• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.787-792
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• 2004

Even though there well developments in various treatment techniques for acute limb ischemia, this disease is both life threatening and limb threatening. We investigated early and mid-term results of operation for acute limb ischemia with symptoms, the combined diseases, location of occlusion, complication in our patients. Material and Method: A retrospective review was conducted in 54 patients (43 men, 11 women, mean age 67.2 years) presenting with acute limb ischemia due to arterial thrombosis or embolism between Jan. 1996 and Dec. 2003, initially underwent thromboembolectomy. Result: In 33 patients (61.1%) the timeinterval from the onset of symptom to admission was within 24 hours. Causes of acute limb ischemia were embolic occlusion (27.8%), native arterial thrombosis (66.7%), and bypass graft thrombosis (5.6%). The distribution of arterial occlusion location was at 8 aortoiliac (14.8%) and 43 distal to femoral (79.6%) and brachial (5.6%). Clinical categories were grade I in 64.8%, IIa in 24.1%, IIb in 7.4%, and III in 3.7%, All the patients were received embolectomy. Underlying diseases were heart disease (72.2%), hypertension (33.3%), cerebrovascular accident (16.7%) and diabetes (18.5%). History of smoking was noted in 96,3% of the cases. Mortality rate was 5.6％ and overall amputation rate was 9.3% (5/54). The 1-year limb salvage rate was 93.62%. Postoperative complications were 1 wound infection, 1 G1 bleeding, 3 acute renal failure, and 1 compartment syndromes. The functional outcomes of the salvaged limb according to the recommended scale for gauging changes in clinical status, revised version in 1997 were +3 in 68.5%, +2 in 9.3%, +1 in 7.4%, -1 in 5.6%, -2 in 3.7%, and -3 in 5.6%. Conclusion: This study revealed 5.6% mortality and the amputation rate was 9.3%. We have retrospectively shown good results from early diagnosis & early operation. To improve outcome, early diagnosis and understand the underlying diseases, prompt treatment and operation would be appreciated.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.5 s.262
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• pp.359-365
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• 2006

Background: Arterial grafts have been used to achieve better long-term results for coronary revascularization. Bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts have a better results, but it may be not used in some situations such as diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated the clinical and angiographic results of composite left internal thoracic artery-radial artery (LITA-RA) Y graft. Material and Method: Between April 2002 and September 2004, 119 patients were enrolled in composite Y graft for coronary bypass surgery. The mean age was $62.6{\pm}8.8$ years old and female was 34.5%. Preoperative cardiac risk factors were as follows: hypertension 43.7%, diabetes 33.6%, smoker 41.2%, and hyperlipidemia 22.7%, There were emergency operation (14), cardiogenic shock (6), left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40% (17), and 17 cases of left main disease. Coronary angiography was done in 35 patients before the hospital discharge. Result: The number of distal anastomoses was $3.1{\pm}0.91$ and three patients (2.52%) died during hospital stay. The off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) was applied to 79 patients (66.4%). The LITA was anastomosed to left anterior descending system except three cases which was to lateral wall. The radial Y grafts were anastomosed to diagonal branches (4), ramus intermedius (21), obtuse marginal branches (109), posterolateral branches (12), and posterior descending coronary artery (8). Postoperative coronary angiography in 35 patients showed excellent patency rates (LITA 100%, and RA 88.5%; 3 RA grafts which anastomosed to coronary arteries <70% stenosed showed string sign with competitive flow). Conclusion: The LITA-RA Y composite graft provided good early clinical and angiographic results in multivessel coronary revascularization. But it should be cautiously used in selected patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.473-479
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• 2009

