• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.10 s.255
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• pp.721-724
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• 2005

Aortocaval fistula is a rare complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm, involving less than $1\%$ of all abdominal aortic aneurysms. A 64-years old man with a long history of hypertension and abdominal aortic aneurysm had chest pain, dyspnea, epigastric discomfort and palpable abdominal pulsating mass. Physical examination revealed hypo­tension with a systolic blood pressure of 70 mmHg, a large pulsatile mass and a systolic abdominal bruit. Laboratory data revealed a hemoglobin values of 11.0 g/dL, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) value of 5 mg/dL, and creatine value of $2.5 mg\%$. Abdominal Angio CT showed a 10cm infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm with dilatation of the IVC and aortocaval fistula from the aortic aneurysm, which was confirmed at emergency surgery. When the aneurysm was opened and the thrombus was removed, a 1 cm communication was identified between the aorta and IVC. This was controlled with Foley catheters ballooning, and the fistula was closed by continuous suture placed outside the aneurysm. A bifurcated aorto-iliac graft was used to restore arterial continuity. The patient was discharged home after uncomplicated postoperative course.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.406-412
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• 2011

Background: Development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections (TAAD) is attributed to unbearable wall tension superimposed on defective aortic wall integrity and impaired aortic repair mechanisms. Central to this repair mechanisms are well-balanced and adequately functional cellular components of the aortic wall, including endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells (SMCs), inflammatory cells, and adventitial fibroblasts. Adventitial fibroblasts naturally produce aortic extracellular matrix (ECM), and, when aortic wall is injured, they can be transformed into SMCs, which in turn are involved in aortic remodeling. We postulated the hypothesis that adventitial fibroblasts in patients with TAAD may have defects in ECM production and SMC transformation. Materials and Methods: Adventitial fibroblasts were procured from the adventitial layer of fresh aortic tissues of patients with TAAD (Group I) and of multi-organ donors (Group II), and 4-passage cell culture was performed prior to the experiment. To assess ECM production, cells were treated with TNF-${\alpha}$ (50 pM) and the expression of MMP-2/MMP-3 was analyzed using western blot technique. To assess SMC transformation capacity, cells were treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ and expression of SM ${\alpha}$-actin, SM-MHC, Ki-67 and SM calponin was evaluated using western blot technique. Fibroblasts were then treated with TGF-${\beta}1$ (10 pM) for up to 10 days with TGF-${\beta}1$ supplementation every 2 days, and the proportion of transformed SMC in the cell line was measured using immunofluorescence assay for fibroblast surface antigen every 2 days. Results: MMP-3 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group II. TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated adventitial fibroblasts in group I expressed less SM ${\alpha}$-actin, SM-MHC, and Ki-67 than in group II. SM-calponin expression was not different between the two groups. Presence of fibroblast was observed on immunofluorescence assay after more than 6 days of TGF-${\beta}1$ treatment in group I, while most fibroblasts were transformed to SMC within 4 days in group II. Conclusion: ECM production and SMC transformation are compromised in adventitial fibroblasts from patients with TAAD. This result suggests that functional restoration of adventitial fibroblasts could well be a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of TAAD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.10 s.267
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• pp.786-790
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• 2006

An anastomotic pseudoaneurysm after the aortic replacement surgery is a rare complication which could be lethal when it ruptures. So it should be corrected whenever it is found after the aortic surgery. The authors performed three surgical corrections in 2 cases. The first case is type 8 chronic aortic dissection with abdominal aortic aneurysm. After an abdominal aortic replacement, the patient developed an anastomotic pseudoaneurysm. We treated him with a thoracoabdominal aortic replacement. The second case is ruputred throacoabdominal aortic aneurysm. After a thoracoabdominal aortic replacement, the patient developed an anastomotic pseudoaneurysm in the proximal anastomosis. We treated her with aortic arch replacement. But She developed another pseudoaneurysm in the aortic root anastomotic site. So we performed secondary operation to reinforce the anastomosis. They all recovered from the operations without any complication and are being followed up.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.171-175
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• 2006

Three dogs with suspected patent ductus arteriosus were referred to Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University because of cough, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance, and syncope, Continuous murmur and thrill were detected in physical examination. Left ventricular enlargement, cardiomegaly, bulged main pulmonary artey were found in radiography. Tall R wave, wide P wave, atrial fibrillation, and turbulent flow were observed in electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. Thoracotomy was performed at left fourth intercostal space under isoflurane anesthesia. Patent ductus arteriosus was double ligated with 1-0 silk. The median (mean ${\pm}$ SD) diameter of patents was $8.0{\pm}2.0mm$. The median operation time was $36{\pm}6.6min$. On examination right after surgery, continuous murmur, thrill, atrial fibrillation, and turbulent flow were disappeared. On 30 days after surgery, clinical signs, left ventricular enlargement, and, bulged main pulmonary artery were disappeared. VHS 12.5 and 13.5, R wave 3.3 and 3.0 mV, and P wave 0.05 and 0.05 sec were decreased to 10.0 and 10.5, 1.8 and 2.0 mV, and 0.04 and 0.04 sec respectively in case 1 and 2. Ratio of aorta and main pulmonary artery in diameter was changed 1 : 1.3 and 1 : 1.6 into 1 : 1.1 and 1 : 1 respectively in case 1 and 2. Mild tear developed during dissection in case 3 and hemorrhage was controlled by vascular Devakey forceps. However, the dog died. On 12 months after surgery, patients (case 1 and case 2) have not showed abnormal signs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1342-1346
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• 1996

