• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1251-1253
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• 1997

Gastrointestinal complications, especially duodenal complication after cardiopulmonary bypass are rare, but often fatal. We experienced 1 case of duodenal ulcer bleeding and 2 cases of duodenal ulcer perforation developing after cardiopulmonary bypass from August 1994 to April 1996. In the case of duodenal ulcer bleeding, palpitation, dizziness, tachycardia and melena were the clues leading to diagnosis, and in the cases of perforation, abdominal distension with pain, tachycardia, hypotension, oliguria were the clues. Duodenal perforations were diagnosed by abdominal paracentesis. The patient with duodenal bleeding was treated by H-2 receptor antagonist, antacids and transfusion. And emergency laparotomy was required for the patients with duodenal perforation. In addition to ulcer prophylaxis including H-2 receptor antagonist and antacids, a high index of suspicion and timely surgery are necessary for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of duodenal complication developing af er cardiopulmonary bypass.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.358-363
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• 1999

Background: Recently, many cardiac centers have been using aprotinin to reduce operative bleeding in cardiac operations using cardiopulmonary bypass. A variety of reports have confirmed the effectiveness of the drug in cardiac operations. In addition to the operations which could be considered to cause severe operative bleeding such as redo operation, long cardiopulmonary bypass operation and etc, the use of aprotinin is increasing in the field of primary cardiac operations. Varying doses of regimen have been introduced since the first report by Royston et al, and also various opinions on the effectiveness and safeness of the each regimen have been reported. We reviewed our own experience of the full dose aprotinin regimen(Hammersmith regimen) retrospectively. Material and Method: From October 1994 to February 1998, 40 cases of cardiac operative patients were randomized into two groups: aprotinin group(20 patients) which received a full dose aprotinin regimen and control group(20 patients) which did not receive aprotinin. To evaluate the degree of bleeding decrease, we analysed and compared the amount of postoperative 6 hours and 24 hours bleeding in the each group. To confirm the renal dysfunction, we measured the postoperative creatinine level. Result: In the amount of postoperative 6 hours bleeding, a statistically significant bleeding decrease was demonstrated in the aprotinin group compared to the control group(aprotinin group: 186${\pm}$40cc, control group:409${\pm}$69cc, P=0.010). Similar result was observed in the postoperative 24 hours(aprotinin group:317${\pm}$53cc, control group: 671${\pm}$133cc, P=0.024). Conclusion: We concluded that full dose regimen of aprotinin can remarkably reduce postoperative bleeding in cardiac operations without significant renal dysfunctions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.375-380
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• 2002

Background: Sternal infection after open heart surgery is a serious complication associated with high rate of mortality. We reviewed the effect of improved operating room and intensive care unit un the sternal infection by analyzing the incidence and condition of that around the movement of operating room and intensive care unit in July 1997. Material and method: We reviewed a total of 453 patients. Group I contains 237 patients who underwent open heart surgery between January 1997 and December 1978 before we moved the intensive care unit and of operating room, and Group II contains 216 patients who underwent open heart surgery between January 2000 and July 2001 after we moved. We only included adult patients over age 15 who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass through median sternotomy and excluded the mortality cases except sternal infections in this study. Result: Sternal infection developed in 18 patients(8.0%) in Group I, and in only 1 patient(0.49%) in Group II. Emergency operation, cardiopulmonary bypass time, operation tilde, transfusion, tracheostomy, and reoperation are significantly associated with sternal infection among the known risk factors. The logistic regression analysis containing those six factors revealed that the movement of intensive care unit and operating roots is effective on the decreasing sternal infection(p=0.029, 95% confidence interval 0.011 ∼ 0.788). Conclusion: Although there have been studies on manly risk factors associated with the sternal infection after open heart surgery, we think that the improvement of operting room and intensive care unit is a method for decreasing the incidence of sternal infection.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.213-218
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• 1997

Pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta is potentially fatal. However, reports of such cases are rare even in large series. We report four cases of thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm who underwent surgical repair, The causes were considered as infection in two cases (VSD repair, descending thoracic aortic aneurysm resection) and blunt chest trauma by traffic accident in two patients. The pseudoaneurysms developed on ascending aorta suspected as sites of arterial and cardiolplegic needle insertion in one patient. The others were located at descending thoracic aorta immediatly below the left subclavian artery. One patient died of sepsis associated with bile peritonitis and others were followed up from 10 to 18 months with specific morbidity. This study suggest that the incidence of pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta followed by open heart or aorctic surgery can be repaired succesfuly and careful inspection of associated injury is very important in cases of traumatic thoracic pseudoaneurysm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1056-1062
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• 1998