Background: Retrograde autologous priming (RAP) is known to be useful in decreasing the need of transfusions in cardiac surgery because it prevents excessive hemodilution due to the crystalloid priming of cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. However, there are also negative side effects in terms of blood conservation. We analyzed the intraoperative blood-conserving effect of RAP and also investigated the efficacy of autotransfusion and ultrafiltration as a supplemental method for RAP. Material and Method: From January 2005 to December 2007, 117 patients who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass operations using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were enrolled. Mean age was 63.9$\pm$9.1 years (range 36$\sim$83 years) and 34 patients were female. There were 62 patients in the RAP group and 55 patients in he control group. Intraoperative autotransfusion was performed via the arterial line. RAP was done just before initiating CPB using retrograde drainage of the crystalloid priming solution. Both conventional (CUF) and modified (MUF) ultrafiltrations were done during and after CPB, respectively. The transfusion threshold was less than 20% in hematocrit. Result: Autotransfusions were done in 79 patients (67.5%) and the average amount was 142.5$\pm$65.4 mL (range 30$\sim$320 mL). Homologous red blood cell (RBC) transfusion was done in 47 patients (40.2%) and mean amount of transfused RBC was 404.3$\pm$222.6 mL. Risk factors for transfusions were body surface area (OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.00 $\sim$ 0.63, p=0.030) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 $\sim$ 1.08, p=0.019). RAP was not effective in terms of the rate of transfusion (34.5% vs 45.2%, p=0.24). However, the amount of transfused RBC was significantly decreased (526.3$\pm$242.3ml vs 321.4$\pm$166.3 mL, p=0.001). Autotransfusion and ultrafiltration revealed additive and cumulative effects decreasing transfusion amount (one; 600.0$\pm$231.0 mL, two; 533.3$\pm$264.6 mL, three; 346.7$\pm$176.7 mL, four; 300.0$\pm$146.1 mL, p=0.002). Conclusion: Even though RAP did not appear to be effective in terms of the number of patients receiving intraoperative RBC transfusions, it could conserve blood in terms of the amount transfused and with the additive effects of autotransfusion and ultrafiltration. If we want to maximize the blood conserving effect of RAP, more aggressive control will be necessary - such as high threshold of transfusion trigger or strict regulation of crystalloid infusion, and so forth.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2004

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system is a device for respiratory and/or heart failure treatment, and there have been many trials for development and clinical application in the world. Currently, a non-pulsatile blood pump is a standard for ECLS system. Although a pulsatile blood pump is advantageous in physiologic aspects, high pressure generated in the circuits and resultant blood cell trauma remain major concerns which make one reluctant to use a pulsatile blood pump in artificial lung circuits containing a membrane oxygenator. The study was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that placement of a pressure-relieving compliance chamber between a pulsatile pump and a membrane oxygenator might reduce the above mentioned side effects while providing physiologic pulsatile blood flow. The study was performed in a canine model of oleic acid induced acute lung injury (N=16). The animals were divided into three groups according to the type of pump used and the presence of the compliance chamber, In group 1, a non-pulsatile centrifugal pump was used as a control (n=6). In group 2 (n=4), a single-pulsatile pump was used. In group 3 (n=6), a single-pulsatile pump equipped with a compliance chamber was used. The experimental model was a partial bypass between the right atrium and the aorta at a pump flow of 1.8∼2 L/min for 2 hours. The observed parameters were focused on hemodynamic changes, intra-circuit pressure, laboratory studies for blood profile, and the effect on blood cell trauma. In hemodynamics, the pulsatile group II & III generated higher arterial pulse pressure (47$\pm$ 10 and 41 $\pm$ 9 mmHg) than the nonpulsatile group 1 (17 $\pm$ 7 mmHg, p<0.001). The intra-circuit pressure at membrane oxygenator were 222 $\pm$ 8 mmHg in group 1, 739 $\pm$ 35 mmHg in group 2, and 470 $\pm$ 17 mmHg in group 3 (p<0.001). At 2 hour bypass, arterial oxygen partial pressures were significantly higher in the pulsatile group 2 & 3 than in the non-pulsatile group 1 (77 $\pm$ 41 mmHg in group 1, 96 $\pm$ 48 mmHg in group 2, and 97 $\pm$ 25 mmHg in group 3: p<0.05). The levels of plasma free hemoglobin which was an indicator of blood cell trauma were lowest in group 1, highest in group 2, and significantly decreased in group 3 (55.7 $\pm$ 43.3, 162.8 $\pm$ 113.6, 82.5 $\pm$ 25.1 mg%, respectively; p<0.05). Other laboratory findings for blood profile were not different. The above results imply that the pulsatile blood pump is beneficial in oxygenation while deleterious in the aspects to high pressure generation in the circuits and blood cell trauma. However, when a pressure-relieving compliance chamber is applied between the pulsatile pump and a membrane oxygenator, it can significantly reduce the high circuit pressure and result in low blood cell trauma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.518-522
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• 2003

