• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.254-259
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• 2010

Background: Diagnosing chronic pulmonary embolism at an early stage is difficult because of the patient’s nonspecific symptoms. This condition is not prevalent in Korea, and in fact, there have been only a few case reports on this in the Korean medical literature. We analyzed the surgical outcome of performing pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in patients with chronic pulmonary embolism. Material and Method: The study subjects included those patients who underwent surgery for chronic pulmonary embolism from 1996 to 2008. For making the diagnosis, echocardiography, chest CT and a pulmonary perfusion scan were performed on the patients who complained of chronic dyspnea. Result: Pulmonary endarterectomy was performed as follows: by incision via a mid-sternal approach (7 patients); by incision via a left posterolateral approach (1 patient); using the deep hypothermic circulatory arrest technique (4 patients); under ventricular fibrillation (3 patients); and under cardioplegic arrest (1 patient). The postoperative systolic pulmonary artery blood pressure significantly decreased from a preoperative value of $78.9{\pm}14.5\;mmHg$ to $45.6{\pm}17.6\;mmHg$ postoperatively (p=0.000). The degree of tricuspid regurgitation was less than grade II after surgery. Two patients died early on, including one patient who had persistent pulmonary hypertension without improvement and right heart failure. Conclusion: Patients who have chronic pulmonary embolism are known to have a poor prognosis. However, we think that early surgical treatment along with making the proper diagnosis before the aggravation of right heart failure can help improve the quality of a patient's life.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.281-294
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• 1977

Superior vena cava to pulmonary arterial shunting operation was made between the superior vena cava and the right pulmonary artery in the fashion of end-to-end anastomosis in 20 mongrel dogs. The experimental animals were divided into three group and blood flow in the superior vena cava was occluded for 20, 30 and 60 minutes respectively, and observations were made for the changes in caval pressure and cerebrospinal fluid pressure. And pathologic examinations were also performed. On occluding the caval blood flow, the superior vena caval pressure was sharply and immediately elevated from $103.5{\pm}19.8mmH_2O$ at thoracotomy to $556.4{\pm}86.lmmH_2O$ within 2 minutes to make its plateau thereafter, and the cerebrospinal fluid pressure followed closely the changes of the superior vena caval pressure in its level and pattern being elevated from $102.0{\pm}19.9mmH_2O$ to $490.5{\pm}79.9mmH_2O$. The drops of both the caval and cerebrospinal fluid pressures were definite and marked on opening the shunt flow through the anastomosis, but these postoperative pressures retained still higher ones above their levels measured at thoracotomy. The pathological examinations of the brain and the spinal cord were also performed in six animals. Characteristic changes uniformly seen in all area and in all animals were the findings of capillary congestion and perivascular edema. On the other hand, ischemic nerve cell changes were rather evident, revealing their degrees and extents being related to the prolongation of the time of caval occlusion which has followed by the sustained high pressures in both the superior vena and the cerebrospinal fluid. The experiment suggests the safety of this surgical procedure with minimal, if any, permanent damage as long as the occlusion of the caval blood flow is not prolonged beyond the expected.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.963-966
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• 1995

Ischemia reperfusion injury occurs in various diseases. The role of oxygen free radicals in IR injury of the lung has been spotlighted and many studies have been performed. In this study, we tried to prepare a stable rat lung model for IR injury, focusing on surrounding conditions as hilar stripped left lung, clamped left pulmonary artery and bronchus,and declamped after determined period was passed, and right main pulmonary aretery was clamped. Arterial blood gas analyes were performed at 1, 10, 20, 30, minutes after reperfusion. Before clamping, PaO2 was 95 to 120 mmHg in all animals. There were six groups; Group I : temperature 15o C, and 120 minutes clamping, Group II: 20 oC, and 120 minutes clamping, Group III : 25 oC, and 120 minutes clamping, Group IV : 15oC, 90 minutes clamping, Group V : 20 oC, 90 minutes clamping,Group VI: 20 oC, 75 minutes clamping. Each groups contained 10 Sprague Dayley rats. The humidity was maintained 100 % as circulation imerged isotonic Hartmann`s solution of the pleural cavity. In group IV, V, and VI, PaO2 decreased significantly in all animals immediately after reperfusion, but 43 % survived till 10 minutes after reperfusion, it was 74.0$\pm$5.7, 73.3$\pm$10.8,and 88.2$\pm$17.7 mmHg. Pulmonary edema was observed histologically in 2/10 animals in group IV, 6/10 in group V , 3/10 in group VI, 9/10 in group I, and the other lungs showed all edema. We established a stable model by setting ischemic time,and temperature, between 75 to 90 minutes,15 to 20o C, and isotemperature Hartmann`s solution immersion of the pleural cavity.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.297-300
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• 2012