Background: We prospectively investigated types, incidences, and risk factors for arrhythmias after open heart surgery in adults. Materials and methods: From June 1994 to May 1995, we performed 302 cases of adult cardiac surgery at our department. This study group consisted of 150 men and 152 women, with a mean age of 43.9±28.0(range 16 to 75)years. We included all the patients irrespective of their operative types or disease entities. Results: The overall incidence of arrhythmias after open heart surgery in adults was 58.3%. The incidence of postoperative arrhythmias for redo-valvular heart surgery was 77.8%, and those for simple valvular procedure, coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic surgery, and congenital heart disease were 70.8%, 45.3%, 40.0%, and 29.5%, respectively. Eight out of twelve risk factors showed statistical significance for the development of postoperative arrhythmias. They were preoperative history of arrhythmias, antiarrhythmic drug medication, previous cardiac surgery, larger left ventricular end-diastolic, end-systolic dimension, left atrial dimension on preoperative echocardiogram, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross clamping time. Univariated analyses for age and types of cardioplegic solution did not show statistical significance. Conclusions: Prospective study on postoperative arrhythmias occurrence, treatment and prevention of is warrauted to draw more clear conclusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 1997

The hemodynamic effects of thyroid hormones which is well established, affect myocardial contractility, heart rate, and myocardial oxygen consumption. The alterations in thyroid function test are frequently seen in patients with nonthyroidal illness and often correlate with the severity of the illness and the prosnosis. In this study, thyroid hormone changes were investigated in 20 patients who received cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB). All patients showed a state of biochemical euthyroidism preoperatively: The results were as follows : 1. Serum triiodothyronine(73) reached to its nadir(30.05 $\pm$ 17.5ng/dl, p(0.001) at 10 minutes after the start of CPB and remained low(p(0.05) throughout the study period. 2. Serum thyroxine(74) concentr tion slightly decreased after CPB, but maintained within normal range. 3. Serum free thyroxine(W4) concentration slightly increased after CPB, but maintained within normal range. 4. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) concentration increased 10 minute after CPB, reached to its nadir(3.37 $\pm$ 0.81u1U/m1, p(0.001) at 2 hours after CPB. After then, serum TSH concentration decreased and reached its normal levels at 24 hours after CPB. 5. The patients whose postoperative recovery was uneventful(Group 1) had higher serum 73 levels than those who had postoperative complications(Group 2)(p<0.05). Group 1 showed elevating patterns of serum 73 in the fourth day after operation, whereas group 2 did not show such an elevating pattern. These findings are similar to the euthyroid sick syndrome seen in severely ill patients and indicate that patients undergoing open heart surgery have suppression of the pituitary-thyroid axis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.989-995
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• 1996

Excessive blood loss secondary to cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) may be encountered after open heart surgery and platelet dysfunction appears to be especially responsible for this problem. To evaluate the effect of low-dose aprotinin during hypothermic CPB on platelet aggregation, anticoagulation and clinical hemostasis,.40 patients undergoing valve replacement using hypothermic CPB procedures were randomized to give either a low dose aprotinin(2$\times$ 106 KIU in the CPB priming sol- ution, n=20) or a placebo(n=20). During postoperative 24 hours, blood and hemoglobin loss were lower in the aprotinin group (225.5 $\pm$ 121.9ml, and 11.3$\pm$2.4g) than the control group(572.2$\pm$)35.5ml and 26.3$\pm$9.8g)(P<0.01). The total blood and hemoglobin loss were lower in the aprotinin group (622.0$\pm$ 186m1 and 14.7$\pm$6.8g) than the con- trol group (102.1 $\pm$483.5ml and 39.7$\pm$ 16.4g) (P<0.01). The amonut of packed red cell needed decreased in the aprotinin group: 197.7$\pm$56.3ml vers s 651.2: 147.5ml (P<0.01). Hemoglobin concentration, platelet counts and fibrinogen checked at fixed times perioperatively did not differ between the two groups. Platelet aggregation was induced by ADP, collagen, epinephrine and ristocetin before and after CPB. Maximum platelet aggregation was significantly reduced after CPB in control group (ranging from -31 % to -58% relative to prebypass values). Significant prolongation of activated clotting time(ACT) after 5 minute and 30 minute of hypothermic CPB were observed: 955.9 $\pm$35.1 and 967.5$\pm$32.7sec versus 743.8 $\pm$ 52.1 and 731.2: 54.6sec (P<0.01). There was no complication associated with aprotinin infusion. These results demonstrate that low-dose aprotinin significantly reduces blood loss and blood requirment and provides improved postoperative hemostasis which might be related to protection of platelet aggregation capacity.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1218-1222
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• 1996

