Clinical Analysis of the Early Result of Coronary Artery bypass Graft / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Recently, coronary artery obstructive disease and coronary artery bypass graft surgery have increased, and the operative result has been improved. We reviewed 154 cases of coronary artery bypass graft surgery from Jan. 1985 to Jun. 2004. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reviewed 148 patients, 154 cases of coronary artery bypass surgery from Jan. 1985 to Jun. 2004. This investigation is designed to illustrate the preoperative diagnosis, severity of disease, operative method, the kind of used bypass graft used, number of distal anasomosis, associated surgery, and postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULT: There were 84 males, 64 females and the average age was 58.9+/-8.3 years old. Preoperative clinical diagnosis were unstable angina in 97 cases (63.0%), stable angina in 31 cases (20.1%), acute myocardial infarction in 12 cases (7.8%) and postinfartion angina in 14 cases (9.1%). Preoperative angiographic diagnosis were three-vessel disease in 68 (44.2%), two-vessel disease in 39 (25.3%), one-vessel disease in 35 (22.7%), and left main disease in 12 (7.8%) cases. There were 78 cases of on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery and 76 cases of off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The total distal anastomoses number was 319, mean number of anastomoses was 2.06+/-0.96. There were 10 concomitant procedures. Postoperative intra-aortic balloon pump was used in 21 (13.6%) cases, but only 4 cases were used at off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Total early mortality was 7.8%. The mortality was decreased as 4.5% from Jan. 2001 to Jun. 2004. Post operative complication was perioperative myocardial infarction in 9 cases (5.8%), low cardiac output syndrome in 17 cases (11%), and arrhythmia in 30 cases (19.5%) cases. CONCLUSION: Since 1985, The result of coronary artery bypass graft surgery has been improved because of more refined technique, use of off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, use of internal thoracic artery and radial artery as bypass graft. We should study the long-term follow up more for better operative results.

Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistula with Hemothorax: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula is usually considered as a subset of congenital anomalies or acquired causes which can produce a variety of conditions such as dyspnea, cyanosis, and pulmonary vascular bruit. The diagnostic methods can be diverse such as arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA), chest X-ray, chest CT and pulmonary angiogram but the most accurate diagnostic modality is thought to be the pulmonary angiogram. The complications of this disease are a rupture that can cause hemothorax, brain abscess, and cardiovascular accident, and the treatment options are either segmental resection or therapeutic embolization. A twenty-six year old female developed sudden dyspnea and visited our emergency room. The patient was diagnosed as having pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (size; 4x4x3 cm) in the superior segment of the right lower lobe, evidenced by chest CT and pulmonary angiogram. Consequently, she underwent an emergency right lower lobectomy. We report this rare case of combined hemothorax that we have experienced, from diagnosis to treatment.

Clinical Analysis of Bronchogenic Cyst / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Bronchogenic cyst is a rare and benign disease. Because of its complication or associated disease, Bronchogenic cyst requires surgical treatment. Recently, with the development of diagnostic methods, its incidence has increased. So we reviewed our results from the past 30 years. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reviewed 27 cases surgically treated from March 1971 to March 2003. This investigation is designed to illustrate the peak age incidence, sex ratio, symptoms, anatomic location, radiologic imagings, associated diseases, operative methods, postoperative pathologic findings and postoperative complications. RESULT: The peak age incidence laid in the 1st to 3rd decade and the ratio of male and female was 1:1.5. The most common complaints were cough and dyspnea, but some had hemoptysis. There were 22 cases (81%) of Intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts and 5 cases(19%) of mediastinal bronchogenic cysts. Thirteen cases (48.1%) showed cystic lesion in simple chest X-ray. Ten cases showed cystic lesion among 13 cases that had taken computed tomography. We found associated disease in 15cases (56%). The inflammatory diseases from infection were many in intrapulmonary bronchogenic cysts and especially, one case showed carcinosarcoma. Mitral regurgitation and Bronchial obstruction could be seen in mediastinal bronchogenic cysts. The 13 cases (48%) were managed by lobectomy, and cystectomy, pneumonectomy, and segemental resection were done in 7 cases (26%), 4 cases (15%), 3 cases (11%) respectively. Cystic contents were mucus in 9 cases, pus in 9 cases, blood in 2 cases, and carcinosarcoma in 1 case. Bronchotracheal communications were in 13 cases (48%). Five cases showed Postoperative complications, which were pneumothorax, empyema, bleeding. Postoperative death could not be found. CONCLUSION: Almost all patients had clinical symptoms. Severe complications could be associated with bronchogenic cysts. Recently, With the development of diagnostic methods, preoperatively accurate diagnosis is possible; therefore, invasive study has decreased. Bronchogenic cyst is a benign disease. However, because of its clinical symptoms, complications, and possibility of malignant change, immediate surgical treatment is needed.

