• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.693-701
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• 1999

Recently non-invasive diagnostic imaging replaced the invasive catheter angiography in the diagnosis of vascular disease. Catheter methods are now almost confined to the purpose of intervention. Coronary artery or coronary artery bypass graft still needs catheter technique because of small diameter and the cardiac motion. The last challenge for radiologists in this domain is to obtain a non-invasive imaging. Electron beam tomography(EBT) for high temporal resolution is able to obtain a coronary arteriogram or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), of which CABG imaging is quite useful for the evaluation of patency. In our experience as well as others, the accuracy of EBT angiogram in evaluating CABG patency revealed that the accuracy of patency of saphenous vein grafts(SVG) is high due to relatively wide lumen, short and straight course and less influence from cardiac motion. The sensitivity and specificity of patency of SVGs were 92%, 97% respectively in the prospective evaluat on and 100% each in the retrospective evaluation. A false positive and a false negative case are rudimentary errors in the initial learing period. In contrast the analysis of left internal mammary artery(LIMA) graft was difficult due to the inherent small size and the adjacent surgical clips provoking beam-hardening artifact; therefore, the method of combining 3 dimensional reconstruction and flow mode study was important in improving the accuracy of LIMA patency. The sensitivity and specificity of LIMA patency were 100% and 80% in both prospective and retrospective evaluation. Therefore, EBT angiography is an accurate non-invasive diagnostic modality for evaluating the patency of CABG, particularly in SVGs. The accuracy can be improved with the improvement of the EBT and the development of the image reconstruction software.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.349-354
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• 1993

From July 1992 through January 1993, 11 patients with unstable angina received aorto-coronary bypass surgery at Dong-A University Hospital. There were 5 males and 6 females whose age ranged from 36 to 76 years old. Of the 11 patients, 3 were Functional class IL 5 were Functional class 111.3 were Functional class IV. Preoperative coronary angiography showed a significant stenosis of the left anterior descending artery in 9 cases, of its diagonal branch in I case, of the circumfiex artery in 3 cases, and of its obtuse marginal branch in 2 cases, of the right coronary artery in 4 cases, and of left main coronary artery in 3 cases. There were 4 cases of single vessel disease, 1 double vessel disease, 3 triple vessel disease and 3 left main disease. A single graft was placed in 1 patient, a double graft in 5, a triple graft in 2, and a quadriple graft in 3 patients. Left internal mammary artery plus saphenous vein graft were used in 4 patients. Postoperative complications were mediastinitis in 1, sternal instability in 2, pneumonia in 1, arrythmia in I case.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.606-617
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• 1986

During the period from November 1981 through June 1986, 18 cases of coronary arterial bypass graft were performed at Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital. They consisted of 13 males and 5 females with the mean age of 49 [range: 28-69 years]. History of myocardial infarction was noted in 50% of the patients and cardiomegaly on chest PA in 2 patients with preserved LV function. On resting EKG, except the evidences of old myocardial infarction, the findings of LVH were noted in 7 cases, acute myocardial infarction in 2, diffuse myocardial ischemia in 1, and significant ventricular arrhythmia in 2 cases. The angina by type of presentation is stable in 3 patients, unstable in 15 patients with resting, postinfarction and progressive angina as the criteria of unstability. The patterns of involvement of significant disease were single vessel involvement [5 cases] double vessel involvement [8 cases], and triple vessel involvement [5 cases] including 5 cases of left main coronary arterial diseases. The pattern of coronary arterial disease in individual patient was one or more stenosis of the proximal left coronary arterial system with or without right coronary involvement, in every case. We performed 9 cases of double bypass and 9 cases of triple bypass with great saphenous vein using single anastomosis technique except in 4 cases, One of the 4 cases is our first case, sequential anastomosis between LAD and diagonal was performed due to shortage of the prepared vein graft. In the other 3 cases, our latest experience, we adopted the left internal mammary artery for the left anterior descending coronary revascularization. The distribution of sites of distal anastomosis revealed more striking predilection to LAD, showing our attention on the significance of the revascularization of LAD system. The ischemic time was 35 minutes per graft and mean number of grafts per patient was 2.5. Of the 18 patients, 13 [77.2%] had complete revascularization, and incomplete in 5 cases with the causes of incompleteness as presented. The early results of operation were as followed: surgical death in 2 [11%], perioperative infarction 2 [11%], need of inotropic support 5 [28%], arrhythmia 2 [11%], wound problem, bleeding, and emotional dysfunction. The actuarial anginal free survival during the period of 6 months through 2 years was 85.2% with excellent symptomatic control according to the angina classification of Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.171-176
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• 2016

