• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.876-881
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• 2002

Acute aortic dissection associated with high mortality rate has an extremely poor prognosis if early diagnosis and treatment are not received. Recently, with advanced computed tomography and echocardiography, diagnostic rate is higher and early operation is possible. Therefore preoperative medical therapy at ER(emergency room) lowered the mortality rate. This study was done to analyze the results with preoperative management at ER and operations, retrospectively. Material and Method: A series of 42 patients treated surgically for acute aortic dissections from 1991 to 2001 were included in this study. There were 18 males and 24 females. Mean age was 51.1 years. The admission course through emergency and outpatient department(OPD) was 34 and 8 respectively. Result: 26 patients underwent ascending aorta replacement-7 combined aortic valve replacements, 7 patients underwent descending aorta replacements and 9 patients received Bentall's operation. At emergency department, 20 patients received antihypertensive drugs and $\beta$-receptor blockers and 6 patients died. 22 patients did not receive antihypertensive and $\beta$-receptor block drugs and 10 patients died. There were 16(38%) overall deaths. Conclusion: Early diagnosis at ER or OPD is essential for acute aortic dissection, and it is important to select the most appropriate noninvasive interventions as possible. Therefore, preoperative drug therapy at ER is suggested according the patient conditions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1004-1008
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• 1998

We report a case of heart-lung transplantation in a 32 year-old female with Eisenmenger syndrome secondary to patent ductus arteriosus. She has been suffered from congestive heart failure since June 1996 and repeatedly treated at Intensive Care Unit with intravenous inotropic support since July 1997. Preoperative echocardiography showed a patent ductus arteriosus with right to left shunt, severe regurgitation of tricuspid valve and estimated right ventricular systolic pressure of 100mmHg. The brain-dead donor was an 18 year-old male with head trauma from traffic accident 3 days ago. Heart-lung block procurement was performed at another general hospital and was transported to the Seoul National University Hospital by ambulance. Total ischemic time of the transplanted heart and lung were 249 minutes and 270 minutes, respectively. The immunosuppressive therapy was commenced preoperatively with cyclosporine and azathioprine. Corticosteroid was not used until postoperative 3 weeks in order to avoid infection and delayed healing at the tracheal anastomotic site. The patient was discharged at 31st postoperative day, and has been regularly followed up at outpatient clinic without specific complication. The follow-up bronchoscopy, performed 2 weeks and 4 months after surgery, revealed no evidence of cellular rejection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.578-584
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• 2004

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare cardiac anomaly and a long-term survival after surgical treatment has not been well established. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term surgical results after the repair of sinus Valsalva aneurysm. Material and Method: From April 1991 to November 2003, 35 patients (23 male, 12 female, mean age 35.2 years, range 11∼64) underwent operation for sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. Twenty six patients (74.3%) were in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III∼IV before surgery. In preoperative echocardiogram, mean EF was 63.32 $\pm$ 11.43% and nine patients (25.7%) were in AR grade III∼IV. Direct closure, patch closure of ruptured sinus Valsalva were performed in fourteen patients (46.7%), sixteen patients (53.3%) respectively. Aortic valve replacement, valvuloplasty were performed in five patients (14.3%), three patients (8.6%) respectively. Three patients (8.6%) underwent the Bentall procedure. Concomitant procedures were performed in 15 patients (42.9%), which were closure of VSD and ASD. Mean CPB time and ACC time were 116.79 $\pm$ 38.79 and 81.2 $\pm$ 28.97 minutes. Result: There was no operative mortality. One patient (2.9%) developed complete heart block that required a permanent pacemaker implantation. Three patients (8.6%) required reoperation due to a recurred rupture of the sinus Valsalva aneurysm and developed aortic insufficiency. Mean follow-up time was 58.55 $\pm$ 38.38 months. There was one late death. Actuarial 5 year freedom rate from reoperation was 87.1 $\pm$ 7%. Conclusion: Surgical treatment for sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is safe and has satisfactory long-term results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.920-926
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• 1997

Remarkable effect of pain relief and prevention of the postoperative Complications after thoracotomy has been achieved by continuous intravenous analgesia. This study was carried out with thirty patients who underwent posterolateral thoraco tony. The patients were divided into three groups: Group I(n= 10), the patients with intermittent intramuscular analgesia(piroxicam 20 mg), Group II(n=10), the patients with continuous epidural analgesia(0.5% bupivacaine 30m1 + normal saline 30 ml + morphine 10 mg), and Group III(n= 10) the patients with controlled intravenous infusion of analgesics(fentanyl 2500 mfg +normal saline 10 ml). The results w re as follows; 1) There were no significant changes of vital signs, between groups. 2) Tidal volume and FVC were significantly improved in the group II and III compared with the group I during the first postoperative day. 3) A significant reduction of immediate post-thoracotomy pain was achieved in the group II and III compared with the group I. 4) The limitation of motion in the operative side was less in the group II and III compared with the group I. 5) A signi(icant reduction of the postoperative analgegics consumption was noticed in group II and III. 6) Significant complications were not occured during follow-up period in all groups.