• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.601-605
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• 2004

Addisonian crisis, also commonly referred to as adrenal crisis, occurs when the cortisol produced by the adrenal gland is insufficient to meet the body's needs. Pituitary apoplexy usually occurs as hemorrhagic and ischemic necrosis in the presence of a pre-existing pituitary adenoma, and is a rare sequela of cardiovascular surgery. Most pituitary apoplexy that happens in cardiovascular surgery has been known to be related to harmful effects of the cardiopulmonary bypass. The case presented herein illustrates occult pituitary apoplexy that occurred after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. In this patient, . the initial signs of addisonian crisis was similar to those of septic shock, and were overlooked. However, once recognized, they were reduced dramatically with standard stress-dose cortisone.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.9 s.266
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• pp.710-713
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• 2006

The incidence of reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has increased because of the rise in the number of patients who have undergone initial CABG. In addition, recent technological advances have resulted in widespread application of off pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB). We report a case of redo OPCAB through thoracotomy and small laparotomy in 76-year-old man with recurrent unstable angina.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.487-493
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• 2000

Background: Early patency of the coronary artery bypass grafting is determined mainly by surgical technique and status of coronary artery. We analyzed the early result, focusing on the relationship between postoperative angiographic findings and the patency rate. Material and method: During the period of July 1997- August 1999, 86 cases of CABG were performed and the postoperative coronary artery angiography was done in 76 cases on postoperative day 7 to assess the graft patency. Result: Overall graft patency was 90.2% on the angiographic finding. Factors influencing the early graft occlusion were the surgeon's experience, small coronary artery size less than 1.5mm in diameter, coronary arteries related to pre-operative myocardial infarction, and local atheroma at the anastomosis site(p<0.001). Operative mortailty was 2.3%. Early recurrence of the symptom was 19.8% during the follow up period. Conclusion: We examined the postoperative coronary angiography and found that the surgeon's experience, small coronary artery size less than 1.5mm in diameter, bypass surgery on the coronary arteries related to pre-operative myocardial infarction, and local atheroma at the anastomosis site were the factors for the graft occlusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.148-153
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• 1993

To compare two methods of mammary pedicle graft preparations with free internal mammary artery flow, we studied 31 patients who had the left internal mammary artery harvested for coronary artery bypass grafting. The free flow was measured at the transected opening of 2 to 3 cm distal to the point of bifurcation on mean arterial pressure of 50 to 55 mmHg during cardiopulmonary bypass. Group I comprised 14 patients, whose grafts were sprayed and wrapped in sponges soaked in diluted papaverine solution (60 mg in 40 ml Hartmann's solution). An average 80 minutes after the preparations, free flow of the internal mammary artery ranged from 20 to 80 ml/min (mean 37.7 ml/min). Group II comprised 17 patients, who had internal mammary artery takedown under the exact conditions used in group I. The grafts were sprayed and wrapped in sponges soaked in the diluted papaverine solution as in group I. After an average of 28 minutes, free flow ranged from 8 to 28 ml/min (mean 17.6 ml/min). Intraluminal papaverine of the same dilution was then injected without any hydrostatic dilatation and flows increased upto 37 to 150 ml/min (mean 74.7 ml/min). This study shows that intraluminal papaverine preparation method markedly increases free mammary artery flow which is inadequate with external papaverine preparation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.257-259
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• 2012

Descending thoracic aorta to femoral artery bypass has been used as a remedial operation after aortic or axillofemoral graft failure or graft infection and other intra-abdominal pathologies not amenable to standard aortofemoral revascularization. It can avoid abdomen approach and has been known as a durable procedure with excellent long-term patency. We reported descending thoracic aorta to femoral artery bypass grafting for primary revascularization in a 55-year-old male with hostile abdominal conditions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.89-98
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• 2011

Background: Although considerable efforts have been made to improve the graft patency in coronary artery bypass surgery, the role of biomechanical factors remains underrecognized. The aim of this study is to investigate the influences of geometric configurations of the bypass graft on hemodynamic characteristics in relation to anastomosis. Materials and Methods: The Numerical analysis focuses on understanding the flow patterns for different values of inlet and distal diameters and graft angles. The Blood flow field is treated as a two-dimensional incompressible laminar flow. A finite volume method is adopted for discretization of the governing equations. The Carreau model is employed as a constitutive equation for blood. In an attempt to obtain the optimal aorto-coronary bypass conditions, the blood flow characteristics are analyzed using in vitro models of the end-to-side anastomotic angles of $45^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$. To find the optimal graft configurations, the mass flow rates at the outlets of the four models are compared quantitatively. Results: This study finds that Model 3, whose bypass diameter is the same as the inlet diameter of the stenosed coronary artery, delivers the largest amount of blood and the least pressure drop along the arteries. Conclusion: Biomechanical factors are speculated to contribute to the graft patency in coronary artery bypass grafting.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.104-106
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• 2009

