• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.563-565
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• 2014

Outpatient drainage therapy is generally indicated for spontaneous pneumothoraces. A 63-year-old man, who had been attacked by a bull sustaining injuries on the right side of his chest, was referred to the emergency room with dyspnea. His chest X-ray showed a small pneumothorax. The next day, a chest X-ray demonstrated that his pneumothorax had worsened, although no hemothorax was identified. Outpatient drainage therapy with a thoracic vent was initiated. The air leak stopped on the third day and the thoracic vent was removed on the sixth day. Thoracic vents can be a useful modality for treating traumatic pneumothorax without hemothorax.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.409-412
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• 2014

Percutaneous extracorporeal life support (P-ECLS) is a useful modality for the management of refractory cardiac or pulmonary failure. However, venoarterial P-ECLS may result in a complication of left ventricular distension. In this case report, we discuss a patient with drug-induced dilated cardiomyopathy managed with venoarterial P-ECLS and a left atrial vent catheter. The venoarterial P-ECLS was modified to a paracorporeal left ventricular assist device (LVAD) by removing the femoral venous cannula. After 28 days of hospitalization, the patient was successfully weaned from the paracorporeal LVAD and discharged home from the hospital.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.6 s.263
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• pp.440-448
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• 2006

Background: Surgery of descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta has the potential risk of causing neurological injury including spinal cord damage. This study was designed to find out the risk factors leading to spinal cord and brain damage after surgery of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. Material and Method: Between October 1995 and July 2005, thirty three patients with descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic disease underwent resection and graft replacement of the involved aortic segments. We reviewed these patients retrospectively. There were 23 descending thoracic aortic diseases and 10 thoracoabdominal aortic diseases. As an etiology, there were 23 aortic dissections and 10 aortic aneurysms. Preoperative and perioperative variables were analyzed univariately and multivariately to identify risk factors of neurological injury. Result: Paraplegia occurred in 2 (6.1%) patients and permanent in one. There were 7 brain damages (21%), among them, 4 were permanent damages. As risk factors of spinal cord damage, Crawford type II III(p=0.011) and intercostal artery anastomosis (p=0.040) were statistically significant. Cardiopulmonary bypass time more than 200 minutes (p=0.023), left atrial vent catheter insertion (p=0.005) were statistically significant as risk factors of brain damage. Left heart partial bypass (LHPB) was statistically significant as a protecting factor of brain (p=0.032). Conclusion: The incidence of brain damage was higher than that of spinal cord damage after surgery of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. There was no brain damage in LHPB group. LHPB was advantageous in protecting brain from postoperative brain injury. Adjunctive procedures to protect spinal cord is needed and vigilant attention should be paid in patients with Crawford type II III and patients who have patent intercostal arteries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.804-810
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• 1984

Two hundred twenty one cases of open heart surgery were done in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital from July, 1981 to October, 1984. 1.There were 154 cases [73%] of congenital anomalies and 57 cases [27%] of acquired valvular heart diseases. Among the congenital cases, 128 cases were acyanotic and 26 cases were cyanotic. Among the 57 cases of acquired valvular replacement surgery, 3 cases had open heart commissurotomy, one had Kay annuloplasty. 2.The age distribution of the congenital acyanotic anomalies ranged from 5 to 32 years with mean age of 12.8 years, the congenital cyanotic anomalies from 3 to 29 years with mean age of 14.2 years and the acquired valvular diseases from 9 to 51 years with mean age of 30 years. The difference of sex distribution was no significance. 3.Three methods for debubbling process were used in our institute, in 133 cases, the vent was inserted into the left ventricular apex, in 61 cases inserted into the left atrium through right superior pulmonary vein and in 17 cases used needle aspiration only. 4.For cardioplegia, the GIK solution was infused repeatedly from 30 to 40 minutes interval and brought excellent results for myocardial protection during open heart surgery. 5.Overall mortality was 7.6%. The mortality along with each disease is 1.56% in congenital acyanotic cases, 26.9% in congenital cyanotic cases and 12.3% in acquired valvular disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.183-190
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• 1979

A 23-year-old male patient complained dyspnea on exertion and orthopnea since December 1977. On examination, he was tall and slender. There was grade IV/VI to-and-fro murmur on the left sternal border especially on Erb`s point. The liver was descended 2 fingers breadth below right costal margin. There were no signs of Marfan`s syndrome. Echocardiography demonstrated partial closure of aortic valve and dilated aortic root with enlargement of ascending aorta. Left heart cardiac catheterization revealed moderately elevated pulmonary wedge pressure and right ventricular pressure. The left ventricular end diastolic pressure was markedly elevated to 26 mmHg. On aortography, the aortic regurgitation was severe and it was belonged to angiographically Grade IV. The aortic valve was replaced with Carpentier-Edwards valve without excision and replacement of ascending aorta, under the impression of rheumatic valvular heart disease. After closure of aortotomy, blood pressure was transiently elevated and bleeding from the site of inserting air vent needle of ascending aorta was developed. The bleeding was not controlled by any means. On postmortem microscopic study, the histologic changes were strikingly limited to the ascending aorta from the region of the aortic valve ring.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.526-531
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• 1993

