• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.335-342
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• 2003

Background: The aortic arch replacement in an acute aortic dissection is technically demanding procedure that has a lot of postoperative morbidity and high mortality The authors have applied several techniques of aortic arch replacement to overcome the risks of the procedure. Therefore we analysed the results of these techniques. Material and Method: From March of 1996 to July of 2002, we performed 31 cases of the aortic arch replacement in the Stanford type A acute aortic dissection. There were 12 male and 19 female patient's with 59.6$\pm$9.4 years of mean age. Among them 18 cases were treated with the hemiarch replacement and 13 cases with the total arch replacement. We approached the aortic arch through median sternotomy in all but 3 cases of Clamshell incision and applied the deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion. The associated procedures were 2 Bentall's procedures, an axillobifemoral bypass, a femorofemoral bypass and a carotid artery bypass. Result: The postoperative morbidities were 8 acute renal failures, 3 CNS complications, 2 low cardiac output syndromes, 2 malpefusion syndromes, and 2 deep wound infections. There were 4 cases of early hospital mortality which were from an acute renal failure a postoperative bleeding, a low cardiac output syndrome, and a reperfusion syndrome. There were 3 cases of late hospital mortality which were from an acute renal failure, and 2 multiorgan failures. So the total mortality rate was 22.5%. There were 4 cases of late mortality after the discharge, which were form 2 cases of distal anastomotic rupture and 2 cases of intracranial hemorrhage. Conclusion: The hemiarch replacement has relatively shorter operative time and lower hospital mortality but higher late mortality than the total arch replacement. The total arch replacement needs more technically demanding procedure.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.345-351
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• 2010

Objective : In this study, the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program was applied to patients presenting with depression and anxiety after surgery from spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and the effects were assessed. Methods : The subjects were patients admitted for cerebral aneurysm rupture and treated by means of surgery from March to December, 2007. More than 6 months had passed after surgery, without any special lesions showing up on computed tomography (CT), and the Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) was 5 points. Among patients with anxiety and depression symptoms, 11 patients completed the program. The MBSR program was conducted once a week, 2.5 hours each, for 8 weeks. The evaluation criteria were : 1) the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI): it measures the type and level of depression, 2) the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory : the anxiety state of normal adults without mental disorder, and 3) Heart Rate Variability (HRV) : the influence of the autonomous nervous system on the sinoarterial node varies continuously in response to the change of the internal/external environment. Results : The BDI value was decreased from 18.5 ${\pm}$ 10.9 to 9.5 ${\pm}$ 7.1 (p = 0.013) : it was statistically significant, and the depression level of patients was lowered. The state anxiety was decreased from 51.3 ${\pm}$ 13.9 to 42.3 ${\pm}$ 15.2; the trait anxiety was reduced from 50.9 ${\pm}$ 12.3 to 41.3 ${\pm}$ 12.8, and a borderline significant difference was shown (p = 0.091, p = 0.056). In other words, after the treatment, although it was not statistically significant, a decreased tendency in anxiety was shown. In the HRV measurement, standard deviation normal to normal (SDNN), square root of the square root of the mean sum of squared differences between adjacent normal to normal intervals (RMSSD), and total power (TP) showed significant increase, Physical Stress Index (PSI) showed a significant reduction, and thus an improvement in the homeostatic control mechanism of the autonomic nervous system was ween. Conclusion : The MBSR program was applied to the patients showing anxiety and depression reaction after SAH treatment, and a reduction in depression symptoms and physiological reactions were observed. The application of the MBSR program may be considered as a new tool in improving the quality of life for patients after surgery.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.1-13
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• 2011

Objectives : We investigated the effect of Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) on short-term memory and apoptosis in dentate gyrus of the gerbils with transient global ischemia. Methods : For the induction of cerebral ischemia model in mice, common carotid arteries of gerbils were occluded with aneurysm clips for 5 min. One day after operation, Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) was administrated orally injected once a day for 15 consecutive days. Gerbils were randomly divided into four group(n=10 in each group): sham-operation group, ischemia-induction group, ischemia-induction and 50 mg/kg Haein-tang(Hairen-tang)-treated group, ischemia-induction and 100 mg/kg Haein-tang(Hairen-tang)-treated group, and ischemia-induction and 200 mg/kg Haein-tang(Hairen-tang)-treated group. The effect of Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) on memory function was investigated by using step-down avoidance task. Apoptosis was confirmed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNEL) staining and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3. Western blot analysis for the expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 protein was also conducted. Results : 1. Haein-tang extract significantly enhanced short-term memory in step-down avoidance task and 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang-treated group. 2. Haein-tang extract significantly suppressed TUNEL-positive cells after transient global ischemia and 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang-treated group. 3. Haein-tang extract significantly increased caspase-3 positive cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus after transient global ischemia and 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang-treated group. 4. Haein-tang extract significantly decreased Bax protein expressions in the hippocampus after transient global ischemia and 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, Haein-tang-treated group. Haein-tang extract significantly increased Bcl-2 protein expressions in the hippocampal dentate gyrus after transient global ischemia and 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, Haein-tang-treated group. Haein-tang extract significantly decreased Ratio of Bax protein to Bcl-2 protein in the hippocampus after transient global ischemia and 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg Haein-tang-treated group. Conclusions : While Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) treatment improved short-term memory by suppressing on ischemia-induction apoptosis. In the present study, Haein-tang(Hairen-tang) shows protective effect on transient global ischemia.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.424-432
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• 2017

