• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.423-429
• /
• 2008

Background: The interest in robotic cardiac surgery has recently grown but there has not been much clinical research reported on this. The aim of this study is to examine our initial experience, since August 2007, with robotic cardiac surgery using the da $Vince^{TM}$ surgical system and to evaluate the feasibility and safety of it. Material and Method: Between August and December 2007, a total of 20 patients underwent robotic cardiac surgery using the da Vinci surgical system. For mitral valve repair (n=11), tricuspid valve repair (n=1), and ASD repair (n=1), cannulation, antegrade cardioplegia and transthoracic aortic cross-clamping were conducted for the right femoral vessels and the right internal jugular vein. For minimally invasive direct CABG (MIDCAB) (n=7), the internal thoracic artery (ITA) was harvested with the da Vinci surgical system. Result: The mean age of the patients was 50.1 (range: $26{\sim}78$) years. Three concomitant Maze procedures and one tricuspid annuloplasty were combined with mitral valve repair. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was $208.0{\pm}61.3$ minutes and the aortic cross clamp time was $158.8{\pm}40.6$ minutes. No patients showed more than mild mitral regurgitation after repair and the median hospital stay was 4 days. The robotic-harvested ITA was used for either left ITA (n=6) or bilateral ITA (n=1). The mean harvest time was $43.2{\pm}12.0$ minutes. The harvested ITA showed good flow and it was anastomosed under direct vision after left anterolateral thoracotomy. The patency of all the grafts was 100% (18/18) in MIDCAB. Conclusion: Robotic cardiac surgery using the da Vinci surgical system was variously adapted to areas such as mitral and tricuspid valve repair, ASD repair and ITA harvest for MIDCAB. The early results of the robotic cardiac surgery showed its safety and feasibility. With this primary report, we anticipate that clinical applications and further studies on robotic cardiac surgery using the da Vinci surgical system will be actively conducted in Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.171-176
• /
• 2002

Background: Blood-foreign interaction cause activation of coagulation and inflammatory process that may lead to multiorgan dysfunction and determine the surgical outcomes. Of the methods for assessing the biocompatibility, the platelet adhesion study is considered as the most valuable evaluation step in blood-foreign interaction. As the most studies have used in-vitro or ex-vivo conditions, we have developed a technique of quantification for platelet adhesion on the blood contact surface by using in-vivo injection of radioactive platelets. Material and Method: A coupled bypass circuit was designed to connect the proximal and descending thoracic aorta in 6 piglets(20∼25 Kg). One side of the circuit tube was consisted of a heparin coated PVC tube(10mm in ID, n=6, Experimental group), and the other, a non-heparin coated PVC tube(10mm in ID, n=6, Control group). After cannulation, the blood was circulated through the circuit for 2 hours. Platelet concentrate was prepared from homologous pig blood 24 hours before the experiment. The platelet concentrate was incubated with Tc-99m-HMPAO for 30 min and then centrifuged for 10 min. The supernatant was discarded and the radio-labeling efficacy was measured. The radio-labeled platelet concentrate was mixed with the autologous plasma to make the volume 5 ml, and the mixture was injected intravenously into the experimental animal. After 2 hour circulation, 5 pieces of the specimen(10mm in length each) were obtained from each PVC tube. The radioisotopes were counted with a gamma counter(Cobra ll, Packard, USA), and the ratio of radioisotope count was compared between the control and experimental group. Result: The radioisotope count number was 537.3221.1 Ci/min in the control group and 311.1 184.5 Ci/min in the experimental group(p=0.0104). The ratio between the groups was 1 to 0.58 (p=0.004). Conclusion: In vivo quantification using technetium-99m-HMPAO labeled platelets is simple and reproducible in evaluating platelet adhesion on a foreign surface. We suggest this technique to be a useful tool for blood compatibility test.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.11
• /
• pp.828-833
• /
• 2003