The In-hospital Analysis of Outcome of Off-pump CABG and On-pump CABG / 대한흉부외과학회지

Background: With the developement of non-invasive surgical techeniques, coronary artery bypass graft without cardiopulmonary bypass has become popular. We compared the preoperative risk factors and in-hospital outcomes of patients having off-pump CABG with those having on-pump CABG. Material and Method: From January 2001 to June 2003, 87 patients underwent CABG. Thirty-six patients underwent on-pump CABG, fifty-one patinents underwent off-pump CABG. Preoperative risk factors, extent of coronary disease, operative time, postoperative endotracheal intubation time, duration of ICU stay & hospital stay, the amount of bleeding and postoperative levels of cardiac enzymes were compared in both groups. Result: There were no differences in their sex ratios, ages, preoperative risk factors, preoperative MI, Canadian classes, extent of coronary artery diseases and, echocardiographic ejection fraction between Off-pump CABG and On-pump CABG groups. Off-pump CABG group had significantly lower mean operative time (270+/-79.3 min vs 372+/-142.2 min, p<0.001), mean ventilation time (17.1+/-13.1 hr vs 24.3+/-17.8 hr) and CK-MB level (8.9+/-18.7 IU/L vs 25.7+/-8.4 IU/L) than on-pump CABG groups. On-pump CABG group had more distal grafts (2.2+/-0.5 vs 1.7+/-0.7) than Off-pump CABG groups did. There were no differences in their postoperative complications and outcomes including amount of postoperative bleeding for 24 hrs, reoperation for bleeding control, mean in-hospital days, postoperative infection, renal failure and neurologic complications between Off-pump CABG and On-pump CABG groups. Conclusion: This study showed that patients who underwent Off-pump CABG had less operation time & intubation time and lower CK-MB level; however, they also have less distal graft. Even though CABG without CPB provided satisfactory results, more clinical experience & longer follow-up is required.

Atypical Middle Aortic Syndrome in a Middle Aged Woman: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

The aortic coarctation is located in the distal thoracic aorta or abdominal aorta, or both and is often called "middle aortic syndrome" or "mid-aortic dyspastic syndrome". Etiology is controversial and most cases are seen in young female women. Severe complication such as cardiac or renal dysfunction as well as cerebral hemorrhage may occur, so aggressive surgical intervention may take effect. Lately we experienced a middle aortic syndrome which was not typical because of the patient's advanced age at the time of clinical presentation. The Axillo-femoral artery bypass graft with 6 mm PTFE vascular graft was done.

Early Clinical Experience in Valve Replacement Using On-X Prosthetic Heart Valve / 대한흉부외과학회지

Background: The On-X valve was recently introduced. It was the aim of this study to assess the safety and feasibility from the data derived from 28 patients who underwent aortic and/or mitral valve replacement with this prosthesis in National Medical Center. Material and Method: From May 1999 and May 2003, a series of 28 consecutive patients who had been implanted with 32 On-X prosthesis were reviewed. The operative procedure comprised of 12 MVR, 10 AVR and 6 DVR. The study followed the guidelines of AATS/STS. Mean follow-up was 27 months (total 64 patient-years). Result: Early (