Objective : Small unruptured aneurysms (<5 mm) are known for their very low risk of rupture, and are recommended to be treated conservatively. However, we encounter many patients with small ruptured aneurysms in the clinical practice. We aimed to investigate the incidence and characteristics of patients with small ruptured aneurysms. Methods : We reviewed all patients admitted to our hospital with subarachnoid hemorrhage from January 2005 to December 2015. The patients were divided into two groups : those with aneurysms <5 mm (group S) and those with aneurysms ${\geq}5mm$ (group L). The patient's age and sex, size and location of aneurysms, and risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, alcohol use, and smoking were compared between the two groups. Results : Eight-hundred eleven patients were diagnosed with ruptured aneurysms, and 337 (41.6%) were included in group S. The mean size of all aneurysms was $6.10{\pm}2.99mm$ (range, 0.7-37.7); aneurysms with a diameter of 4-5 mm accounted for the largest subgroup of all aneurysms. Female sex was significantly associated with the incidence of small ruptured aneurysms (odds ratio [OR] 1.50, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.02-2.19, p=0.037). Despite female predominance in the incidence of small ruptured aneurysms, the proportion of small ruptured aneurysms in young (<50 years) men was high. In men, there were no significant differences regarding the location of the aneurysms between group S and group L (p=0.267), with the most frequent location being the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) in both group S (50.9%) and group L (51.4%). However, in women, there were significant differences regarding the location of the aneurysms between group S and group L (p=0.023), with the most frequent locations being the ACoA (33.0%) in group S, and the posterior communicating artery (30.6%) in group L. In women, two locations were significantly associated with small (<5 mm) ruptured aneurysms: the ACoA (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.01-4.54, p=0.047) and anterior cerebral artery (OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.19-10.54, p=0.023). Multiplicity and smoking were significantly associated with large (${\geq}5mm$) ruptured aneurysms in women. The use of alcohol was related to small ruptured aneurysms in men over 50 years of age (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.03-4.84, p=0.042). Conclusion : In this study, small (<5 mm) ruptured aneurysms exhibited different incidences by age, sex, location, and risk factors such as multiplicity, smoking, and alcohol use.

• 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.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.343-347
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• 2003

Background: The femoral artery is the most common site of canuulation for cardiopulmonary bypass in surgery for type A aortic dissection. Recently, many surgeons prefer the axillary artery to the femoral artery as the arterial cannulation site for several benefits. We evaluated the safety and usefulness of axillary artery cannulation in surgery for acute type A aortic dissection. Material and Method: Between Oct. 1995 and Sep. 2001, 71 patients underwent operations for acute type A aortic dissection. The arterial cannula was inserted into the axillary artery in 31 patients (AXILLARY group, mean age=56), and into the femoral artery in 40 patients (FEMORAL group, mean age=57). We retrospectively compared the incidence of mortality, morbidities, and hospital course. Result: The mean duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest were significantly shorier in the AXILLARY group (207 min and 39min, respectively) than in the FEMORAL group (263min and 49 min, respectively; P<0.05). Postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the AXILLARY group than in the FEMORAL group (mean 15 days vs. 35 days, p<0.05). Although there was no difference in the incidence of new-onset permanent neurological dysfunction (3.2%, in the AXILLARY group, 2.5% in the FEMORAL group), the incidence of transient neurological dysfunction was significantly lower in the AXILLARY group (12.9% vs. 25%, p<0.05). In the FEMORAL group, two patients needed urgent conversion to cannulation site due to arch vessel malperfusion. In the AXILLARY group, there was only one patient who had a complication related to the cannulation, i.e., median nerve injury. Conclusion: Axillary artery cannulation was safe and helpful in decreasing the cerebral ischemic time and incidence of transient neuroligcal dysfunction in surgery for acute type A aortic dissection, It enabled us to approach the patients with aortic arch pathology more aggressively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2004

Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.