Background: It has been reported that the recently developed intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia (IAWBC) has better myocardial protective effects during coronary artery bypass surgery than cold blood cardioplegia or continuos retrograde cold blood cardioplegia. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and usefulness of IAWBC by comparing it retrospectively with intermittent retrograde cold blood cardioplegia (lRCBC). Material and Method: From April 2001 to Feb. 2003, fifty seven patients who underwent isolated coronary surgery were divided into two groups (IAWBC vs. IRCBC). The two group had similar demographic and angiographic characteristics. There were no statistical differences in age, sex, Canadian Cardiovascular Society Functional Classification for angina, ejection fraction, and number of grafts. Result: Aortic cross clamping time and total pump time in IAWBC (99$\pm$23 and vs. 126$\pm$32 min) were shorter than those of IRCBC (118$\pm$32 min. and 185$\pm$48 min.)(p<0.05). The reperfusion time (13$\pm$7 min) in IAWBC was shorter than that of IRCBC (62$\pm$109 min.)(p<0.05). CKMB at 12 hours and 24 hours (16$\pm$15 and 9$\pm$13) in IAWBC was lower than that of IRCBC (33$\pm$47 and 17$\pm$26)(p<0.05). The awakening time in IAWBC (2$\pm$1 hour) was shorter than that of IRCBC (4$\pm$3)(p<0.05). The number of spontaneous heart beat recovery in IAWBC (85%) was more than that of IRCBC (35%)(p<0.05). The cardiac index after discontinuing cardio-pulmonary bypass was significantly elevated in the IAWBC group. The prevalence of perioperative myocardial infarction in IAWBC (4%) was lower than that of IRCBC group (20%)(p<0.05). Conclusion: Intermittent antegrade warm blood cardioplegia is a safe, reliable, and effective technique for myocardial protection. It can also provide simpler and economic way than the retrograde cold cardioplegia by shortening of cardiopulmonary bypass time and avoiding retrograde cannulation for coronary sinus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.466-471
• /
• 1998

Purpose: The safety and efficacy of minimally invasive techniques in congenital heart surgery were tested in this study. Materal and method: Between July 1997 and November 1997, a total of 46 children were underwent minimally invasive cardiac operations at Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Age and body weight of the patients averaged 34.6${\pm}$41.8 (Range: 1∼148) months and 14.5${\pm}$9.9(Range: 3.0∼40.0) kg, respectively. Twenty eight patients were male. Preoperative surgical indications included 15 atrial septal defects, 25 ventricular septal defects, 1 foreign body in aorta, 3 partial atrioventricular septal defects, 1 total anomalous pulmonary venous connection(cardiac type), and 1 tetralogy of Fallot. After creating a small lower midline skin incision starting as down as possible from the sternal notch, a vertical midline sternotomy extended from xyphoid process to the level of the second intercostal space, where one of the T-, J-, I- or inverted C-shaped lower lying mini-sternotomy was completed with a creation of unilateral right or bilateral trap door sternal opening. A conventional direct aortic and bicaval cannulation was routine. Result: A mean length of skin incision was 6.1${\pm}$1.0(range: 4.0∼9.0) cm. A mean distance between the suprasternal notch and the upper most point of the skin incision was 4.0${\pm}$1.1 (range: 2.0∼7.0) cm. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, and the operation time were 62.9${\pm}$20.0(range: 28∼147), 29.8${\pm}$12.8(range: 11∼79), and 161.1${\pm}$34.5 (range: 100-250) minutes. A mean total amount of postoperative blood transfusion was 71.0${\pm}$68.1 (range: 0∼267) cc. All patients were extubated mean 11.3${\pm}$13.8(range: 1∼73) hours after operation. A mean total amount of analgesics used was 0.8${\pm}$1.8(range: 0∼9) mg of morphine. The mean duration of stay in intensive care unit and hospital stay were 35.0${\pm}$32.2 (range: 10∼194) hours and 6.2${\pm}$2.0(range: 3∼11) days. There were no wound complications and hospital deaths. Conclusion: This short-term experience disclosed that the minimally invasive technique can be feasibly applied in a selected group of congenital heart disease as well as is cosmetically more attractive approach.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1360-1365
• /
• 1996