Pulmonary Artery Intimal Sarcoma with Lung Metastasis / 대한흉부외과학회지

Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is very rare disease. The diagnosis of pulmonary artery sarcoma is frequently confused with pulmonary embolism because its clinical symptom and radiologic findings are similar with pulmonary embolism. It was often diagnosed at autopsy as it progresses rapidly. So Pulmonary artery sarcoma must be suspected if the origin of thrombus is not known and anticoagulation therapy is not effective. In this case, a 57 years old man who has been diagnosed pulmonary embolism was transferred to our department because of ineffective anticoagulant therapy and its worsening lesion despite of 5 month-therapy. In operative findings, it was pulmonary artery sarcoma that invaded to pericardium. There was angiosarcoma in right pulmonary artery, which metastasized to lung parenchyme. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, we resected main pulmonary artery and right lung. The Gore-tex graft was interposed between main pulmonary artery and left pulmonary artery. He was discharged after chemotherapy.

The Long-term Clinical Result of St. Jude Mechanical Valve Replacement / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: The St. Jude Medical prosthesis is one of the popularly used artificial prosthesis, therefore the National Medical Center reports the long-term clinical results of patients who underwent prosthetic valve replacement with St. Jude medical valve for 18 years. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January, 1984 and June, 2002, a series of 163 consecutive patients who had implanted St. Jude prosthesis at the National Medical Center were reviewed. Mean age was 42.9+/-15.1 years and male to female ratio was 69:94. The operative procedure comprised of 87 MVR, 30 AVR, 45 DVR, and 1 TVR. The reoperative procedure comprised of 21 MVR, 2 AVR, and 14 DVR. Follow-up rate was 96.9%, and cumulative follow-up was 823.8 patient-years. RESULT: Early mortality rate was 7.9% (13 patients), late mortality rate was 8.7% (13 patients) and late mortality due to valve related complication was 4.7% (7 patients). Actual survival rate at 10 and 18 years were 91.7+/-2.1% and 91.0+/-1.9%. Linearized incidence was as follows: thromboembolism, 1.09%/ patient-year; anticoagulant related hemorrhage, 0.36%/patient-year; valve thrombosis, 0.24%/patient-year; paravalvular leakage, 0.12%/patient-year; and prosthetic bacterial endocarditis, 0.12%/patient-year. Linearized incidence of over all valve related complication was 1.94%/patient-year. Freedom from valve related complication at 10 and 18 years were 89.1+/-3.3% and 88.4+/-3.9%. Freedom from valve related death at 10 and 18 years were 95.1+/-1.2% and 95.1+/-1.0%. Valve related complication was related the age of patient, especially anticoagulant related hemorrhage was more common in patients over 60 years of age. Valve related complication, death were higher in DVR than AVR or MVR, and valve related death was higher in reoperation. There was no relationship between valve related complication or death and implant valve or size. CONCLUSION: The long-term clinical results of patients implanted with St. Jude Mechanical prosthesis was quite satisfactory with a low incidence of valve related complication and mortality.

Surgical Treatment of Pulmonary Aspergillosis (III) / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary aspergillosis usually results from the colonization of the existing lung lesions by chronic pulmonary diseases, such as tuberculosis. Most cases of pulmonary aspergilloma have been treated surgically for many years because it is a potentially life-threatening disease causing massive hemoptysis. Here we reviewed our results from the last 10 years. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reviewed 31 cases surgically treated from Aug. 1992 to Jul. 2002. retrospectively. This investigation is designed to illustrate the peak age incidence, sex ratio, chief complaints, preoperative study, anatomic location of operative site, postoperative pathologic finding and postoperative complications. RESULT: The peak age incidence laid in the 3rd and 4th decade of 20 cases (64.5%). The most common complaint was hemoptysis in 27 cases (87.1%). The 31 cases had a history of treatment with anti- tuberculous drugs under impression of pulmonary tuberculosis. The 19 cases (61.3%) showed the so-called "Air- meniscus sign" on the preoperative chest X-ray. In the 31 cases (100%) on the chest computed tomography. as a preoperative diagnostic modality, positivity was shown in 37.9%, 83.3% was shown on the fungus culture of sputum for Aspergillus, serum immunodiffusion test for A. fumigatus, respectively. The anatomical location of aspergilloma was mainly in the upper lobe in 19 cases (61.3%) and the majority of cases were managed by lobectomy. The postoperative pathologic findings showed that 31 cases (100%) were combined with tuberculosis. The postoperative complications include empyema, prolonged air leakage, remained dead space, postoperative bleeding and these numbers of cases is 3 cases (9.7%), 2 cases (6.45%), 2 cases (6.45%), 1 case (3.23%), respectively. one case was died postoperatively due to massive beeding, and asphyxia. CONCLUSION: Compared with the previous study, there is no significant difference in results. Preoperative chest computed tomography and immunodiffusion test were more commonly available and showed high positivity. Operations often became technically difficult because of pleural space obliteration, indurated hilar structures, and poor expansion of the remaining lung, which were more prominent in the patients with complex aspergillosis. In such cases, medical treatments and interventional procedures like bronchial artery embolization are preferred. However, cavernostomy is also recommanded with few additional morbidity because of its relatively less invassiveness. Early surgical intervention is the recommended management for patients with simple aspergilloma considering the low surgical mortality and morbidity in recent days.

