• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.277-280
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• 2008

Tuberculous aortitis is a very rare disease. Furthermore, it is all the more rare for it to be complicated by the development of an aortic aneurysm or the formation of aorto-bronchial fistula. If it is complicated by rupture of the aorta, mortality is very high. If the patient didn't contract tuberculosis, but was expectorating blood, we would have to carry out a chest CT promptly, in order to make a rapid and accurate diagnosis of this disease. A 46-year-old male patient was admitted due to the sudden onset of intermittent hemoptysis and chest discomfort. CT scans of the chest showed an aneurysmal change to the descending thoracic aorta, and the formation of an aorto-bronchial fistula, which originated from this aneurysm and communicated with its left lower lobe. We operated with an artificial vessel graft interposition of the descending thoracic aorta and a left lower lobectomy. Because the diagnosis was of tuberculosis, we started anti-Tbc medication and long term anti-Tbc medication was recommended.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.170-173
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• 1994

Isolated stenotic lesion located at the ostium of the left main coronary artery associated with Takayasu`s aortitis is quite rare. This report herein described a case of 25 year old woman with isolated ostial stenosis of the left main coronary artery underwent pericardial patch [fixed with 0.6 % glutaraldehyde] angioplasty. An anterior approach was used and postoperative coronary angiogram of the patient showed normal coronary ostial contour with normal runoff.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.320-323
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• 1995

We report a case of recurred Takayasu,s arteritis.The patient was 28-year-old female underwent aorto-left common carotid and aorto-left subclavian bypass graft replacement 1 year ago.Unfortunately, she was readmitted because of newly developing angina and both eye claudication severe headache. Aorto-coronary angiogram showed complete obstruction of left common carotid artery ,stenosis of right carotid artery bifurcation and ostial stenosis of right coronary artery.Bilateral carotid arteries bypass graft with great saphenous vein and right coronary artery bypass graft with right internal mammary artery were done at same the time and she discharged after 21 days without any problem.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.698-703
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• 2001

Background: Endovascular stent-graft insertion in aortic diseases is now generally accepted as an attractive alternative treatment modality. We reviewed our clinical experiences of endovascular stent-graft insertion in thoracic aorta. Material and Method: Since 1995, we performed 8 cases of endovasclar stent-graft insertion. Preoperative diagnoses were aortic aneurysms in 4, traumatic aortic ruptures in 3, and ruptured aortic pseudoaneurysm in 1. All procedures were performed in angiography room with the guidance of fluoroscopy. The stent-graft device is a custom-made 0.35mm thickness Z-shaped stainless steel wires, intertwined with each other using polypropylene suture ligation. It is covered with expanded Dacron vascular graft. Result: All procedures were performed successfully. Follow-up studies revealed 2 minimal perigraft leakages. There was no significant leakage or graft migration. 2 patients expired due to multiple organ failure and fungal sepsis. Other survivors(6) are doing well. Conclusion: Endovascular stent-graft insertion is relatively saft and effective treatment modality in the managment of various types of aortic diseases. In may be an effective alternative in aortic diseases of great surgical risk.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.92-96
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• 1997

The prognosis of Behfet's disease characterized by recurrent orogenltal ulcers and ocular and skin lesions depends upon the complications in the central nervous system, the gastrointestinal tract And the vascular system. Cardiac involvement, especially aortic regurgitation, is quite uncommon and hemodynamic instability is usually treated with ope heart surgery. But serious postoperative complications had been reported in many cases, which are prosthetic valve detachment, paravalvular leakage, conduction disturbance, and false aneurysm. Many efforts to prevent the complications have been made such as application of cryopreseved homograft. We have described an experience of root replacement with homograft in d 39 year-old male patient for prosthetic valve detachment because of Behfet's aorlitis with a review of the literatures regarding treatment, complication, and prognosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.285-290
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• 1981

Bacterial endocarditis is a well-recognized complication of prosthetic valve replacement. Postoperative fungal endocarditis of aortitis has been reported with increasing frequency. Aspergillus endocarditis or aortitis following open heart surgery has been reported in several patients. The difficulty in the diagnosis of this type of infection, the problems of therapy of prosthetic valve endocarditis0 and the relative ineffectiveness of antifungal agents account for the high mortality. Recently, we have experienced a patient with aspergillus aortitis after replacement of mitral valve. The diagnosis was finally established by histotogical examination of emboli removed from the femoral artery. The patient died after second open heart surgery for replacement of ascending aorta.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.102-112
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• 2002