The reported incidence of postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock not responding to conventional therapy is still 0.1 to 0.8%. For this group of patients, more aggressive form of circulatory support must be employed. Centrifugal pumps are a ventricular assist device most commonly used on this purpose, due to low cost and easy availability. Currently, however, clinical experience of centrifugal pumps as a ventricular assist device is rarely reported in Korea. From January 1992 to January 1996, 2986 patients underwent cardiac operations on cardiopulmonary bypass at Seoul National University Hospital. Refractory postcardiotomy cardiac failure requring ventricular support with a Biomedicus centrifugal pump developed in ten of these patients. There were eight men and two women, ranged in age from nine years to 77 years with a mean of 50$\pm$20 years. The primary surgical procedures consisted of isolated coronary revascularization in four patients, combined coronary revascularization and aortic valve replacement in two, aortic dissection repair in two, pulmonary embolectomy in one, and heart transplantation in one. Of the ten patients, five had left ventricular assistance, one had right ventricular assistance, and four had biventricular assistance. Duration of ventricular assistance ranged from 24 to 175 hours, with a mean of 76$\pm$51 hours. Seven patients were weaned from ventricular assistance, and four of them discharged. The causes of death for nonsurvivors were progressive cardiac failure in two patients and multiorgan failure, intractable ventricular fibrillation, irreversible brain injury, and mechanical problem, respectively, in the other four. Survival was not predicted by time on cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic cross-clamp time, or duration of ventricular support. Major complications included bleeding(7), renal failure(6), infection(3) and neurologic complication(2). These results indicate that a centrifugal pump can provide reasonably satisfactory short-term circulatory support.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 1996

Amrinone is a non-glycosidic, non-adrenergic positive inotropic agent with peripheral and coronary vasodilator effect. It inhibits phosphodiesterase F-III, the cardiac cyclic-AMP specific phosphodiesterase, selectively and potently. In this study, the effects of IV administered amrinone and dopamine were compared in 40 patients who had open heart surgery. Amrinone was administered as a bolus of 1 5~2mglkg for several minutes, followed by continuous infusion at 5~1 Oug/kg/min. The hemodynamic measurements including heart rate, systolic and diastolic pressure, cardiac index, pulmonary wedge pressure, and systemic vascular resistance were recorded immediately for 12~24 hours awl 7th day following operation. In amrinone group, cardiac index increased from 3.73$\pm$1.39 L/min/m2 to 5.44$\pm$2.65 L/min/m2 at the time of posterative 48 hours (n=20, p< 0.05). The decrease in systemic vascular resistance from 1237.5 $\pm$ 637.7 dyne/sec/cm2 to 1000.8 $\pm$ 608.5 dyne/sec/cm2(p<0.05). In Dopamine group, the heart rate increased from 92.1 $\pm$ 13.0/min to 101.0 $\pm$ 13.1/min and the cardiac index decreased from 3.40 $\pm$ 0.50 L/min/m2 to 2.53 $\pm$ 1.15 L/min/m2 at the time of postoperative 12 hours(p<0.05). Systemic vascular resistance increased from 1058.5 $\pm$ 234.6 dyne/sec/cm2 to 1979.7 $\pm$ 759.2 dynelsec/cm2 The comparison of the hemodynamic effects of amrinone and dopamine, both drugs improved cardiac performance. But the administration of amrinone results in a higher cardiac index, diastolic blood pressure and lower systemic vascular resistance than those achieved with dopamine (p<0.05). The uniqueness of the action of amrinone on the heart and its sustained hemodynamic effect suggest it has clinical promise, pos operative care of cardiac surgery

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 1998

Total body water is increased after cardiopulmonary bypass resulting in tissue edema and organ dysfunction. Ultrafiltration has been used to reduce this accumulation of water. We have carried out a prospective randomized study in 17 children undergoing open heart surgery, comparing modified ultrafiltration(MUF) with nonfiltered controls. MUF was carried out for about 10 minutes after completion of cardiopulmonary bypass to a hematocrit 36∼42%. Blood loss, blood transfused, hemodynamics, and laboratory data were recorded for 24 hours postoperatively. The results were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test, comparing controls(n=7) to ultrafiltered(n=10). There was no death in each group. The mean filtrate volume(ml/kg) was 42(30∼68). Blood loss(ml/kg/24hr) was 14.5 mean(4.0∼26.6) in controls versus 12.1 mean(6.0∼21.5) in MUF(P＞0.05) ; blood transfused(ml/kg/24hr) was 9.4 mean (6.0∼36.3) in controls versus 3.4 mean(0∼11.4) in MUF(P<0.05). There was rise in arterial blood pressure during MUF. Percent rise of systolic blood pressure was 4.2(0∼11.7) in controls versus 19.8(7.0∼36.9) in MUF(P=0.001). Percent rise of diastolic blood pressure was 10.0(1.6∼20.8) in controls versus 30.6(5.8∼73.3) in MUF(P<0.05). Platelet count, fibrinogen, and oncotic pressure rose after MUF. No complications directly attributable to the ultrafiltration were observed. Conclusively, MUF is safe, effective means of removing body water and beneficial to hemodynamics.