Symptomatic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients with isolated atrial septal defect (ASD) is rare during infancy. We report a case of isolated ASD with severe PAH in an infant who developed airway obstruction as cardiomegaly progressed. The patient presented with recurrent severe respiratory insufficiency and failure to thrive before the repair of the ASD. Echocardiography confirmed volume overload on the right side of heart and severe PAH (tricuspid regurgitation [TR] with a peak pressure gradient of 55 to 60 mmHg). The chest radiographs demonstrated severe collapse of both lung fields, and a computed tomography scan showed narrowing of the main bronchus because of an intrinsic cause, as well as a dilated pulmonary artery compressing the main bronchus on the left and the intermediate bronchus on the right. ASD patch closure was performed when the infant was 8 months old. After the repair of the ASD, echocardiography showed improvement of PAH (TR with a peak pressure gradient of 22 to 26 mmHg), and the patient has not developed recurrent respiratory infections while showing successful catch-up growth. In infants with symptomatic isolated ASD, especially in those with respiratory insufficiency associated with severe PAH, extrinsic airway compression should be considered. Correcting any congenital heart diseases in these patients may improve their symptoms.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2008

Background: The Damus-Kaye-Stansel (DKS) procedure is a proximal MPA-ascending aorta anastomosis used to relieve systemic ventricular outflow tract obstructions (SVOTO) and pulmonary hypertension. The purpose of this study was to review the indications and outcomes of the DKS procedure, including the DKS pathway and semilunar valve function. Material and Method: A retrospective review of 28 patients who underwent a DKS procedure between May 1994 and April 2006 was performed. The median age at operation was 5.3 months ($13\;days{\sim}38.1\;months$) and body weight was 5.0 kg ($2.9{\sim}13.5\;kg$). Preoperative pressure gradients were $25.3{\pm}15.7\;mmHg$ ($10{\sim}60\;mmHg$). Eighteen patients underwent a preliminary pulmonary artery banding as an initial palliation. Preoperative main diagnoses were double outlet right ventricle in 9 patients, double inlet left ventricle with ventriculoarterial discordance in 6,. another functional univentricular heart in 5, Criss-cross heart in 4, complete atrioventricular septal defect in 3, and hypoplastic left heart variant in 1. DKS techniques included end-to-side anastomosis with patch augmentation in 14 patients, classical end-to-side anastomosis in 6, Lamberti method (double-barrel) in 3, and others in 5. The bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt and Fontan procedure were concomitantly performed in 6 and 2 patients, respectively. Result: There were 4 hospital deaths (14.3%), and 3 late deaths (12.5%) with a follow-up duration of $62.7{\pm}38.9$ months ($3.3{\sim}128.1$ months). Kaplan-Meier estimated actuarial survival was $71.9%{\pm}9.3%$ at 10 years. Multivariate analysis showed right ventricle type single ventricle (hazard ratio=13.960, p=0.004) and the DKS procedure as initial operation (hazard ratio=6.767, p=0.042) as significant mortality risk factors. Four patients underwent staged biventricular repair and 13 received Fontan completion. No SVOTO was detected after the procedure by either cardiac catheterization or echocardiography except in one patient. There was no semiulnar valve regurgitation (>Gr II) or semilunar valve-related reoperation, but one patient (3.6%) who underwent classical end-to-side anastomosis needed reoperation for pulmonary artery stenosis caused by compression of the enlarged DKS pathway. The freedom from reoperation for the DKS pathway and semilunar valve was 87.5% at 10 years after operation. Conclusion: The DKS procedure can improve the management of SVOTO, and facilitate the selected patients who are high risk for biventricular repair just after birth to undergo successful staged biventricular repair. Preliminary pulmonary artery banding is a safe and effective procedure that improves the likelihood of successful DKS by decreasing pulmonary vascular resistance. The long-term outcome of the DKS procedure for semilunar valve function, DKS pathway, and relief of SVOTO is satisfactory.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.309-313
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• 2005

