• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1997

Though myocardial perfusion was usually expected to improve after coronary artery bypass graft(CABG) surgery, some myocardial segments were aggravated after operation, as we compared perfusion changes on postoperative SPECT with preoperative ones. In this study, we evaluated perfusion changes after operation in rest and stress myocardial SPECT in 44 patients (M:F=25:19, age 57.1 $year{\pm}8.2$) who had CABG before and 3 months after operation. We tried to find out possible causes for perfusion aggravation with multivariate logistic regression analysis regarding whether bypass graft was artery or vein and which coronary artery territory was operated. Among 616 myocardial segments which were operated, 89(14.4%) aggravated after operation. In the univariate analysis, myocardial segments in the left circumflex arteries(LCx) aggravated more often(p<0.01) than others and segments having operative angioplasty did less often(p<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that LCx was risk factor for perfusion aggravation [odds ratio=2.54 (95% confidence interval : 1.53-4.22, p<0.01)]. However, this was not the case when we analysed in terms of arterial territories. Among 106 coronary arterial territories which were operated, 27(25.5%) aggravated. The territories having aggravated had similar characteristics regarding whether they received arterial or venous grafts, angioplasty and whether the operated territories were left anterior descending, right coronary or left circumflex arteries. In conclusion, myocardial segments in the left circumflex artery tended to aggravate more often after bypass surgery than the others. In short-term comparison of perfusion after surgery, we could not find any tendency that arterial or venous graft was associated with more frequency of the aggravation of perfusion after operation.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.218-228
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• 2000

Background : Among 'structure', 'process' and 'outcome' approaches, outcome evaluation is considered as the most direct and best approach to assess the quality of health care providers. Risk-adjustment is an essential method to compare outcome across providers. This study has aims to judge performance of hospitals by severity adjusted mortality rates of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Methods : Medical records of 584 patients who got the CABG surgery in 6 general hospitals during 1996 and 1997 were reviewed by trained nurses. The MedisGroups was used to quantify severity of patients. The predictive probability of death was calculated for each patient in the sample from a multivariate logistic regression model including the severity score, age and sex. For evaluation of hospital performance, we calculated ratio of observed number to expected number of deaths and z score [(observed number of deaths - expected number of deaths)/square root of the variance in the number of deaths], and compared observed mortality rate with confidence interval of adjusted mortality rate for each hospital. Results : The overall in-hospital mortality was 7.0%, ranged from 2.7% to 15.7% by hospital. After severity adjustment the mortality by hospital was from 2.7% to 10.7%. One hospital with poor performance was distinctly divided from others with good performance. Conclusion : In conclusion, severity-adjusted mortality rate of CABG surgery might be applied as an indicator for hospital performance evaluation in Korea. But more pilot studies and improvement of methodologies has to be done to use it as quality indicator.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.553-555
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• 2002

Transabdominal approach in redo coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) may avoid the risk related to repeat sternotomy. Redo CABG using this approach can be performed safely in selected cases. We report a case of redo off-pump CABG through a transabdominal approach in a 59-year-old woman with recurrent unstable angina after a previous CABG. Through a curvilinear epigastric incision, right gastroepiploic artery(RGEA) was harvested as a graft, and the RGEA-to-right coronary artery anastomosis was performed on the beating heart. A 1-day postoperative angiographic study showed the patent RGEA graft, and she was discharged on postoperative 4th day without any complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.313-321
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• 2023

Background: This study evaluated the early, 1-year, and 3-year graft patency rates and mid-term clinical outcomes after no-touch saphenous veins (NT-SVs) were used as aortocoronary grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: In total, 101 patients who underwent CABG using NT-SVs as aortocoronary grafts were included. The 2 most common indications for performing aortocoronary grafting with NT-SVs were unavailability of the left internal thoracic artery (n=36) and moderate lesions where flow competition was expected (n=27). Early (median, 1 day; interquartile range [IQR], 1-2 days), 1-year (median, 13 months; IQR, 11-16 months), and 3-year (median, 34 months; IQR, 27-41 months) graft angiography was performed in 98 (97.0%), 84 (83.2%), and 40 patients (39.6%), respectively. The median follow-up duration was 43 months (IQR, 13-76 months). Overall survival rates and the cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiac events were evaluated. Results: The operative mortality rate was 2% (2 of 101 patients). Early postoperative patency rates for overall and aortocoronary NT-SV grafts were 98.2% (223 of 227 distal anastomoses) and 98.2% (164 of 167), respectively. The 1- and 3-year patency rates for aortocoronary SV grafts were 94.9% (131 of 138) and 90.6% (58 of 64), respectively. The overall survival rates at 5 and 10 years were 81.7% and 59%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiac events at 5 and 10 postoperative years was 20.7% and 39%, respectively. Conclusion: The feasibility of using NT-SVs as aortocoronary grafts in CABG was shown in this study, based on the graft patency rates up to 3 years and the mid-term clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.623-629
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• 1995