Extra-anatomic graft bypass is frequently performed instead of standard infrarenal aorto-iliac reconstruction in patients with Leriche syndrome in whom the thrombus extends to the level of the renal arteries. However, many different surgical options are still being attempted due to the unsatisfying long-term graft patency. We performed a descending thoracic aorto-bifemoral bypass graft with 14 and 14-7-7 mm artificial vessels through a posterolateral thoracotomy, a median laparotomy, and a longitudinal inguinal incision in a 48-year-old male who suffered from claudication with Leriche syndrome. After surgery, the patient recovered well and was discharged. The patient walked well without any symptoms during the 6 month follow-up period in the outpatient department. We have concluded that descending thoracic aorto-bifemoral bypass grafting could be considered as an alternative method for patients with Leriche syndrome in whom standard infrarenal aorto-iliac reconstruction is unsuitable.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.638-642
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• 2000

Background: In an effort t enhance long term patency of coronary bypass grafts, utilization of arterial conduits have been on an icrease. With the same objective, we have been using the right gastroepiploic artery(RGEA)in coronary artery bypass procedures since 1998. The current paper has been undertaken with the aim of assessing the apropriateness, problems, and short term results of using the RGEA as an arterial graft conduit by studying the postoperative clinical results of 100 patients than received coronary artery bypass grafting (CARG) with this artery. Material and Method: Between May of 1998 and May of 1999, an analysis of the mortality, postoperative myocardial infarction, and the need for IABP insertion as a result of low cardiac output were made between 100 consecutive patients undergoing CABG with the RGEA. Result: There was one postoperative death due to cerebral infarction. Postoperative complications/morbidity comprised myocardial infarction in 2, cerebral infarct in 3, reoperation due to bleeding in 1, mediastinitis in 1, and low cardiac output syndrome necessitating IABP in 3 patients. Complicatons related to harvesting of the arterial grafts were not experienced in any of the patients. Conclusion: The results of the current data show that utilization of the RGEA in CABG is not associated with increased mortality/morbidity and demonstrates satisfactory short term results suggesting the usefulnessof this conduit as an arterial graft.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.749-754
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• 2004

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (Off-Pump CABG) has been proven to have less morbidity and to facilitate early recovery. High-risk surgical patients may have benefitted by avoiding the adverse effects of the cardiopulmonary bypass. We compared the effectiveness of Off-Pump CABG with that of coronary artery bypass using cardiopulmonary bypass (On-Pump CABG) in high-risk patients. Material and Method: 682 patients (424 Off-Pump CABG and 258 On-Pump CABG) underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between January 2001 and June 2003. Patients who were considered high risk were selected High risk is defined as the presence of one or more of nine adverse prognostic factors. Data were collected from 492 patients in Off-Pump CABG and 100 in On-Pump CABG for risk factors, extent of coronary disease, and in-hospital outcomes. Result： Off-Pump CABG group and On-Pump CABG group did not show differences in their preoperative risk factors. We used more arterial grafts in Off-Pump CABG group (p < 0.05). Postoperative results showed that operative mortality (0.5% in Off-Pump CABG versus 2.0% in On-Pump CABG), renal failure (2.6% in Off-Pump CABG versus 7.0% in On-Pump CABG), and perioperative myocardial infarction (1.5% in Off-Pump CABG versus 1.0% in On-Pump CABG) did not differ significantly. However, Off-Pump CABG had shorter mean operation time (p<0.05), lower mean CK-MB level (p <0.05), lower rate of usage of inotropics (p < 0.05), shorter mean ventilation time (p <0.05), lower perioperative stroke (0% versus 2.0%), and shorter length of stay (p < 0.05) than On-Pump CABG. On-Pump CABG had more distal grafts (p<0.05) than Off-Pump CABG. Although Off-Pump CABG and On-Pump CABG did not show statistical differences in mortality and morbidity was more frequent in CABG. Conclusion: Off-Pump CABG reduces morbidity and favors hospital outcomes. Therefore, Off-Pump CABG is safe, reasonable and may be a preferable operative strategy for high-risk patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2020

Background: We aimed to investigate the associations of critical care provided in a cardiac surgical intensive care unit (CSICU) staffed by an attending intensivist with improvements in intensive care unit (ICU) quality and reductions in postoperative complications. Methods: Patients who underwent elective isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between January 2007 and December 2012 (the control group) were propensity-matched (1:1) to CABG patients between January 2013 and June 2018 (the intensivist group). Results: Using propensity score matching, 302 patients were extracted from each group. The proportion of patients with at least 1 postoperative complication was significantly lower in the intensivist group than in the control group (17.2% vs. 28.5%, p=0.001). In the intensivist group, the duration of mechanical ventilation (6.4±13.7 hours vs. 13.7±49.3 hours, p=0.013) and length of ICU stay (28.7±33.9 hours vs. 41.7±90.4 hours, p=0.018) were significantly shorter than in the control group. The proportions of patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (2.3% vs. 7.6%, p=0.006), delirium (1.3% vs. 6.3%, p=0.003) and acute kidney injury (1.3% vs. 5.3%, p=0.012) were significantly lower in the intensivist group than in the control group. Conclusion: A transition from an open ICU model with trainee coverage to a closed ICU model with attending intensivist coverage can be expected to yield improvements in CSICU quality and reductions in postoperative complications.