This study was performed to assess the efficacy of surgical treatment with flexible alligator forceps (FAF) on heartworm infected dogs. Twenty dogs (10 males and 10 females) with heartworm infection, age $5.3\pm3.0\;(mean{\pm}S.D.)$ years and weight $9.3\pm6.5(mean{\pm}S.D.)kg$ were treated with FAF. Adult heartworms were removed by fluoroguided technique with FAF under inhalation anesthesia with isoflurane. For evaluation of the efficacy, removal rate and surgical time were measured, and removal sites were found. Antigen ELISA kit test and autopsy were performed to examine remained adult heartworms. Removal rate of total heartworms was $91.4\%$ including 15 complete retrieval cases and surgical time was $30.0\pm7.6(mean{\pm}S.E.)$ minutes. Heartworms were removed from the right ventricle, main pulmonary artery, and right and left pulmonary artery. Surgical treatment with FAF is an effective method with high removal rate, short surgical time, and various removal sites and it could be considered for the removal of adult heartworms in a dog.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.72-75
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• 2004

A ten months old, female Yorkshire terrier weighing 2.88 kg referred to veterinary leaching hospital of college of veterinary medicine, Konkuk University because of syncope, cough and dyspnea. First hematological and serum chemical test revealed thrombocytopenia, mild anemia, and increase of concentration of ALP (195 U/L). On 57 days later, second hematological and serum chemical test revealed polycythemia, increase of concentration of ALP (211 UR.), and Tchol (387 mg/dl). Right atrium enlargement, main pulmonary artery bulge and cardiomegaly (VHS = 11.5) were observed in radiographic findings. Ultrasohographic images showed both right and left ventricular dilation and turbulent flow between the descending aorta and the main pulmonary artery in color Doppler imaging. ECG showed left ventricular enlargement, SA block, and electrical alternant. Thoracotomy was performed through left fourth intercostal incision under isoflurane anesthesia. Patent ductus arteriosus was double ligated with 1-0 silk. Cough and dyspnea disappeared on 5 days after operation. Turbulent flow was not found in color doppler imaging of ultrasonography on 10 days after operation. Ten months later after the operation, syncope could not exist any more.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.3 s.272
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• pp.193-199
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• 2007

