• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.387-391
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• 2016

The dehiscence of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) is a rare, often fatal, complication of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We present the case of a 57-year-old man who underwent hemiarch graft interposition and CABG for a Stanford type A aortic dissection. Five months after discharge, the patient developed streptococcal sepsis caused by a hemodialysis catheter. Complete rupture of the proximal anastomoses of the saphenous veins and containment by the obliterated pericardial cavity was observed 25 months after the initial operation. The patient was successfully treated surgically. This report describes a patient who developed potentially fatal dehiscence of SVGs secondary to infection and outlines preventive and management strategies for this complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.797-799
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• 2010

The pneumomediastinum after a dental treatment occurs rarely and shows almost good prognosis, however it is potentially life-threatening complication. Here we report a case of pneumomediastinum, occurred by air bubbles originated from dental high speed equipment, via head and neck fascial space with literatures review.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.249-252
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• 2001

Total spinal anesthesia is a serious life threatening complication of spinal and epidural anesthesia. We report an accidental total spinal anesthesia developed during a thoracic epidural block in a practitioner's pain clinic. A 69-year-old female with post-herpetic neuralgia was treated by a thoracic epidural block. A thoracic tapping for the epidural block was performed in the right lateral position at a level between $T_{5-6}$, using a 23 gauge Tuohy needle. After the epidural space was identified, a mixed solution of 10 ml of 0.3% lidocaine and 20 mg of triamcinolone was injected into the epidural space. After removal of the syringe, fluid was dripping through the needle. The patient subsequently complained of dyspnea and dizziness, and she became unconscious. She was intubated immediately and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed because there was no pulse palpable. The patient recovered an hour after transfer to a general hospital and was discharged without any further complication 19 days later.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.968-971
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• 2001

Pedicled omentoplasty is effective in thoracic surgery, but it is associated with several postoperative complications. A case of diaphragmatic hernia as a complication of pedicled omentoplasty in a 65-year-old male is reported. Because aortoesophageal fistula occurred three months after the patch aortoplasty for mycotic aneurysm of descending thoracic aorta, he underwent ascending thoracic aorta to abdominal aorta bypass surgery with resection of thoracic aortic aneurysm and esophagorrhaphy with wrapping of the esophageal suture line and the stumps of aorta with pedicled omental flap. Three years after the operation, herniation of the stomach developed. The pedicled omental flap was ligated and divided, and the diaphragm defect was repaired.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.346-352
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• 2013

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been an alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) in old and high risk patients. The goal of this study is to compare the early outcomes of conventional AVR vs. TAVI in high risk severe AS patients. Methods: From January 2008 to July 2012, 44 high risk severe aortic stenosis patients underwent conventional AVR, and 15 patients underwent TAVI. We compared echocardiographic data, periprocedural complication, and survival. The mean follow-up duration was $14.5{\pm}10$ months (AVR), and $6.8{\pm}3.5$ months (TAVI), respectively. Results: AVR group was younger ($78.2{\pm}2.4$ years vs. $82.2{\pm}3.0$ years, p<0.001) and had lower operative risk (Euroscore: $9.4{\pm}2.7$ vs. $11.0{\pm}2.0$, p=0.044) than TAVI group. There was no significant difference in early mortality (11.4% vs. 13.3%, p=0.839), and 1 year survival ($87.4%{\pm}5.3%$ vs. $83.1%{\pm}1.1%$, p=0.805). There was no significant difference in postoperative functional class. There was no significant difference in periprocedural complication except vascular complication (0% [AVR] vs. 13.3% [TAVI], p=0.014). TAVI group had more moderate and severe paravalvular leakage. Conclusion: In this study, both groups had similar periprocedural morbidity, and mortality. However, TAVI group had more greater than moderate paravalvular leakage, which can influence long-term outcome. Since more patients are treated with TAVI even in moderate risk, careful selection of the patients and appropriate guideline need to be established.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1144-1148
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• 1991