A right thoracotomy was used for the reoperation or mitral valve of 15 patients who had previously undergone a cardiac operation through a median sternotomy. In our experience. this approach provided dn excellent exposure of the nlitral valve and easy cannulations of both cavie with minimal dissection, ilvoiding any damage of cardiac and major vessels during re-sternotomy Arterial cannulation was performed in the ascending aorta in 13 patients And in the femoral artery in 2 patients. In earlier cases, venous cannulation was done in the SVC And IVC through the right atrium and snared. In later cases, this could be done without snaginly of both cavae or by placing a silgle light-angled catheter into the right atrium. Crystalloid cardioplegic solution was infused for myocardial protection. Hypothermia was controlled at 20\ulcorner$25^{\circ}C$. For defibrillation, internal paddles were used In one patient while sterilized external paddles were used in 10 patients. In the remaining four patients. however. the heart beat spontaneously The respirator could be weaned within 48 hours alter the operation and no pulmonary complication was observed. One out of the 15 patients expired due to sudden attack of ventricular tarchycardid developed ten days after the operation, but the rest of the patients were discharged with good condition.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2022

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (INM) ensures the stability and safety of specific surgeries in high-risk groups. As part of INM, intensive tests are conducted during the surgical process. When INM tests are applied during surgery, a delay in notifying the operating surgeon in cases of neurological defects can cause serious irreversible sequelae to the patient. Aortic replacement, which is necessitated due to aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection, is a complicated procedure that blocks the blood flow to the heart. When arteries that branch out from the aorta and supply blood to the spinal cord are replaced, blood flow to the spinal cord decreases, resulting in spinal ischemia. In aortic surgery, INM plays an important role in preventing spinal ischemia and serious complications by quickly detecting the early signs of spinal ischemia during cross-clamping and reporting it to the surgeon. Therefore, this paper was prepared to help examiners who conduct INM by detailing the process, method, time, and warning criteria for INM. This paper identifies the need for INM in aortic surgery and the process flow for a smooth test, accurate and rapid examination, and subsequent reporting.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.239-246
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• 2008

Background: Aortic surgery for high risk patients has high mortality and morbidity rates, and the necessity of performing aortic surgery in cancer patients is questionable because of their short life expectancy. Endovascular repair of aneurysm repair can be considered for high risk patients and cancer patients because it has relatively lower invasiveness and shorter recovery times than aortic surgery does. Especially, percutaneous endovascular stent graft treatment is more useful for high risk patients because it does not require general anesthesia. Material and Method: From July 2003 to September 2007, twelve patients who had inoperable malignancy or who had a high risk of complication because of their combined diseases during aortic surgery underwent endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. he indications for endovascular repair were abdominal aortic aneurysm in 5 patients, descending thoracic aortic aneurysm in 6 patients and acute type B aortic dissection in one patient. The underlying combined disease of these patients were malignancy in 3 patients, respiratory disease in 6 patients, old age with neurologic disease in 6 patients, Behcet's iseae in one patient and chronic renal failure in one patient. Result: Stent grafts were inserted percutaneously in all cases. There were 4 hospital deaths and there were 3 delayed deaths during the follow-up periods. There were no deaths from aortic disease, except one hospital death. There were several complications: a mild cerebrovascular accident occurred in one patient, acute renal failure occurred in 2 patients and ischemic bowel necrosis occurred in one patient. Mild type I endoleak was observed in 2 patients and type II endoleak was observed in a patient after stent graft implantation. Newly developed type I endoleak was observed in a patient during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Percutaneous endovascular stent graft insertion is relatively safe procedure for high risk patients and cancer patients. Yet it seems that its indications and its long term results need to be further researched.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.441-446
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• 2009

Background: Side clamping of ascending aorta during proximal graft anastomosis in coronary bypassing surgery in-creases the risk of direct aortic injury as well as embolization of intimal atheroma. Heartstring proximal sealing system (Guidant Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif), developed to avoid aortic side clamping, may minimize risks of such complications. The aim of the current study is to compare the surgical outcomes of the two proximal anastomosis techniquesi.e., Heartstring system versus aortic side clamping in off pump coronary bypassing' surgery (OPCAB). Material and Method: From January 2003 to August 2008, 499 patients underwent OPCAB. Of them, proximal graft anastomosis was performed using Heartstring system in 182 patients (Group I) and conventional manual anastomosis in 317 patients (Group II). The two groups were compared for postoperative major complications and mortality. Result: Two groups showed similar characteristics in terms of preoperative demographic data, left ventricular ejection fraction, renal function and history of diabetes, hypertension and smoking. Although there was no inter-group difference in the history of cerebral ischemia (p=0.48), preoperative brain magnetic resonance angiography revealed greater incidence of severe carotid artery stenosis (>75% of lumen) in the Group I than in the. Group II (44.5% in the Group I and 30.0% in the Group II, p=0.003). There were no inter-group differences in postoperative mortality (p=0.40) and complications (p=0.47) including neurologic events (3 in the Group land 2 in the Group II, p=0.258). Whereas neurologic events all comprised transient ischemic attacks in the Group I, they comprised multiple embolic strokes in the Group II. One patient in the Group II experienced aortic dissection during proximal anastomosis which resulted in ascending aortic replacement. Conclusion: Although proximal anastomosis using Heartstring system did not show statistically significant benefit over aortic side clamping, the. absence of embolic stroke maybe a definite benefit which may be better defined through further studies over a larger cohort.