Background: Reoperation is usually required for a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit obstruction caused by valve degeneration, conduit peel formation or somatic growth of the patient. An autologous tissue reconstruction (peel operation), where a prosthetic roof is placed over the fibrotic tissue bed of the explanted conduit, has been used to manage conduit obstructions at our institute since May 2002. Herein, the early and midterm results are evaluated. Material and Method: Between May 2002 and July 2006, 9 patients underwent obstructed extracardiac conduit replacement with an autologous tissue reconstruction, at a mean of 5.1 years after a Rastelli operation. The mean age at reoperation was $7.5{\pm}2.4$ years, ranging from 2.9 to 10.1 years. The diagnoses included 6 pulmonary atresia with VSD, 2 truncus arteriosus and 1 transposition of the great arteries. The preoperative mean systolic gradient was $88.3{\pm}22.2mmHg$, ranging from 58 to 125 mmHg. The explanted conduits were all Polystan valved pulmonary conduit (Polystan, Denmark). A bioprosthetic valve was inserted in 8 patients, and a monocusp ventricular outflow patch (MVOP) was used in 1 patient. The anterior wall was constructed with a Gore-Tex patch (n=7), MVOP (n=1) and bovine pericardium (n=1). Pulmonary artery angioplasty was required in 5 patients and anterior aortopexy in 2. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time . was 154 minutes, ranging from 133 to 181 minutes; an aortic crossclamp was not performed in all patients. The mean follow-up duration was 20 months, ranging from 1 to 51 months. All patients were evaluated for their right ventricular outflow pathway using a 3-D CT scan. Resuit: There was no operative mortality or late death. The mean pressure gradient, assessed by echocardiography through the right ventricular outflow tract, was 20.4 mmHg, ranging from 0 to 29.6 mmMg, at discharge and 26 mmHg, ranging from 13 to 36 mmHg, at the latest follow-up (n=7, follow-up duration >1 year). There were no pseudoaneurysms, strictures or thrombotic occlusions. Conclusion: A peel operation was concluded to be a safe and effective re-operative option for an obstructed extracardiac conduit following a Rastelli operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.433-437
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• 1999

Background: Left main coronary artery (LMCA) angioplasty is another option in the surgical treatment for LMCA disease because of its advantages over the conventional coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Material and Method: Between July 1994 and December 1997, 15 patients underwent left main coronary angioplasty for the stenoses of LMCA. There were 8 males and 7 females with the mean age of 53.3${\pm}$8.8 years. The locations of the LMCA stenoses were proximal one-third of the LMCA in 9, middle one-third in 1, distal one-third in 3, and the whole length of the LMCA in 2 cases. Nine patients had peripheral coronary lesions in addition to the LMCA stenosis. The LMCA was approached anteriorly with or without transsection of the main pulmonary artery. The angioplasty was performed with onlay patch widening using an autologous pericardium (14 cases) or saphenous vein (1 case). Additional graftings were required in 9 cases, and both LMCA angioplasty and right coronary ostial angioplasty were done in 1 case. Result: There was no operative mortality. One case needed redo CABG due to the stenosis of the angioplasty site which developed 4 months postoperatively. Coronary angiography was performed in 8 cases one year postoperatively, and revealed good patency of the angioplasty site except for one who showed 50% stenosis at the angioplasty site. No patient complained of angina with a mean follow up of 23${\pm}$11 months. Conclusion: Surgical angioplasty of the LMCA stenosis can be performed in selected cases with safety and good mid-term results.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.171-175
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• 2006

Three dogs with suspected patent ductus arteriosus were referred to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University because of cough, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, and syncope, Continuous murmur and thrill were detected in physical examination. Left ventricular enlargement, cardiomegaly, bulged main pulmonary artey were found in radiography. Tall R wave, wide P wave, atrial fibrillation, and turbulent flow were observed in electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. Thoracotomy was performed at left fourth intercostal space under isoflurane anesthesia. Patent ductus arteriosus was double ligated with 1-0 silk. The median (mean ${\pm}$ SD) diameter of patents was $8.0{\pm}2.0mm$. The median operation time was $36{\pm}6.6min$. On examination right after surgery, continuous murmur, thrill, atrial fibrillation, and turbulent flow were disappeared. On 30 days after surgery, clinical signs, left ventricular enlargement, and, bulged main pulmonary artery were disappeared. VHS 12.5 and 13.5, R wave 3.3 and 3.0 mV, and P wave 0.05 and 0.05 sec were decreased to 10.0 and 10.5, 1.8 and 2.0 mV, and 0.04 and 0.04 sec respectively in case 1 and 2. Ratio of aorta and main pulmonary artery in diameter was changed 1 : 1.3 and 1 : 1.6 into 1 : 1.1 and 1 : 1 respectively in case 1 and 2. Mild tear developed during dissection in case 3 and hemorrhage was controlled by vascular Devakey forceps. However, the dog died. On 12 months after surgery, patients (case 1 and case 2) have not showed abnormal signs.