortic valve replacement [St. Jude valve, 23mm] 20 days later of first operation in the other case. The first case developed massive tarry stool on 3rd POD, probably due to mesenteric arteritis with resultant bowl ecrosis, and expired the next day. Recovery was uneventful with the second case.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2011

To explore the role of histone deactylase (HDAC) activation in an in vivo model of hypertrophy, we studied the effects of Trichostatin A (TSA). TSA subjected to thoracic aortic banding (TAB)-induced pressure stress in mice. In histological observations, TAB in treated mice showed a significant hypertrophic response, whereas the sham operation remained nearly normal structure with partially blunted hypertrophy. TSA treatment had no effect (measured as HW/BW) on sham-operated animals. TAB animals treated with vehicle manifested a robust ~50% hypertrophic response (p<0.05 vs sham). TAB mice treated with 2 mg/kg/day TSA manifested a blunted growth responses, which was significantly diminished (p<0.05) compared with vehicle-treated TAB mice. TAB mice treated with a lower dose of TSA (0.5 mg/kg/day) manifested a similar blunting of hypertrophic growth (~25% increase in heart mass). Furthermore, to determine activity duration of TSA in vitro, 1 nM TSA was added to H9c2 cells. Histone acetylation was initiated at 4 hr after treatment, and it was peak up to 18 hr, then followed by significantly reduced to 30 hr. We also analyzed the expression of p53 following TSA treatment, wherein p53 expression was elevated at 4 hr, and it was maintained to 24 hr after treatment. ERK was activated at 8 hr, and maintained till 30 hr after treatment suggesting an intracellular signaling interaction between TSA and p53 expression Taken together, it is suggested that HDAC activation is required for pressure-overload growth of the heart. Eventually, these data suggest that histone acetylation may be a novel target for therapeutic intervention in pressure-overloaded cardiac hypertrophy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 1993

Sixty four children [aged 2 days to 9 years] , 58 with complete transposition of the great arteries, 5 with Taussig-Bing double outlet right ventricle, and 1 with double outlet left ventricle plus left ventricular type single ventricle, have undergone anatomic correction from November 1987 to August 1992. Eleven underwent previous operations: pulmonary artery banding[7], modified Blalock-Taussig shunt[2], coarctoplasty[2], aortic arch reconstruction[1] . Of 58 patients with TGA, Type A coronary arteries of Yacoub were seen in 50[86%]. U-shaped coroanry arterial flaps were transfered to the neoaorta using trap door technique, and neopulmonary arterial tract was constructed using glutaraldehyde fixed autopericardium with Lecompte maneuver. There were 18 hospital deaths [28.1%] with no late mortality. Mean follow-up of 20.4\ulcorner11.9 months were achieved in all survivors. Postoperative cardiac catheterizations were done in 14 cases. Mean pressure gradients of pulmonary and aortic outflow tract were 15.0 $\pm$2.6 and 4.2$\pm$1.4mmHg, mild aortic valve insufficiencies were found in 2, and mean cardiac index was 5.18$\pm$0.19 L/min/M2. We conclude that we should continue anatomic correction for the complex congenital heart anomalies with the malposition of the great arteries because myocardial function seems to be well preserved, though we are still on the learning curve.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.856-860
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• 2004

Interrupted aortic arch with concomitant intracardiac defects is a rare congenital anomaly that has an unfavorable natural course. We report a successful staged operation of interrupted aortic arch with apical muscular ventricular septal defect associating esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula in a 3-day-old neonate weighing 2.6 kg. We repaired esophageal atresia through the right thoracotomy and subsequently performed extended end-to-end anastomosis of the aortic arch with pulmonary artery banding through the left thoracotomy at same operation. The apical muscular VSD was repaired 87 day after first operation. The patient required multiple additional interventions before closure of the apical muscular ventricular septal defect, such as pyloromyotomy for idiopathic hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, anterior aortopexy for airway obstruction, and balloon aortoplasty for residual coarctation. She is now doing well.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.2 s.259
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• pp.99-105
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• 2006

Background: Interrupted aortic arch is a rare congenital heart anomaly which still shows high surgical mortality. In this study, we investigated the causes of and the risk factors for mortality to improve the surgical outcomes for this difficult disease entity. Material and Method: From 1984 to 2004, 42 patients diagnosed as IAA were reviewed retrospectively. Age, body weight at operation, preoperative diagnosis, preoperative PGE1 requirement, type of interrupted aortic arch, degree of left ventricular outflow stenosis, CPB time, and ACC time were the possible risk factors for mortality. Result: There were .14 hospital deaths. Preoperative use of PGE1, need for circulartory assist and aortic cross clamp time proved to be positive risk factors for mortality on univariate analysis. Preoperative left ventricular outflow stenosis was considered a risk factor for mortality but it did not show statistical significance (p-value=0.61). Causes of death included hypoxia due to pulmonary banding, left ventricular outtract stenosis, infection, mitral valve regurgitation, long cardiopulmonary bypass time and failure of coronary transfer failure in TGA patients. Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that surgical mortality is still high due to the risk factors including preoperative status and long operative time. However preoperative subaortic dimension was not related statistically to operative death statistically. Adequate preoperative management and short operation time are mandatory for better survival outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.46-57
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• 1978

