• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2004

Background: The aims of this study are to verify the result of the surgical treatment of ALCAPA and to identify the postoperative changes of left ventricular dimensions and mitral regurgitation (MR), Material and Method: Fifteen patients operated on since 1985 were included in the study. The patients operated on before 1998 (n=9) showed heterogeneous properties with various surgical strategies and cardiopulmonary bypass techniques. However, six patients were operated on with the established surgical strategy since 1998; 1) Dual perfusion and dual cardioplegic solution delivery through ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery, 2) Coronary transfer by rolled-conduit made of pulmonary artery wall flap, and 3) Additional mitral valvular procedure was not peformed. Result: Median age of the study group was 6 months (1 month to 34 years). The operative methods were left subclavian artery to left coronary artery anastomosis in 1, simple ligation in 2, Takeuchi operation in 2, and coronary reimplantation in 10 patients. The mean follow up period was 5.5<5.8 years (2 months 14 years), There were one early death (6.7%) and one late death. Overall 5-year survival rate was 85.6$\pm$9.6%. The Z-value of left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic dimensions were 6.4$\pm$3.0 and 5.1 $\pm$3.6 preoperatively, and decreased to 1.7$\pm$ 1.9 and 0.8$\pm$ 1.6 in 3 months (p<0.05). Significant preoperative MR was identified in 6 patients (40%) and all the patients showed immediate improvement of MR within f month postoperatively. There were 3 cases of reoperation due to coronary anastomosis site stenosis and recurrence of MR. However, there was no mortality nor late reoperation in the patients operated on after 1998. Conclusion: The surgical treatment of ALCAPA showed favorable survival and early recovery of ventricular dimensions and mitral valvular function. Although long-term reintervention was required in some cases of earlier period, all the cases after 1998 showed excellent surgical outcome without long-term problem.

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

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.188-198
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• 2002

Background: Reoperations on the aortic root or the ascending aorta are being performed with increasing frequency and remain a challenging problem. This study was performed to analyze the results of reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root. Material and Method: Between May 1995 and April 2001, 30 patients had reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root and were reviewed retrospectively. The mean interval between the previous repair and the actual reoperation was 56 months(range 3 to 142 months). Seven patients(23.3%) had two or more previous operations. The indications for reoperations were true aneurysm in 7 patients(23.3%), prosthetic valve endocarditis in 6(20%), false aneurysm in 5(16.7%), paravalvular leak associated with Behcet's disease in 4(13.3%), malfunction of prosthetic aortic valve in 4(13.3%), aortic dissection in 3(10%), and annuloaortic ectasia in 1(3.3%). The principal reoperations performed were aortic root replacement in 17 patients(56.7%), replacement of the ascending aorta in 8(26.7%), aortic and mitral valve replacement with reconstruction of fibrous trigone in 2(6.6%), patch aortoplasty in 2(6.6%), and aortic valve replacement after Bentall operation in 1 (3.3%). The cardiopulmonary bypass was started before sternotomy in 7 patients and the hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 16(53.3%). The mean time of circulatory arrest, total bypass, and aortic crossclamp were 20$\pm$ 12 minutes, 228$\pm$56 minutes, and 143$\pm$62 minutes, respectively Result: There were three early deaths(10%). The postoperative complications were reoperation for bleeding in 7 patients(23.3%), cardiac complications in 5(16.7%), transient acute renal failure in 2(6.6%), transient focal seizure in 2(6.6%), and the others in 5. The mean follow-up was 22.8 $\pm$20.5 months. There were two late deaths(7.4%). The actuarial survival was 92.6$\pm$5.0% at 6 years. One patient required reoperation for complication of reoperation on the ascending aorta and aortic root(3.7%). The 1- and 6-year actuarial freedom from reoperation was 100% and 83.3$\pm$15.2%, respectively. One patient with Behcet's disease are waiting for reoperation due to false aneurysm, which developed after aortic root replacement with homograft. There were no thromboembolisms or anticoagulant related complications. Conclusions: This study suggests that reoperations on the ascending aorta and aortic root can be performed with acceptable early mortality and morbidity, and adequate surgical strategies according to the pathologi conditions are critical to the prevention of the reoperation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.583-590
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• 2001