Sixty-one consecutive patients with coronary artery bypass graft for myocardial revascularization were retrospectively reviewed to analyze various pattern of postoperative complication and death during hospital stay from Nov. 1988 to Oct. 1992. Fortytwo of the patients were male and nineteen female. The mean age was 56 and 51 years in male and female. Preoperative diagnosises were unstable angina in 14 of patients, stable angina in 28, postmyocardial infarction state in 15, and state of failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 4. 141 stenosed coronary arteries were bypassed with use of 20 pedicled internal mammary artery and 124 reversed saphenous vein grafts. Postoperative complications and perioperative death were as follows: 1. Of 61 patients undergoing operation, peri and postoperative over all complication occured in 15 patients [ 25% ]; newly developed myocardial infarction in 4, intractable cardiac arrhythmia including atrial fibrillation and frequent ventricular premature contraction in 3, bleeding from gastrointestinal tract in 2, persistent vegetative state as a sequele of brain hypoxia in 1, wound necrosis in 1, left hemidiaphragmatic palsy in 3 and poor blood flow through graft in 2. 2. Operative mortality was 8%[5 patients]. 3 out of these died in operating room; 1 patient by bleeding from rupture of calcified aortic wall, 1 by air embolism through left atrial vent catheter, 1 by low cardiac output syndrome. 2 patients died during hospital stay; 1 by acute respiratory distress syndrome with multiuple organ failure, 1 by brain death after delayed diagnosis of pericardial tamponade.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.368-372
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• 1999

Background: Although there have been few reports about minimal skin incision for the repair of congenital heart lesions, minimizing an unsightly scar is a particularly important factor in growing children. We have adopted a technique that permits standard full sternotomy, conventional open chest cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamping, left atrial vent, and antegrade cardioplegia with minimal surgical scar. Material and Method: With minimal skin incision and full sternotomy, 40 patients with congenital heart disease underwent open heart surgery from April 1997 through September 1997. Defects repaired included 30 ventricular septal defects, 4 atrial septal defects, and 1 sinus Valsalva aneurysm in 35 children(M:F=17: 18), and 3 Atrial septal defects, 1 ventricular septal defect, and 1 partial atrioventricular septal defect in 5 adults(M:F=1:4). Midline skin incision was performed from the second intercostal space to 1 or 2 cm above the xiphoid process. For full sternotomy, we used the ordinary sternal saw in sternal body, and a special saw in manubrium under the skin flap. During sternal retraction, surgical field was obtained by using two retractors in a crossed direction. Result: The proportion of the skin incision length to the sternal length was 63.1${\pm}$3.9%(5.2∼11cm, mean 7.3cm) in children, and 55.0${\pm}$3.5%(10∼13.5cm, mean 12cm) in adults. In every case, the aortic and venous cannulations could be done through the sternal incision without additional femoral cannulation. There was no hospital death, wound infection, skin necrosis, hematoma formation, or bleeding complication. Conclusion: We conclude that minimal skin incision with full sternotomy can be a safe and effective alternative method for the repair of congenital heart diseases in children and adults.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1025-1035
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• 1989

Since we first performed open heart surgery on December 30, 1986, 126 cases were operated on up to August 31, 1989. Among the 126 cases, 65 cases were congenital heart disease of which 63 were acyanotic disease, and 61 cases were acquired heart disease, most of which were valvular heart disease. The age distribution of congenital heart disease was from 1 years 2 months to 48 years, and males had a slightly higher incidence. The age of acquired heart disease was from a minimum of 15 years to a maximum of 68 years, and the male to female ratio was 1;1.5. Midsternotomy was performed in all cases, and the aortic cannula was inserted through ascending aorta and the venous cannula inserted into the SVC and IVC through the right atrium. Vent was inserted through the right superior pulmonary vein. Cardioplegia solution was used in all cases; it was composed of sodium bicarbonate 3.5 ampule, KCL 14 mEq, 2% lidocaine 2.5 ml, 20 % albumin 50 ml and heparin 1000 units mixed to 950 ml with Hartman solution, and was made to 4oC and infused 10 ml per Kg every 20 minutes. The congenital heart disease had a variety of VSD in 32 cases, ASD 23 cases, PS 6 cases, PDA 2 cases, and one case each of Ebsteins anomaly and tricuspid atresia. The operations performed for acquired heart disease were 4 cases of OMC, 33 cases of MVR, and 5 cases of AVR, and 1 case of AVR with CABG. DVR was perfomed in 13 cases, and triple valve replacement was done in 1 case. Other than these, excision of LA myxoma was 2 cases, and repair of traumatic VSD and removal of a pulmonary embolism were one case each. The surgical mortality was 5 cases[4%], all of which occurred in valve replacement cases. Follow-up study revealed 2 late deaths. One died after a traffic accident and one died due to sepsis after he had received a gastrectomy for ulcer bleeding. The remaining patients were in good condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.241-249
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• 1977