Left ventricular thrombosis is a frequent and potentially dangerous complication in acute myocardiac infarction, but its occurrence and adequate therapy has not been known in patients with Dor procedure for the ischemic cardiomyopathy. We report a patient, 45 year-old male, who had a new left ventricular thrombus developed after coronary arterial bypass graft, Dor procedure, and removal of the left ventricular thrombus for ischemic car-diomyopathy. Left ventricular thrombus was disappeared on the follow-up cardiac MRI following intravenous heparin injection and oral coumadin therapy. This case suggest that anticoagulation therapy may prevent patients with the severe left ventricular dysfunction and apical aneurysm and dyskinesia from developing the left ventricular thrombus, and that thrombi will resolve without clinical evidence of systemic embolism.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 1975

Total body perfusion using Sarns Heart-Lung-Machine, five head pump motor system with Travenol disposable bubble oxygenator was attempted in the dogs by the hemodilution method with total prime of buffered Hartman`s solution under moderate hypothermia. The first of all, the functions of Sarns Heart-Lung-Machine and effects of the hemodilution perfusion by buffered Hartman`s solution was studied. At the same time the changes of pressure of artery and vein, gas contents of the blood, and influence on the blood pictures were observed before, during, and after perfusion in 1-2 days. Hemodilution rates were the ranges of 85.0ml/kg to 97.3ml/kg and perfusion flow rates were maintained with the average 80. 5ml/kg/min [the ranges of 73.3ml/kg/min to 92.8ml/kg/min]. Hypothermia was employed between $35^{\circ}C$ and $31^{\circ} of the esophageal temperature. The total body perfusion was continued for 50-60 minutes. In the total cardiopulmonary bypass, atriotomy, ventriculotomy, and atrioventriculotomy were performed respectively. Arterial pressure was ranged approximately between 50 mmHg and 140 mmHg, but generally, it was maintained over 75 mmHg. Venous pressure was measured between 3.8 cm$H_2O$ and 16.0 cm$H_2O$. Optimum oxygenation could be achieved when oxygen flow into the oxygenator was maintained approximately at 5. 5L/min. In this way, the $pO_2$, $pCO_2$, and oxygen saturation were measured before, during, and afterperfusion in 1-2 days. The $pCO_2$ ranged approximately between 26.0 mmHg and 38.5 mmHg, but generally, it was maintained in the average 30.9-32.5mmHg. The $pO_2$ was ranged between 73.0mmHg and 332.2 mmHg, but it was maintained in the average 103.0-219.0 mmHg. Oxygen saturation was measured over 95. 0% during and after extracorporeal circulation respectively. Erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and leucocyte count were decreased to 49.2%, 49.0%, 49.4%, and 21. 1% of the preoperative value during extracorporeal circulation respectively and these reductions were not recovered until 1-2 days after perfusion. These. resulted from relatively high degree of hemodilution rate and operative bleeding during these experimental studies. The platelets count was also decreased about to 71% during perfusion, on the contrary, it was increased progressively after perfusion and in 1-21 days after perfusion, the value was returned to preoperative contro1 level. Three dogs were all recovered after extracorporeal circulation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.957-969
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• 1988