Esophageal stent insertion at the esophagogastrostomy site stenosis: Report of 3 cases / 대한흉부외과학회지

Although postanastomosis stenosis of esophageal reconstruction is rare but it is a very unwelcome complication. Previously, the problem was solved by balloon dilatation, reoperation, and feeding jejunostomy. However, balloon dilatation is not effective because of high recurrence rate, reoperation is difficult due to its operative approachableness and also jejunostomy is inconvenient for patients. Therefore, we inserted esophageal stent as a method of relieving postanastomosis stenosis. From Jan, 2001 to Dec, 2001, there were three patients with postanastomosis stenosis, who received esophageal stent insertion, one had case is benign esophageal stenosis, two had esophageal carcinoma. We followed up them over 12 months after inserting the stent, Dysphagia was improved, so we report that the clinical performance was satisfactory

Clinical Study of Pulmonary Resection for Tuberculosis(V) / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: In spite of the establishment of chemotherapy and the gradual decrease in prevalence, pulmonary tuberculosis is still mainly treated with an operation. Through analyzing and examining some cases of surgical treatment, we hope to provide some help in treating of pulmonary tuberculosis in the future. MATERIAL AND METHOD: By comparing four journals previously published in our department with 144 cases of lung surgery during ten years from January of 1991 to December of 2000 performed by the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery of the National Medical Center, we analyzed and reviewed the most recent trends and the results of the surgical treatment. Annual frequency of the operation, distribution of age, examination of sputum, adaptability and types of techniques, complications, and results of the postoperative follow-up were used as methods. RESULT: It was found that the annual frequency of operations had decreased. The ratio of men to women, 2:1 indicates that there are more incidences in men. Aging of patients could be speculated by the results that the decrease in the incidence rate in the 20s age range and increase rate in the 50s age range. The range of preoperative lesions belonged mostly to far advanced and moderately advanced tuberculosis. By monitoring the period of use in preoperative antituberculosis drugs, cases for more than 3 years remarkably increased from 16.0 % to 55.6 %. The positive reactive rate for preoperative sputum examinations were drastically decreased from 91 % to 27 %. Total pulmonary destruction and partial destruction were the most common cases in terms of adaptability to the operations and there were significant increases in forming empyema accompanied by parenchymal lesions from 4.0 % to 20.1 %. Pneumonectomy and pulmonary lobectomy were the major type of operations. Especially, there were increases in the incident rate of empyema and recurrence of tuberculosis resulted. Post operative follow-up indicates that the rate of complete recovery was more than 70 % and the rate of gradual increase in treating with persistent antituberculosis drug was from 5.8 % to 18.0 %. CONCLUSION: In recent cases, there is an increasing number of patients showing tolerance to chemotherapy. Patients with pleural tuberculosis and severe lesions were typically increased. It is important to accurately analyze those complaints accurately that are mostly difficult to be treated medically. Surgical treatment is strongly recommended Before multiple drug resistance occurs.