Ventricular false aneurysm is a rare complication of myocardial infarction We successfully operated on a case of left ventricular false aneurysm complicating a silent, undiagnosed myocardial infarction The patients, 64 year-old female, showed marked improvement in her congestive symptom after the operation and was discharged without any complication With its peculiar feature, i.e., propensity to rupture, in addition to the functionally harmful aspects shared with the true aneurysms, a false aneurysm must always be considered to be a surgical indication. Good results can be achieved by proper diagnosis and management with low operative risk.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.186-188
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• 2019

We report an unusual case of delayed bleeding after open surgical repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. A 79-year-old man developed a massive retroperitoneal hematoma 49 days after Crawford type III thoracoabdominal aorta replacement. During emergency surgery, a tear was found in the prosthetic vascular graft caused by a sharp bony spur arising from the second lumbar vertebral body. This rare, but potentially lethal, complication indicates that attention should be paid to sharp bony structures during open repair of the descending aorta.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.430-438
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• 2008

Background: All the patients with mechanical valves require warfarin therapy in order to prevent them from developing thromboembolic complications. According to the ACC/AHA practice guidelines, after AVR with bileaflet mechanical prostheses in patients with no risk factors, warfarin is indicated to achieve an INR of 2.0 to 3.0. After MVR with any mechanical valve, warfarin is indicated to achieve an INR of 2.5 to 3.5. But in our clinical experience, bleeding complications (epistaxis, hematuria, uterine bleeding, intracerebral hemorrhage etc.) frequently developed in patients who maintained their INR within this value. So, we retrospectively reviewed the patients with bileaflet mechanical heart valve prosthesis and we determined the optimal anticoagulation value. Material and Method: From January 1984 to February 2007, 311 patients have been followed up at a national medical center. We classified the AVR patients (n=60) into three groups as follows: an INR from 1.5 to 2.0 in Group I, an INR from 2.0 to 2.5 in Group II and an INR from 2.5 to 3.0 in Group III. We classified the MVR (n=171) and DVR (n=80) patients into four groups as follows: an INR from 1.5 to 2.0 in Group I, an INR from 2.0 to 2.5 in Group II, an INR from 2.5 to 3.0 in Group III and an INR from 3.0 to 3.5 in Group III. We compared the groups for their thromboembolic and bleeding complications by means of the Kaplan Meier method. Result: In the AVR patients, 2 thromboembolic complications and 4 bleeding complications occurred and the log rank test failed to identify any statistical significance between the groups for thethromboembolic complication rate, but groups I and II had lower bleeding complication rates than did group III. Thirteen thromboembolic complication and 15 bleeding complication occurred in the MVR and DVR patients, and the log rank test also failed to identify statistical significance between the groups for the thromboembolic complication rate, but groups I and II had lower bleeding complication rates that did groups III and IV. Conclusion: The thromboembolic complication rate was not statistically different between groups I and II and groups III and IV, but the bleeding complication rates of groups I and II were lower than those of groups III and IV. So this outcome encouraged us to continue using our low intensive anticoagulation regime, that is, an INR of 1.5 to 2.5.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.74-77
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• 2015

Chylothorax is a rare postoperative complication of a thoracic surgical procedure. Here, we report a case of chylothorax after thoracic endovascular aortic repair with debranching for the distal arch aneurysm of the aorta. First, the patient was treated by a medical method (nil per os, fat-free diet, and octreotide), but this method failed. The patient strongly refused surgical treatment. Therefore, we tried to occlude the thoracic duct by lymphangiography Lipiodol, and this line of treatment was successful.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2012

Lung resection has various and commonly occurring postoperative complications. Pulmonary complication is well known as one of the most important among them, exerting a negative influence on the postoperative course and resulting in mortality. Thus, the prevention of pulmonary complication after lung resection is very important. To prevent postoperative pulmonary complication, the perioperative management must be optimal. Perioperative management begins long before the surgery and does not end until the patient leaves the hospital. The goal of perioperative management is to identify the high-risk patients, to provide appropriate intervention, to prevent postoperative complications, and to obtain the best outcomes.