The aim of this study was to compare one-year graft patency after coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass(OPCAB) with that of conventional CABG and that of on-pump beating CABG, and to demonstrate any differences in patency of various conduits among the three groups. Material and Method: We analyzed the results of OPCAB cases(group I; n=122) compared with those of conventional CABG cases(group II; n=65) and those of on-pump beating CABG cases(group III; n=19). In group I, coronary angiography(CAG) was performed immediately postoperatively and 1 year after surgery. In group II and III, CAG was performed 1 year after surgery. Graft patency was graded as grade A(excellent), grade B(fair), or grade O(occluded). Result: The average number of distal anastomoses in groups I, II, and II were 3.1$\pm$1.1, 3.7$\pm$0.9, and 3.6$\pm$0.9, respectively. In group I, postoperative CAG was performed in 92%(112/122) of patients before discharge. The patency rate(grade A+B) was 96.4$(162/168) for arterial grafts, and 85.6%(160/187) for saphenous vein grafts(SVG). One-year follow-up CAG was performed in 74%(90/122) of patients. The patency rate was 97.8%(132/135) for arterial grafts, and 67.9%(106/156) for SVG. In group II, one-year follow-up CAG was performed in 65%(42/65) of patients. The patency rate(grade A+B) was 93.5%(43/46) for arterial grafts, and 86.8%(33/38) for SVG. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that the patency rate of SVG after OPCAB was significantly lower than that of arterial grafts in the early postoperative CAG(p<0.001), and was also significantly lower than those of SVG of group II(p<0.001) and group III(p<0.01) in the postoperative one-year CAG, although there was no significant difference is one-year patency of arterial grafts among the three groups. Our data suggest that a specific perioperative anticoagulant therapy may be advisable in patients undergoing OPCAB with SVG.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.2 s.247
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• pp.116-122
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• 2005

Background: Adverse effects of cardiopulmonary bypass can be avoided by 'Off-pump' coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. Recent studies have reported that OPCAB had the most beneficial impact on patients at highest risk by reducing bypass-related complications. The purpose of this study is to compare the outcome of OPCAB and conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CCAB) in patients with poor left ventricular (LV) function. Material and Method: From March 1997 to February 2004, seventy five patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of $35\%$ or less underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting at our institute. Of these patients, 33 patients underwent OPCAB and 42 underwent CCAB. Preoperative risk factors, operative and postoperative outcomes, including LV functional change, were compared and analysed. Result: Patients undergoing CCAB were more likely to have unstable angina, three vessel disease and acute myocardial infarction among the preoperative factors. OPCAB group had significantly lower mean operation time, less numbers of total distal anastomoses per patient and less numbers of distal anastomoses per patient in the circumflex territory than the CCAB group. There was no difference between the groups in regard to in-hospital mortality $(OPCAB\; 9.1\%\;(n=3)\;Vs.\;CCAB\;9.5\%\;(n=4)),$ intubation time, the length of stay in intensive care unit and in hospital postoperatively. Postoperative complication occurred more in CCAB group but did not show statistical difference. On follow-up echocardiography, OPCAB group showed $9.1\%$ improvement in mean LVEF, 4.3 mm decrease in mean left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and 4.2 mm decrease in mean left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD). CCAB group showed $11.0\%$ improvement in mean LVEF, 5.1 mm decrease in mean LVEDD and 5.5 mm decrease in mean LVESD. But there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: This study showed that LV function improves postoperatively in patients with severe ischemic LV dysfunction, but failed to show any difference in the degree of improvement between OPCAB and CCAB. In terms of operative mortality rate and LV functional recovery, the results of OPCAB were as good as those of CCAB in patients with poor LV function. But, OPCAB procedure was advantageous in shortening of operative time and in decrease of complications. We recommend OPCAB as the first surgical option for patients with severe LV dysfunction.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.3 s.260
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• pp.184-193
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• 2006

Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has been proven to result in less morbidity. The patients who have left ventricular dysfunction may have benefits by avoiding the adverse effects of the cardiopulmonary bypass. The present study compared early and midterm outcomes of off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (On pump CABG) in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction. Material and Method: Ninety hundred forth six patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting by one surgeon between January 2001 and Febrary 2005.. Data were collected in 100 patients who had left ventricular ejection fraction (L VEF) less than $35\%$ (68 OPCAB; 32 On pump CABG). Mean age of patients were 62.9$\pm$9.0 years in OPCAS group and 63.8$\pm$8.0 years in On pump CABG group. We compared the preoperative risk factors and evaluated early and midterm outcomes. Result: In OPCAB and On pump CABG group, mean number of used grafts per patient were 2.75$\pm$0.72, 2.78$\pm$0.55 and mean number of distal anastomoses were 3.00$\pm$0.79, 3.16$\pm$0.72 respectively. There was one perioperative death in OPCAB group ($1.5\%$). The operation time, ventilation time, ICU stay time, CK-MB on the first postoperative day, and occurrence rate of complications were significantly low in OPCAB group. Mean follow-up time was 26.6$\pm$12.8 months (4${\~}$54 months). Mean LVEF of OPCAB and On pump CABG group improved significantly from $27.1\pm4.5\%$ to $40.7\pm13.0\%$ and $26.9\pm5.4\%$ to $33.3\pm13.7\%$. The 4-year actuarial survival rate of OPCAB and On pump CABG group were $92.2\%,\;88.3\%$ and the 4-year freedom rates from cardiac death were $97.7\%,\;96.4\%$ respectively. There were no significant differences between two groups in 4 year freedom rate from cardiac event and angina. Conclusion: OPCAS improves myocardial function and favors early and mid-term outcomes in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction compared to On pump CABG group. Therefore, OPCAB is a preferable operative strategy even in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.