Pseudoaneurysm with Arteriovenous Fistula after Arthroscopic Procedure: A Rare Complication of Arthroscopy

Pseudoaneurysm with arteriovenous fistula is a rare complication of arthroscopy, and can be diagnosed by ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or angiography. This condition can be treated with open surgical repair or endovascular repair. We report our experience with the open surgical repair of a pseudoaneurysm with an arteriovenous fistula in a young male patient who underwent arthroscopy five months previously.

Intraoperative Balloon Angioplasty Using Fogarty Artertial Embolectomy Balloon Catheter for Creation of Arteriovenous Fistula for Hemodialysis: Single Center Experience

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a Fogarty arterial embolectomy catheter (Fogarty catheter) in intraoperative balloon angioplasty of the cephalic vein, in order to determine its effect on the patency of arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) created for hemodialysis access. METHODS: A total of 156 patients who underwent creation of an AVF were divided into two groups, based whether a Fogarty catheter was used during AVF creation. Group A (89 patients) comprised the patients who underwent balloon angioplasty with a Fogarty catheter during the operation. Group B (67 patients) included the patients in whom a Fogarty catheter was not used during the operation. Patient records were reviewed retrospectively and documented. The patency rate was determined by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The records of 156 patients who underwent the creation of an AVF from January 2007 to October 2011 were included. The mean follow-up duration was 40.2+/-19.4 months (range, 1 to 97 months). The patency rates in group A at 12, 36, and 72 months were 83.9%+/-3.9%, 78.3%+/-4.6%, and 76.3%+/-4.9%, respectively, while the corresponding patency rates in group B were 92.5%+/-3.2%, 82.8%+/-0.5%, and 79.9%+/-5.7%, respectively. The patency rates in group B were found to be slightly higher than those in group A, but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.356). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative balloon angioplasty of the cephalic vein using the Fogarty catheter is a simple and easily reproducible procedure, and it can be helpful in increasing AVF patency in cases of insufficient runoff or a suboptimal cephalic vein.

Cardiac Hemangioma: A Case Report

Hemangioma of the heart, presenting as a primary cardiac tumor is extremely rare; it accounts for approximately 2% of all primary resected heart tumors. In our patient, the tumor was located in the orifice of the right lower pulmonary vein. Few cases of cardiac hemangiomas have been reported to arise from the left atrial (LA) wall. Left atrial hemangiomas, especially those attached to the LA wall, may be erroneously diagnosed as myxomas. Cardiac hemangioma is a rare disease; furthermore, a tumor arising from the LA wall and misconceived as a myxoma is extremely rare. We removed a mass misdiagnosed as a myxoma; it was pathologically confirmed to be a cardiac capillary hemangioma. Therefore, we report a rare case of a cardiac hemangioma misconceived as a myxoma; the tumor was removed successfully.

Primary Surgical Closure Should Be Considered in Premature Neonates with Large Patent Ductus Arteriosus

BACKGROUND: Treatment for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants can consist of medical or surgical approaches. The appropriate therapeutic regimen remains contentious. This study evaluated the role of surgery in improving the survival of premature neonates weighing less than 1,500 g with PDA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2008 to June 2011, 68 patients weighing less than 1,500 g with PDA were enrolled. The patients were divided into three groups: a group managed only by medical treatment (group I), a group requiring surgery after medical treatment (group II), and a group requiring primary surgical treatment (group III). RESULTS: The rate of conversion to surgical methods due to failed medical treatment was 67.6% (25/37) in the patients with large PDA (> or =2 mm in diameter). The number of patients who could be managed with medical treatment was nine which was only 20.5% (9/44) of the patients with large PDA. There was no surgery-related mortality. Group III displayed a statistically significantly low rate of development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (p=0.008). The mechanical ventilation time was significantly longer in group II (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Medical treatment has a high failure rate in infants weighing less than 1,500 g with PDA exceeding 2.0 mm. Surgical closure following medical treatment requires a longer mechanical ventilation time and increases the incidence of BPD. Primary surgical closure of PDA exceeding 2.0 mm in the infants weighing less than 1,500 g should be considered to reduce mortality and long-term morbidity events including BPD.

Primary Surgical Closure Should Be Considered in Premature Neonates with Large Patent Ductus Arteriosus

BACKGROUND: Treatment for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants can consist of medical or surgical approaches. The appropriate therapeutic regimen remains contentious. This study evaluated the role of surgery in improving the survival of premature neonates weighing less than 1,500 g with PDA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2008 to June 2011, 68 patients weighing less than 1,500 g with PDA were enrolled. The patients were divided into three groups: a group managed only by medical treatment (group I), a group requiring surgery after medical treatment (group II), and a group requiring primary surgical treatment (group III). RESULTS: The rate of conversion to surgical methods due to failed medical treatment was 67.6% (25/37) in the patients with large PDA (> or =2 mm in diameter). The number of patients who could be managed with medical treatment was nine which was only 20.5% (9/44) of the patients with large PDA. There was no surgery-related mortality. Group III displayed a statistically significantly low rate of development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (p=0.008). The mechanical ventilation time was significantly longer in group II (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Medical treatment has a high failure rate in infants weighing less than 1,500 g with PDA exceeding 2.0 mm. Surgical closure following medical treatment requires a longer mechanical ventilation time and increases the incidence of BPD. Primary surgical closure of PDA exceeding 2.0 mm in the infants weighing less than 1,500 g should be considered to reduce mortality and long-term morbidity events including BPD.