Atrial septal defect is one of the most frequently encountered congenital heart disease. Up to December 31, 1976, 1682 cardiac patients received cardiac catheterization in the cardiac department of Yonsei university medical college. Out of the 1682 cardiac patients 723 cases had congenital heart disease and only 116 cases had congetial atrial septal defect. This amounted to 16.04% of all those with congenital heart disease. 58 cases of congenital atrial septal defect operated in the chest surgery department were presented. Of these 58 cases of atrial septal defect, 27 cases were male and 31 cases were female. Their ages ranged from 5 years to 54 years. The systolic pressure of the main pulmonary artery of 40 out of the 58 cases of atrial septal defect was below 40% of that of the systemic blood pressure: in 6 cases, the range of the systolic pressure of the main pulmonary artery was 50-90mmHg; in 12 cases, the range of the systolic pressure of the main pulmonary artery was 40-50mmHg. Average age of these was 30. 1 years. This study tends to show that Korean patients with atrial septal defect even though younger have a slight higher systolic pressure of the main pulmonary artery than Western patients have. The pulmonary blood is 1.5-2.5 times of systemic blood flow in 52 cases out of 58 cases of atrial septal defect.In only one of the 58 cases of atrial septal defect, the Rp was found to be as high as 45% of Rs. All other cases were below this level.51 cases had ostium secundum defect, 4 out of these cases had ostium secundum defect combined with mitral incompetence and 6 out of them had double ostium secundum defect. The remaining 7 cases had ostium primum defect. Their atrial defects were repaired under direct vision utilizing extracorporeal circulation, by hemodilution technic combined with moderate hypothermia. 44 cases [2nd atrial septal defect] were repaired by direct sutures while 14 cases, including the 7 cases ostium primum defects needed patches [1 pericardium and 13 teflon patch]. In 4 cases there were single defects while showed two defects. However the associated septal defect was so small that it could be closed by direct sutures. The size of the defect ranged between 6.0cm2and 10.0cm2 in 19 cases[33.7%]: the smallest being 0. 5cm2 and the largest 24cm2. The surgical mortality was 2 cases [3.4%]. These one case with ostium primum defect, could not be resuscitated on operation table. The cause of death in this case was myocardial failure and MI. The other, a case of ostium primum defect had a second operation on the first operative day due to massive bleeding from LV vent-line insertion site.The patient died on 26th post-operative day due to sepsis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.230-240
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• 1977

Atrial septal defect is one of the most frequently encountered congenital heart disease. Up to December 31, 1976, 1682 cardiac patients received cardiac catheterization in the cardiac department of Yonsei university medical college. Out of the 1682 cardiac patients 723 cases had congenital heart disease and only 116 cases had congetial atrial septal defect. This amounted to 16.04% of all those with congenital heart disease. 58 cases of congenital atrial septal defect operated in the chest surgery department were presented. Of these 58 cases of atrial septal defect, 27 cases were male and 31 cases were female. Their ages ranged from 5 years to 54 years. The systolic pressure of the main pulmonary artery of 40 out of the 58 cases of atrial septal defect was below 40% of that of the systemic blood pressure: in 6 cases, the range of the systolic pressure of the main pulmonary artery was 50-90mmHg; in 12 cases, the range of the systolic pressure of the main pulmonary artery was 40-50mmHg. Average age of these was 30. 1 years. This study tends to show that Korean patients with atrial septal defect even though younger have a slight higher systolic pressure of the main pulmonary artery than Western patients have. The pulmonary blood is 1.5-2.5 times of systemic blood flow in 52 cases out of 58 cases of atrial septal defect.In only one of the 58 cases of atrial septal defect, the Rp was found to be as high as 45% of Rs. All other cases were below this level.51 cases had ostium secundum defect, 4 out of these cases had ostium secundum defect combined with mitral incompetence and 6 out of them had double ostium secundum defect. The remaining 7 cases had ostium primum defect. Their atrial defects were repaired under direct vision utilizing extracorporeal circulation, by hemodilution technic combined with moderate hypothermia. 44 cases [2nd atrial septal defect] were repaired by direct sutures while 14 cases, including the 7 cases ostium primum defects needed patches [1 pericardium and 13 teflon patch]. In 4 cases there were single defects while showed two defects. However the associated septal defect was so small that it could be closed by direct sutures. The size of the defect ranged between 6.0cm2and 10.0cm2 in 19 cases[33.7%]: the smallest being 0. 5cm2 and the largest 24cm2. The surgical mortality was 2 cases [3.4%]. These one case with ostium primum defect, could not be resuscitated on operation table. The cause of death in this case was myocardial failure and MI. The other, a case of ostium primum defect had a second operation on the first operative day due to massive bleeding from LV vent-line insertion site.The patient died on 26th post-operative day due to sepsis.