This study was undertaken to analyze the outcome of composite valve graftreplacement(CVGR) for the treatment of aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving the aortic root. Material and Method: Between April 1995 and June 2001, 56 patients had replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic root with a composite graft valve and were reviewed retrospectively. Aortic regurgitation was present in 50 patients(89%), Marfan's syndrome in 18 patients(32%), and bicuspid aortic valve in 7(12.5%). The indications for operation were annuloaortic ectasia(AAE) in 30 patients(53.6%), aortic dissection in 13(23.2%), aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving aortic root in 11(19.6%), and aortitis in 2(3.6%). Cardiogenic shock due to the aortic rupture was present in 2 patients. Nine patients(16%) had previous operations on the ascending aorta or open heart surgery. The operative techniques used for CVGR were the aortic button technique in 51 patients(91%), the modified Cabrol technique in 4, and the classic Bentall technique in 1. The concomitant procedures were aortic arch replacement in 24 patients(43%), coronary artery bypass graft in 8(14.3%), mitral valve repair in 2, redo mitral valve replacement in 1, and the others in 7 The mean time of circulatory arrest, total bypass, and aortic crossclamp were 21$\pm$14 minutes, 186$\pm$68 minutes, and 132$\pm$42 minutes, respectively. Result: Early mortality was 1.8%(1/56). The postoperative complications were left ventricular dysfunction in 16 patients(28.6%), reoperation for bleeding in 7(12.5%), pericardial effusion in 2, and the others in 7. Fifty-three patients out of 55 hospital survivors were followed up for a mean of 23.2 $\pm$ 18.7 months(1-75 months). There were two late deaths(3.8%) including one death due to the traumatic cerebral hemorrhage, and CVGR-related late mortality was 1.9%. The 1- and 6-year actuarial survival was 98.1$\pm$1.9% and 93.2$\pm$5.1%, respectively. Two patients required reoperation for complication of CYGR(3.8%) and two other patients required subsequent operations for dissection of the remaining thoracoabdominal aorta. The 1- and 6-year actuarial freedom from reoperation was 97.8$\pm$2.0% and 65.3$\pm$26.7%, respectively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.356-364
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• 2002

Background: This study was undertaken to investigate the outcome of composite graft aortic root replacement using coronary button reimplantation technique for the treatment of aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving the aortic root. Material and Method: Between April 1995 and September 2001, 54 patients having aortic root replacement with a composite valve graft using direct coronary button reimplantation were reviewed retrospectively. Left ventricular dysfunction was present in 14 patients(25.9%), aortic regurgitation in 48(89%), and Marfan's syndrome in 17(31.5%). The indications for operation were annuloaortic ectasia in 29 patients(53.7%), aortic dissection in 11(20.4%), aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving aortic root in 12(22.2%), and aortitis in 2(3.7%). Six patients(11.1%) had previous cardiac or ascending aortic operations. Concomitant procedures were arch replacement in 21 patients(38.9%), coronary artery bypass graft in 7(13%), mitral valve repair or replacement in 4(7.4%), and others in 6. The mean time of circulatory arrest, total bypass, and aortic crossclamp were 18 $\pm$ 9 minutes, 177 $\pm$ 42 minutes, and 127 $\pm$ 31 minutes, respectively. Result: There was 1 early death(1.9%). Mean follow-up was 24.6$\pm$ 19.5 months. There were two late deaths(3.8%) including one death due to the traumatic cerebral hemorrhage. The Kaplan-Meier survival rate was 98.0 $\pm$ 2.0% and 93.1 $\pm$ 5.1% at 1 and 6 years, respectively. Two patients required reoperation owing to a false aneurysm at the root anastomosis site and a malfunction of prosthetic aortic valve(3.8%). Staged operation for dissection of the remaining thoracoabdominal aorta was performed in 1 patient. The freedom rate from reoperation was 97.8 $\pm$ 2.0% and 65.3 $\pm$ 26.7% at 1 and 6 years, respectively.