From September 1992 to May 1996, 38 patients ranging in age from 23 to 78, were operated for aortic dissection at Asan medical center There were 21 men and 17 women. The underlying aortic pathology were acute aortic dissection in 23, chronic aortic dissection in 15. Eight patients had Martian syndrome. In 34 cases of DeBakey type I, II patients, femoral artery and vein and/or right atrial auricle were used as cannulation site. With deep hypothermic c rculatory arrest (esophageal temperature 12 $\pm$ 2.5$^{\circ}C$) and retrograde cerebral perfusion of cold oxygenated blood through SVC, we replaced the ascending aorta and the part of arch if necessary. The mean duration of the total circulatory arrest time was 25 $\pm$ 1.7 mintstuts. In 4 cases of DeBakey type III patients, we replaced descending thoracic aorta or thoracoabdomlnal aorta without shunt or bypass under normothermia with an average 30: 1.5 minutesaortic cross clamp time. One death(2.6%) occurred on the twenty-second postoperative day owing to asphyxia related to ulcer bleeding. Postoperative complications were myocardial infarction with transient left peroneal palsy in 1 case, transient lower extremity weakness in 1 case and prolonged ventilatory support in 1 case. Two patients required reoperation due to retrograde extended dissection and aortic insufuciency. There was no late death with an average 25 months follow-up period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.9
• /
• pp.790-798
• /
• 1999

Background: As the early outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) has been stabilized, neurologic complication has now become one of the most important morbidity. The aim of this study was to find out the risk factors associated with the neurologic complications after CABG. Material and Method: In 351 patients who underwent CABG, the incidence and features of neurologic complications, with associated perioperative risk factors, were retrospectively reviewed. Neurologic complication was defined as a new cerebral infarction confirmed by postoperative neurologic examination and radiologic studies, or delayed recovery of consciousness and orientation for more than 24 hours after the operation. Result: Neurologic complications occurred in 18 patients(5.1%), of these nine(2.6%) were diagnosed as having new cerebral infarctions(stroke). Stroke was manifested as motor paralysis in four patients, mental retardation or orientation abnormality in four, and brain death in one. Statistical analysis revealed the following variables as significant risk factors for neurologic complications by both univariate and multivariate analyses: cardiopulmonary bypass longer than 180 minutes, atheroma of the ascending aorta, carotid artery stenosis detected by Duplex sonography, and past history of cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack. Age over 65 years, aortic calcification detected by simple X-ray, and intraoperative myocardial infarction were significant risk factors by univariate analysis only. Neither the severity of carotid artery stenosis nor technical modifications such as cannulation of the aortic arch or single clamp technique, which were expected to affect the inciden e of neurologic complications, had significant relationship with the incidence. Conclusion: This study confirmed the strong association between neurologic complications after CABG and atherosclerosis of the arterial system. Therefore, to minimize the incidence of neurologic complications, systematic evaluation focused on atherosclerotic lesions of the arterial system followed by adequate alteration of operative strategy is needed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.40 no.1 s.270
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 2007

Background: Cerebral protection is one of the most important procedures during aortic arch surgery. We can minimize neurological complications through short period of total circulatory arrest and resuming of brain perfusion. We evaluated 11 patients who underwent arch replacement using antegrade brain perfusion via right axillary artery. Material and Method: Between July 2004 and July 2006, 11 patients (male 9, female 2) underwent aortic arch replacement with antegrade brain perfusion via right axillary artery. Preoperative diagnosis was listed; 5 type A aortic dissections (5/11, 45.5%), 5 aortic aneurysms (5/11, 45,5%) and 1 type A IMH (intramural hematoma, 1/11, 9%). The mean age at the time of operation was $60.3{\pm}12.8$ years. For antegrade brain perfusion, we performed right axillary artery cannulation in all patients. Retrograde brain perfusion was used briefly during total circulatory arrest. Result: The mean total circulatory arrest time was $31.1{\pm}16.9$ minutes and the mean retrograde brain perfusion time was $21{\pm}17.8$ minutes. Mean antegrade brain perfusion time was $77.9{\pm}17.5\;(43{\sim}101)$ minutes. We had neither operative mortality nor permanent neurological complications. Conclusion: By means of antegrade brain perfusion via right axillary artery, that could lead to decrease circulatory arrest time and minimize damages to severely atheromatous arch vessels, we can expect to reduce neurological complications after aortic arch replacement. Further investigation with iarge patient populations will be required.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.119-130
• /
• 2004