Ventricular septal defect was the most common congenital Heart disease admitted to the Severance Hospital from December, 1963 to June 30. 1977. A total of 1,811 cardiac patients received cardiac catheterization in the CardiacCenter of Yonsei University Medical College. Out of the 1,811 cardiac patients, 791 cases had congenital heart disease and of these 172 cases had ventricular septal defect. This amounted to 21.7% of all those with congenital heart disease. Seventy cases of ventricular septal defect operated on in the chest surgery department are presented. Of these 70 cases of ventricular septal defect, 54 cases were male and 16 cases were female. Their ages ranged from 4/12 months to 32 years. The ratio of systolic pressure of the main pulmonary to systemic artery [Pp/Ps] for 29 of the 59 isolated ventricular septal defects was below 45 percent. Pp/Ps ratio for 19 of the 59 isolated ventricular septal defects was 75 percent. The patients were mostly below fifteen years of age. Out of 64 cases, there were 36 cases of type II defects, 20 cases of type I, 4 cases of type III , 2 cases of type IV, one case of both type II and one case of left ventricular right atrial communication. The anomalies associated with ventricular septal defect were 13 in all; 4 cases of aortic insufficiency, 3 cases of ruptured aneurysm of the sortie sinus of valsalva, 2 cases of ruptured aneurysm of the sortie sinus of valsalva with aortic insufficiency, 2 cases of patent ductus arteriosus, one case of ruptured aneurysm of the aortic sinus of valsalva with atrial septal defect [secundum type] and one case of atrial septal defect [secundum type]. Overall mortality was 8.6 percent. The mortality in pulmonary artery banding was 37.5 percent. The causes of mortality were in one case congestive heart failure, in one case asphyxia and in one case respiratory insufficiency. Tile mortality in ventricular septal defect associated with pulmonary hypertension was 7.1 percent. The cause of mortality was in one case low cardiac output syndrome. There was no mortality in the ventricular septal defects without pulmonary hypertension and mortality in the ventricular septal defect. In ventricular septal defect associated with combined anomalies, the causes mortality were in one case respiratory insufficiency and in one case congestive heart failure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.8 s.253
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• pp.538-544
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• 2005

Background: Pulmonary artery banding (PAB) is an initial palliative procedure for a diverse group of patients with congenital cardiac anomalies and unrestricted pulmonary blood flow. We proved the usefulness of PAB through retrospective investigation of the surgical indication and risk analysis retrospectively. Material and Method: One hundred and fifty four consecutive patients (99 males and 55 females) who underwent PAB between January 1986 and December 2003 were included. We analysed the risk factors for early mortality and actuarial survival rate. Mean age was $2.5\pm12.8\;(0.2\sim92.7)$ months and mean weight was $4.5\pm2.7\;(0.9\sim18.0)\;kg$. Preoperative diagnosis included functional single ventricle $(88,\;57.1\%)$, double outlet right ventricle $(22,\;14.2\%)$, transposition of the great arteries $(26,\;16.8\%)$, and atrioventricular septal defect $(11,\;7.1\%)$. Coarctation of the aorta or interrupted aortic arch $(32,\;20.7\%)$, subaortic stenosis $(13,\;8.4\%)$ and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection $(13,\;8.4\%)$ were associated. Result: The overall early mortality was $22.1\%\;(34\;of\;154)$, The recent series from 1996 include patients with lower age $(3.8\pm15.9\;vs.\;1.5\pm12.7,\;p=0.04)$ and lower body weight $(4.8\pm3.1\;vs.\;4.0\pm2.7,\;p=0.02)$. The early mortality was lower in the recent group $(17.5\%;\;16/75)$ than the earlier group $(28.5\%;\;18/45)$. Aortic arch anomaly (p=0.004), subaortic stenosis (p=0.004), operation for subaortic stenosis (p=0.007), and cardiopulmonary bypass (p=0.007) were proven to be risk factors for early death in univariate analysis, while time of surgery (<1996) (p=0.026) was the only significant risk factor in multivariate analysis. The mean time interval from PAB to the second-stage operation was $12.8\pm10.9$ months. Among 96 patients who survived PAB, 40 patients completed Fontan operation, 21 patients underwent bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt, and 35 patients underwent biventricular repair including 25 arterial switch operations. Median follow-up was $40.1\pm48.9$ months. Overall survival rates at 1 year, 5 years and 10 years were $81.2\%\;65.0\%,\;and\;63.5\%$ respectively. Conclusion: Although it improved in recent series, early mortality was still high despite the advances in perioperative management. As for conventional indications, early primary repair may be more beneficial. However, PA banding still has a role in the initial palliative step in selective groups.