There is tendency of increasing number and decreasing age of patients who are indicated for Rastelli operation for their cyanotic congenita heart disease. So there is the need to find the creiterion which saves the patients from early postoperative hemodynamic disturbances. We reviewed the 26 patients who had been performed Rastelli operation at Seoul national University hOipital from January 1981 to June 1988. mean age of the patients was 7.8 $\pm$ 3.4 years (range 2.5-1.5 years), mean body surface area(BSA) 0.79 $\pm$ 0.25 $m^{2}$(range 0.49-1.51 $m^{2}$) and mean hematocrit 57.95 $\pm$ 12%(range 48-80%). We diveded these patients into survived group and died group before postoperative 72 hours, and analysed preoperative arterial oxygen saturation($SaO_{2}$), the ratio of diameter of fight pulmonary artery to ascending aorta(RA:/AA), the ratio of both right and left pulmonary artery diameter to descending thoracic aorta(RPA+LPA/DTA), pulmonary artery index(PA index), cardiopulmonary bypass time, aorta cross-clamping time, postoperative perfusion state and total amount of dopamine infused postoperatively. The results showed that RPA+LPA/DTA and PA index were statistically significatn factors to influence early postoperative cardiac death rate (P<0.05). Especially there were good linear correlations between PA index(X) and perpheral perfusion index(Y)(Y = -1.15 + 0.02 X, r = 0.86, P<0.01) and between PA index(X) and total amount of dopamine infused before postoperative 72 hours(mg/kg, Y)(Y = 61.94 - 0.15 X, r = - 0.80, P<0.01). Also there were tendencies that the higher RPA + LPA/DTA(Y), the betterperipheral perfusion (X) and the lower need of dopamine(X), but no statistical significance. (Y = 0.78 + 1.60 X, r = 0.49, P>0.05) And the discrimant analysis showed that patients with PA index over 221 $mm^{2}$/BSA could undergo correction with 25 per cent of error rate. In conclusion, early postoperative hemodynamic states could be predicted by preoperatively measured PA index, and which can be used as a criterion for Rastelli operation performed on cyanotic congenital heart disease.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.593-606
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• 1984

With the ligation of patent ductus arteriosus by Gross in 1938, surgeons first entered the field of congenital heart disease. Interruption of a ductus is one of the most satisfactory and curative operations in the field of surgery for congenital heart disease. 27 cases of isolated patent ductus arteriosus were operated from Jan. 1978 to July 1984 at the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery in Kyung-Hee University Hospital. Retrospective clinical analysis of these patients were: 1. Sex ratio, female: male, was 2:1. 2. Mean age at operation was 9.85\ulcorner.58 years. The youngest patient was a 23 month-old girl and the oldest one was a 24 year-old male. 3. More than half of the patients had less than 50 percentile of growth retardation. 4. Chief complaints of the patients were frequent URI [52%], dyspnea on exertion [33%], generalized weakness [22%], palpitation [7%], but 7 patients [26%] had no subjective symptoms. 5. Continuous machinery murmur could be heard at the 2nd or 3rd intercostal space on the left sternal border in 22 patients [81%]. The other S patients made systolic murmur with accentuation of the second heart sound and those were associated with pulmonary hypertension. 6. Radiologic findings of Chest P-A were cardiac enlargement in 15 patients [55%], enlargement of pulmonary conus and/or increasing density of pulmonary vascularity in 20 patients [74%]. 7. Electrocardiographic findings of the patients were within normal limit in 13 patients [48%], LVH in 4 patients [15%], biventricular hypertrophy in 3 patients [11%]. 8; echocardiogram was obtained from 11 patients. Ductus was directly visualized in 7 patients. Left atrial enlargement is the secondary change of left to right shunt, 10 patients had LA/Ao ratio more than 1.2. 9. Cardiac catheterization performed in 25 patients. The mean value of the results were:SO2[PA-RV]= 14.72\ulcorner6.01%, Qp/Qs=2.22\ulcorner.80, peak systolic pulmonary arterial pressure=48.28\ulcorner1.60 mmHg. 10. 26 patients were operated through the left posterolateral thoracotomy: closure of ductus by double ligation in 14 cases, triple ligation in 5 cases, and division with suture in 8 cases. One patient suffer from aneurysmal rupture of main pulmonary artery, endocarditis, hemopericardium was treated with cardiopulmonary bypass via median sternotomy and closure of ductus through the ruptured main pulmonary artery. 11.There was no death associated with the operation, but 3 cases were experienced with intraoperative rupture around the ductus resulting in massive bleeding. The other complications were transient hoarseness in one patient, atelectasis in left lower lobe in 3 patients, and postoperative systemic hypertension in 4 patients with unknown etiology. 12. Pulse pressure was reduced, 11.47+5.92 mmHg, postoperatively, as compare to preoperative status. 13. Intraoperative wedge lung biopsy from lingular segment for the evaluation of the pulmonary vascular disease was taken in S patients with severe pulmonary hypertension. The result was Heath-Edward grade I in one case, grade II in two cases, and grade III in two cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.145-150
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• 2016