Rupture of ventricular septum following myocardial infaction is one of the serious complication of coronary artery disease. The characteristic manifestations are sudden appearance of a harsh systolic murmur, precordial pain, cardiovascular collapse and permit early diagnosis. We report two cases of successful repair of postinfaction ventricular septal defect. The infarcted area was anterior wall of ventricle and VSD was placed near apex of heart in two cases all. VSD was closed with pledgetted Dacron patch and incised wall was sutured with Teflon felt and concomitant coronary artery bypass graft was done respectively .Postoperative courses were uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.351-367
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• 2012

This second report in the series on coronary artery bypass presents the authors experience and personal views on the internal thoracic artery (ITA) which date to 1966. There has been a very gradual evolution in the acceptance of this conduit which was initially compared with the saphenous vein and viewed as an improbable alternative to it. As is common with concepts and techniques which are 'outside the box' there was skepticism and criticism of this new conduit which was more difficult and time consuming to harvest for the surgeon who had to do it all. It was viewed as small, fragile, spastic and its flow capacity was questioned. Only a few surgeons employed it because of these issues and some of them would frequently graft it to the diagonal artery as it was thought not to supply adequate flow for the left anterior descending unless it was small. After a decade, angiographic data revealed superior patency to vein grafts. Even this evidence and survival benefit reported a few years later did not convince many surgeons that their concerns about limitations justified its use. Thus widespread adaption of the ITA as the conduit of choice for the anterior descending required another decade and bilateral use is only now expanding to more than 5% of patients in the US and somewhat faster in other countries.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.760-769
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• 1997

This study aimed to determine factors that influence blood flow through coronary bypass grafts and to analyze relationship between the graft flow and postoperative outcome. Blood flow through 146 bypass grafts(GBF) was measured with transit-time ultrasound flowmeter during coronary artery bypass grafting operations in 50 patients. Single and multiple regression analyses were done for relationships between the GBF and four variables: internal diameter of recipient coronary artery, myocardial value of bypassed branch(es), type of graft, and finding of preoperative myocardial perfusion scan. The relationship between GBF and postoperative scan finding was also analyzed. 1. The mean GBF was significantly higher in sequential grafts than in single vein grafts or in internal thoracic artery grafts(61.5 vs. 46.9 and 42.5 ml/min). 2. Myocardial value and recipient artery diameter were found to be the factors determining GBF. There was no correlation between GHF and presence of perfusion defect in the preoperative scan. 3. Myocardial value was found to be more important than recipient artery diameter in determinintg GBF. 4. Reversible perfusion defects were more frequently found in the areas upplied by grafts with low GBP. But this fact had only mild statistical significance. These results suggest that blood flow through a bypass graft is more determined by the size of its supplyinf: myocardium than by the size of recipient artery. So, we can expect effective improvement in myocardial flow reserve after grafting of small(1~1.5mm) coronary arteries, if they supply substantial area of myocardium.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.709-714
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• 1999

Background: When internal thoracic artery (ITA) and saphenous vein graft are anastomosed to the same coronary artery, the patency rate of the internal thoracic artery graft with relatively narrow diameter may be decreased owing to competition of pressure and flow rate. We evaluate the clinical outcome and the patency of the ITA graft in patients undergoing dual grafting to the same coronary artery. Material and Method: In 14 patients with the ITA graft having relatively low flow, the ITA and saphenous vein graft were anastomosed to the same coronary artery. During the mean follow-up period of 33.5 months, coronary angiography was performed in 6 patients who complained of recurrent angina, needed confirmation of graft flow, or showed postoperative Q wave. Result: In all 6 patients, the ITA and saphenous vein grafts were patent without stenosis or obstruction. Two patients showed good flow in both grafts, 2 showed competitive flow in the ITA graft, and the remaining 2 showed poor flow in the ITA graft. Conclusion: Early operative closure When saphenous vein grafting was added to the same coronary artery that the internal thoracic artery was anastomosed to, the perfusion to the coronary artery was satisfied and the dual grafting did not affect the short-term and mid-term patency rate of the ITA.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.403-407
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• 2020

To validate the technique of the single Heartstring aortotomy for multiple off-pump venous bypass grafts (described in 2015), the results of a 38-month follow-up study of 18 patients, including high-risk patients, are presented. No early deaths or cardiac or cerebral complications occurred. During the follow-up period, 2 patients died of non-cardiac causes, and 3 developed coronary ischemia. Ischemia occurred due to late graft occlusion in 2 patients, both of whom had normal postoperative courses and correct graft flow. The presence of acute symptoms 24 months after surgery in these patients indicated that technical graft failure was unlikely. This safe technique combines the advantages of simple and reproducible revascularization, the off-pump approach, and minimal aortic manipulation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.512-517
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• 2000

Background: Onlay vein patch coronary angioplasty has been known to be an option for coronary artery stenosis in the selective iesions Material and method: During the period between July 1997 and August 1999, coronary angioplasty using autologous saphenous vein was done on 16 sites in 14 cases for the stenotic lesion at the bifurcation area and significantly stenosis distal to anastomosis. Result: Early patency of the angioplasty site was 85.7% at postoperative day 7. There was no statistically difference in graft patency, operative parameters, and complications compared to conventional anatomosis(p>0.05). Conclusion: Despite the small number of cases, the patency rate of the coronary patch angioplasty was comparable to the conventional CABG. Coronary artery only patch angioplasty could be performed in highly selected coronary arteries.