Background: A previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may affect the outcomes of patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The objective of this study was to compare the early in-hospital postoperative outcomes between patients who underwent CABG with or without previous PCI. Methods: The present study included 160 patients who underwent isolated elective on-pump CABG at the department of cardiothoracic surgery, Minia University Hospital from January 2010 to December 2014. Patients who previously underwent PCI (n=38) were compared to patients who did not (n=122). Preoperative, operative, and early in-hospital postoperative data were analyzed. The end points of the study were in-hospital mortality and postoperative major adverse events. Results: Non-significant differences were found between the study groups regarding preoperative demographic data, risk factors, left ventricular ejection fraction, New York Heart Association class, EuroSCORE, the presence of left main disease, reoperation for bleeding, postoperative acute myocardial infarction, a neurological deficit, need for renal dialysis, hospital stay, and in-hospital mortality. The average time from PCI to CABG was $13.9{\pm}5.4$ years. The previous PCI group exhibited a significantly larger proportion of patients who experienced in-hospital major adverse events (15.8% vs. 2.5%, p=0.002). On multivariate analysis, only previous PCI was found to be a significant predictor of major adverse events (odds ratio, 0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 0.71; p=0.01). Conclusion: Previous PCI was found to have a significant effect on the incidence of early major adverse events after CABG. Further large-scale and long-term studies are recommended.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.883-890
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• 1999

Long term patency of arterial graft has been better than venous graft and redo coronary artery bypass grafting has been increasing, therefore, there has been an increasing need for alternative arterial grafts except internal thoracic artery(ITA). Material and Method: Right gastroepiploic arteries(RGEA) were harvested from 100 patients who had received gastrectomy for gastric cancer or ulcer. ITAs were obtained from 10 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. The length of RGEA was measured from the pyloric ring. Items of the morphometric and histologic study at the pyloric ring and sites of the 10cm and 20cm RGEA from the pyloric ring were luminal diameter, intimal thickness, medial thickness, wall thickness, degree of intimal hyperplasia, intimal thickness, medial thickness, wall thickness, degree of intimal hyperplasia, intimal thickness index, medial thickness index, and the number of discontinuities of the internal elastic lamina. Similar items were applied to the proximal site of ITAs. Result: The length of RGEA was 23${\pm}$2.7cm(range 17∼31cm). Comparing the 20cm RGEA with ITA, intimal thickness, medial thickness, wall thickness, and degree of intimal hyperplasia did not show any difference(p>0.05). However, 20cm RGEA was greater than ITA at the luminal diameter, intimal thickness index, and the number thickness and wall thickness in each site of the RGEA(pyloric ring, 10cm, 20cm) decreased from the pyloric ring to the distal sites(p<0.05). The degree of intimal hyperplasia and the number of discontinuities of the internal elastic lamina did not show any difference between the pyloric ring and 10cm, however, those of 20cm were smaller than these sites(p<0.05). RGEA had more number of discontinuities of the internal elastic lamina and rich smooth muscle cells in the media than ITA. Conclusion: The length and diameter of RGEA is good enough to reach most of the coronary arteries. Moreover, long term patency of RGEA may be improved, if anastomosed in the distal site.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.704-709
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• 2009