Background: Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) can induce alterations in blood viscoelasticity and cause red blood cell (RBC) aggregation. In this study, the authors evaluated the effects of pump flow pulsatility on blood viscoelasticity and RBC aggregation. Methods: Mongrel dogs were randomly assigned to two groups: a nonpulsatile pump group (n=6) or a pulsatile pump group (n=6). After ECC was started at a pump flow rate of 80 mL/kg/min, cardiac fibrillation was induced. Blood sampling was performed before and at 1, 2, and 3 hours after ECC commencement. To eliminate bias induced by hematocrit and plasma, all blood samples were adjusted to a hematocrit of 45% using baseline plasma. Blood viscoelasticity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, arterial blood gas analysis, central venous $O_2$ saturation, and lactate were measured. Results: The blood viscosity and aggregation index decreased abruptly 1 hour after ECC and then remained low during ECC in both groups, but blood elasticity did not change during ECC. Blood viscosity, blood elasticity, plasma viscosity, and the aggregation index were not significantly different in the groups at any time. Hematocrit decreased abruptly 1 hour after ECC in both groups due to dilution by the priming solution used. Conclusion: After ECC, blood viscoelasticity and RBC aggregation were not different in the pulsatile and nonpulsatile groups in the adult dog model. Furthermore, pulsatile flow did not have a more harmful effect on blood viscoelasticity or RBC aggregation than nonpulsatile flow.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.668-673
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• 1998

During the past several years, the maze operation has become the most effective method of treatment for chronic atrial fibrillation. When the maze procedure is done concomittantly with other cardiac operations, surgeons, in their initial experiences, may be concerned about the additional operative risks and uncertainty of the results. We performed the Cox-maze III procedure in six cases of chronic atrial fibrillation associated with mitral, mitral & aortic, or coronary arterial disease. Maze III procedure was done with open mitral commissurotomy(3 cases), mitral valve replacement(1 case), aortic and mitral valve replacement(1 case), and two-vessel coronary bypass graft(1 case). In spite of rather prolonged aortic cross clamp time, cardiac recovery was uneventful in all cases. No cases required reexploration for postoperative bleeding. All patients showed regular sinus rhythms immediate or between 2 and 20 days postoperateratively. Transient postoperative supraventricular arrhythmarias were easily controlled by various antiarrhythmic agents. In follow up evaluations, all cases showed regular sinus rhythm on ECG and the right and left atrial transport function was confirmed by Doppler echocardiography in all except one. Though our experience was limited in case number, the Cox-maze III procedure was effective in controlling the chronic atrial fibrillation without serious additional operative risks.