• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.675-679
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• 2002

In patient with severe adhesion between lung and aorta, there is some limitation in approaching the distal arch or descending thoracic aorta through the usual left thoracotomy. We report a case of a successfully managed distal arch and descending thoracic aortic aneurysm through the median sternotomy without any manipulations of the lung in a 66 year old man who presented hemoptysis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.691-694
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• 2003

A 49-year-old woman had thoracic back pain for several years. Chest CT scan and MRI angiography revealed descending thoracic aortic aneurysm with a maximum diameter of 69 mm. Thoracic aortography showed not only the aortic aneurysm, but also coarctation of descending thoracic aorta at the level of aortic hiatus of the diaphragm. Intercostal artery arising Adamkiewicz artery was found in descending thoracic aortic aneurysm just above the coarctation, The aneurysm with coarctation of the aorta was successfully repaired with prosthetic graft replacement under left atrio-femoral bypass.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.872-875
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• 2004

The treatment modalities of the intramural hematoma (IMH) remain controversial. Nowadays, the IMH of the descending thoracic aorta is generally classified in the medical treatment category. We describe a patient with IMH of the descending thoracic aorta who received the medical treatment. During the follow-up, we speculated that the IMH had been aggravated leading to an aortic rupture including hemothorax. Therefore, we performed an emergency operation. Contrary to our expectations, operative findings showed a well-organized aortic wall and serous pleural effusion. The exact diagnosis was IMH of the descending thoracic aorta with penetrating atherosclerotic ulcer (PAU). This case reminded us of the importance of accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.595-598
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• 1999

Some extensive thoracic aortic aneurysms are not amenable to staged repair, such as extremely large distal aortic aneurysms that are unsuitable for an elephant trunk anastomosis, or aneurysms that are accompanied by complications such as ruptured descending thoracic aneurysm. We report here a case of successful replacement of the aorta from the ascending to the descending aorta in one operation. The patient was 65-year-old man who had an aneurysm which involved the entire thoracic aorta and ruptured in the descending aorta. The operation was performed via transverse thoracosternotomy, and under the deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged without any neurologic complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.758-763
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• 2010

In current era, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has gained popularity. But, it bears the risk of serious complications such as treatment failure from endoleak, retrograde aortic dissection caused by injury of aortic wall at landing zone, or aortic rupture resulting from stent graft infection. We report two cases of surgical repair of retrograde aortic dissection after TAVAR applied to acute Stanford type B aortic dissection or traumatic aortic disruption.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.6 s.263
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• pp.440-448
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• 2006

Background: Surgery of descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aorta has the potential risk of causing neurological injury including spinal cord damage. This study was designed to find out the risk factors leading to spinal cord and brain damage after surgery of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. Material and Method: Between October 1995 and July 2005, thirty three patients with descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic disease underwent resection and graft replacement of the involved aortic segments. We reviewed these patients retrospectively. There were 23 descending thoracic aortic diseases and 10 thoracoabdominal aortic diseases. As an etiology, there were 23 aortic dissections and 10 aortic aneurysms. Preoperative and perioperative variables were analyzed univariately and multivariately to identify risk factors of neurological injury. Result: Paraplegia occurred in 2 (6.1%) patients and permanent in one. There were 7 brain damages (21%), among them, 4 were permanent damages. As risk factors of spinal cord damage, Crawford type II III(p=0.011) and intercostal artery anastomosis (p=0.040) were statistically significant. Cardiopulmonary bypass time more than 200 minutes (p=0.023), left atrial vent catheter insertion (p=0.005) were statistically significant as risk factors of brain damage. Left heart partial bypass (LHPB) was statistically significant as a protecting factor of brain (p=0.032). Conclusion: The incidence of brain damage was higher than that of spinal cord damage after surgery of descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. There was no brain damage in LHPB group. LHPB was advantageous in protecting brain from postoperative brain injury. Adjunctive procedures to protect spinal cord is needed and vigilant attention should be paid in patients with Crawford type II III and patients who have patent intercostal arteries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.173-177
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• 1998

A 28 years old pregnant woman(Gestational age 35 weeks) had been operated emergency Cesarian section for delivery and emergency graft replacement of ascending aorta and total arch for acute type A aortic dissection. 1 year and 6 months later, she underwent aortic graft replacement from descending thoracic aorta to both common iliac arteries because of further progression of aortic dissection. So far she has a complete artificial graft aorta.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.578-581
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• 2007

A 59-year old female patient was admitted due to massive hemoptysis. 6-months previously, we performed ascending aorta graft interposition for terating Debakey type 1 acute aortic dissection. Chest CT scan showed the fistula between the descending thoracic aorta and the left lower lobe. We performed descending thoracic aorta graft interposition under cardiopulmonary bypass. She recovered well without any postoperative problems. Distal aorto-bronchial fistula after a previous aortic operation is very rare. We report here the good results of treating aorto-bronchial fistula because we recognized this lesion early and performed an early operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.428-432
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• 2010

A 67 years old male patient was admitted with back pain that had recurred from 6 months previously. Eleven years previously, he underwent stent grafting at the descending thoracic aorta for a chronic Stanford type B aortic dissection. The preoperative computed tomography showed aortic dissection from the origin of the left subclavian artery to the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta, and there was a type I endoleak at the proximal portion of the stent graft and aneurysmal dilatation of the descending aorta. A hybrid endovascular repair was successfully performed, and this involved debranching and rerouting the aortic arch vessels under extracorporeal cardiopulmonary bypass and then this was followed 13 days later by stenting in the ascending aorta, the aortic arch and the descending aorta. The postoperative computed tomography showed complete exclusion of the type I endoleak. After discharge, he has been followed up for 8 months without any problems.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.4 s.261
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• pp.317-319
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• 2006

Under median sternotomy and left thoracotomy, extra-anatomic aorta bypass between ascending aorta and descending thoracic aorta without cardiopulmonary bypass support has been done effectively and easily without complications for a selected case of atypical coarctation associated with hypoplasia of aortic arch. It should be considered as an alternative operative technique for complex aortic arch reconstruction.