Decrease in cardiac function after open heart surgery is due to an ischemia induced myocardial damage during surgery, and ischemic preconditioning, a condition in which the myocardial damage does not accumulate after repeated episodes of ischemia but protects itself from damage after prolonged ischemia due to myocytes tolerating the ischemia, is known to diminish myocardial damage, which also helps the recovery of myocardium after reperfusion, and decreases incidences of arrythmia. Our study is performed to display the ischemic preconditioning and show the myocardial protective effect by applying cardioplegic solution to the heart removed from rat. Material and Method: Sprague-Dawley male rats were used, They were fixed on a modified isolated working heart model after cannulation. The reperfusion process was according to non-working and working heart methods and the working method was executed for 20 minutes in which the heart rate, aortic pressure, aortic flow and coronary flow were measured and recorded. The control group is the group which the extracted heart was fixed on the isolated working heart model, recovered by reperfusion 60 minutes after infusion and preserved in the cardioplegic solution 20 minutes after the working heart perfusion and aortic cross clamp, The thesis groups were divided into group I, which ischemic hearts that were hypoxia induced were perfused by cardioplegic solution and preserved for 60 minutes; group II, the cardioplegic solution was infused 45 seconds (II-1), 1 minutes (II-2), 3 minutes (II-3), after the ischemia induction, 20 minutes after working heart perfusion and aortic cross clamp; and group III, hearts were executed on working heart perfusion for 20 minutes and aortic cross clamp was performed for 45 seconds (III-1), 1minute (III-2), 3 minutes (III-3), reperfused for 2 minutes to recover the heart, and then aortic cross clamping was repeated for reperfusion, all the groups were compared based on hemodynamic performance after reperfusion of the heart after preservation for 60 minutes. Result: The recovery time until spontaneous heart beat was longer in groups I, II-3, III-2 and III-3 to control group (p<0.01). Group III-1 (p<0.05) had better results in terms of recovery in number of heart rates compared to control group, and recovered better compared to II-1 (p<0.05). The recovery of aortic blood pressure favored group III-1 (p<0.05) and had better outcomes compared with II-1 (p<0.01). Group III-1 also showed best results in terms of cardiac output (p<0.05) and group III-2 was better compared to II-2 (p<0.05). Group I (p<0.01) and II-3 (p<0.05) showed more cardiac edema than control group. Conclusion: When the effects of other organs are dismissed, protecting the heart by infusion of cardioplegic solution after enforcing ischemia for a short period of time before the onset of abnormal heart beats for preconditioning has a better recovery effect in the cardioplegic group with preconditioning compared to the cardioplegic solution itself. we believe that further study is needed to find a more effective method of preconditioning.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2003

Currently, atrial septal defect repair has been considered low risk operation duo to the development of open heart surgery Not only the operation itself, but also the cosmetic aspect is now focused. Though many methods exist as minimally invasive cardiac surgery in atrial septal defect repair, some surgeons advocate that right anterolateral thoracotomy is better than the others in the cosmetic aspect and we compared right anterolateral thoracotomy with median sternotomy. Material and Method: From January 1999 to August 2002, 43 patient underwent atrial septal defect repair by one operator, including 15 patients through right anterolateral thoracotomy(group A) and 15 patients through median sternotomy(group B) in Hanyang university Hospital. The data were randomized and operation outcomes were analyzed between these two groups. Result: The mean weight of group A was 38.77$\pm$15.57kg and 38.21$\pm$21.82kg in group B. In group A, mean operation (OP) time was 197.6$\pm$61.40min, mean cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) time was 48.66$\pm$13.02min and mean fibrillation time or aortic cross clamp(ACC) time was 30$\pm$11.64min. In group B, mean OP time was 212.33$\pm$31.95min, mean CPB time was 55$\pm$12.10min, and mean fibrillation or ACC time was 29.33$\pm$9.04min. There was no significant differences in these two groups. In group A, mean mechanical ventilation time was 3.78$\pm$0.78 hours, mean postoperative ICU stay was 1.2$\pm$0.47 days and mean postoperative hospital stay was 10.20 41.08 days. In group B, mean mechanical ventilation time was 5.95$\pm$3.73 hours, mean post operative ICU stay was 1.41$\pm$0.61 days, and mean postoperative hospital stay was 12.20$\pm$3.55 days. There was no any significant difference in two groups. Group A had significantly lower mean thoracic and pleuropericardial drainage than group B (175.33$\pm$90.54cc vs 352.33$\pm$239.43cc, p<0.05). Complication was seen in one case in group B, transient 2nd degree A-V block. Conclusion: Right anterolateral thoracotomy was better than median sternotomy not only in cosmetic aspect but also in postoperative thoracic and pleuropericardial drainage, using the same instrument(p.0.05). But, right anterolateral thoracotomy was more technically difficult due to narrow operative field and we should be careful of aortic cannulation.