Background: We assessed the efficacy of intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy for achieving hemodynamic instability during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Material and Method: We studied seven hundred ninety-six patients who underwent off-pump coronary artery bypass between January 2000 and December 2006. The patient were divided into group I (n=39), which received intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy, and group II (n=757), which did not receive intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy. Result: There were no differences in the operative mortalities (2.6%, 1/39 vs 0.8%, 6/757; p=0.195) and morbidities such as atrial fibrillation (p=0.691), stroke (p=0.908) and mediastinitis (p=0.781) between the 2 groups, although the ventilator support time, the length of the intensive care unit stay and the length of the hospital stay were longer in group I than in group II (p<0.05). Multivariate analysis failed to prove that group I was a high risk group for operative mortality (p=0.549). There were 3 intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump-related complications in group I (7.9%). However, no longer complications occurred after 2003, when the surgeons began using a smaller sized 8 F catheter that was inserted using a sheathless technique. Conclusion: Intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy for achieving hemodynamic instability during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery can be performed safely and it showed comparable clinical results to that of not using intraoperative intra-aortic balloon pump therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.117-126
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• 2021

Background: Several factors, such as the degree of target vessel stenosis, are known to be associated with radial artery (RA) graft patency in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). There is a lack of data regarding the effect of the RA proximal configuration (aortic anastomosis versus T-anastomosis). This study evaluated the effects of the RA proximal configuration on the patency rate and clinical outcomes after CABG. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study, analyzing 328 patients who had undergone CABG with an RA graft. We divided the patients into 2 groups. The primary endpoint was RA patency and the secondary endpoints were overall mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). We performed a propensity score-matched comparison. Results: Aorta-RA anastomosis was performed in 275 patients, whereas the rest of the 53 patients received T-RA anastomosis. The mean age was 67.3±8.7 years in the T-RA anastomosis group and 63.8±9.5 years in the aorta-RA anastomosis group (p=0.02). The mean follow-up duration was 5.13±3.07 years. Target vessel stenosis ≥70% (hazard ratio [HR], 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-0.91; p=0.03) and T-RA anastomosis configuration (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.01-5.19; p=0.04) were significantly associated with RA occlusion in the multivariable analysis. However, T-RA anastomosis was not associated with higher risks of overall mortality and MACCE following CABG (p=0.30 and p=0.07 in the matched group, respectively). Conclusion: Aorta-RA anastomosis showed a superior patency rate compared to T-RA anastomosis. However, the RA proximal anastomosis configuration was not associated with mortality or MACCE.

• 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.34 no.9
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• pp.720-723
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• 2001

A case of Marfan’s syndrome with atresia of right coronary artery is reported. A 45-year-old woman, who was diagnosed as Marfan’s syndrome 1 year ago, came to the hospital complaining of acute chest pain. The patient showed arachynodactyly, pectus carinatum, and long and slender extremities. In echocardiography there were severe aortic regurgitation measured grade IV and aortic dilatation of ascending aorta maximally 5.9 cm in diameter. Mitral regurgitation was mild, but there were also moderate left ventricular dilation and moderately decreased ejection fraction of left ventricle. At operation, atresia of right coronary artery was found. We performed Bentall type operation with SJM 27mm valved conduit for left coronary artery, and Piehler’s modification for right coronary artery bypass using 6mm PTFE graft. The atretic portion of right coronary artery from the suspected right coronary ostium to distal coronary flow was about 4 cm in length. The combination of right coronary artery atresia and Marfan’s syndrome is very rare. The author describes the rare case, which is treated with combined technique of Bentall and Piehler modification for reconstruction of coronary circulation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 1998

The study in detection of perioperative myocardial infarction by serial ECGs and the analysis of risk factors involved was carried out from January 1994 to July 1996 on 87 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. There were significant differences in the mean CK-MB peaks and frequencies of flipping in LDH1/LDH2 among the 3 groups(group I: new Q-wave, group II: S-T change, group III: no ECG change). The ECG was considered positive for postoperative myocardial infarction if the new Q-waves appeared in the postoperative period or if S-T segment changes persisted for more than 48 hours. The hospital mortality rate was 3.3% and the perioperative infarction rate was 17.2%. The following risk factors of the perioperative MI were found: endarterectomy, decreased ejection fraction($\leq$40%) and prolonged aortic cross clamping time. Left main disease, triple vessel disease, 3 or more graft, unstable angina and hypertension did not correlate with myocardial infarction. This study suggests that serial ECGs could be used as means of detecting the perioperative myocardial infarction after coronary artery bypass grafting.