Primary Synovial Sarcoma of the Parietal Pleura: A Case Report

Synovial sarcoma is a malignant soft tissue tumor that most commonly occurs in the extremities of young and middle-aged adults, in the vicinity of large joints. Although synovial sarcoma is frequently associated with joints, it may arise in unexpected sites, such as the mediastinum, heart, lung, pleura, or chest wall. Primary synovial sarcoma of the pleura is rare. To date, nearly 36 cases of primary synovial sarcoma of the pleura have been reported since Gaertner et al. published the first case in 1996. The oncologic characteristics, treatment, and prognosis for pleural synovial sarcomas are not well defined because of a paucity of data. However, a multimodal approach, including surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, has generally been suggested. We report the outcome of one patient with primary pleural synovial sarcoma treated with radical resection and adjuvant treatment.

Clinical Analysis of Radiocephalic Fistula Using Side-to-side Anastomosis with Distal Cephalic Vein Ligation

BACKGROUND: The surgically created arteriovenous fistula has recently been recommended as the best available angioaccess for hemodialysis. Therefore, in this study, we carried out a clinical analysis on surgical procedures in the ligation and division of a distal vein to achieve similar effects as those of vein end-to-arterial side after side-to-side anastomosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 113 patients who came for an outpatient clinic follow-up to the department of internal medicine of our hospital; these patients were among the 125 patients who underwent radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (side-to-side anastomosis with distal vein ligation and division) in our hospital in the period from January 2006 to December 2010. RESULTS: The patency rate showed no statistical significance with respect to sex (p=0.775), age (p=0.775), hypertension (p=0.262), diabetes (p=0.929), and cardio-neurovascular disease (p=0.717). Patency rates were 96% for the first month, 93% for the first year, and 90% for the second year for the radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (side-to-side anastomosis with distal vein ligation and division) performed on the wrist. CONCLUSION: The patency rates revealed favorable results and few postoperative complications as compared to those of previous reports. Therefore, radiocephalic fistula using side-to-side anastomosis with distal cephalic vein ligation is considered a recommendable surgical procedure in the distal part for the hemodialysis of CRF patients.

A Case of Iatrogenic Horner's Syndrome after Video-Thoracoscopic Surgery for Primary Pneumothorax

PURPOSE: To report a case of iatrogenic Horner's syndrome after video-thoracoscopic surgery for primary pneumothorax. CASE SUMMARY: An 18-year-old man with ptosis in the right eye was referred to our clinic. The patient had undergone wedge resection via video-thoracoscopic surgery for primary pneumothorax three weeks previously. On ocular examination, the palpebral fissure width was 7 mm in the right lid and 8 mm in the left lid, the marginal reflex distance 1 (MRD 1) was 2 mm in the right lid and 3 mm in the left lid, and the bilateral levator muscle function was good. Anisocoria was present, and pupil size in a dark room was 2.5 mm in the right eye and 4 mm in the left eye. The patient complained of facial anhidrosis on the right side of the face. CONCLUSIONS: Although iatrogenic Horner's syndrome is rare complication of video-thoracoscopic surgery for primary pneumothorax, diagnosis after surgery of the thoracic cavity should be made carefully.

Recurrent True Brachial Artery Aneurysm

True aneurysm of the brachial artery is a rare disease entity. The mechanism of aneurysm formation is considered to be compression of the arterial wall, producing contusion of the media and subsequent weakness of the wall and fusiform dilatation. It can be caused by arteriosclerotic, congenital, and metabolic disorders, and can be associated with diseases such as Kawasaki's disease. Doppler ultrasonography, computed tomography, arteriography, and selective upper extremity angiography may be performed for establishing the diagnosis of aneurysm. The best therapeutic option is operative repair, and it should be performed without any delay, in order to prevent upper extremity ischemic or thrombotic sequelae. Here, we report a case of recurrent brachial artery aneurysm with review of the literature.

Chylopericardium Secondary to Lymphangiomyoma - A case report -

Chylopericardium is a rare disease entity characterized by the accumulation of chylous fluid in the pericardial sac. It usually arises from mediastinal neoplasms, thrombosis of the subclavian vein, tuberculosis, nonsurgical trauma, thoracic or cardiac surgery. The spectrum of symptoms for chylopericardium varies from an incidental finding of cardiomegaly to dyspnea, upper abdominal discomfort, cough, chest pain, palpitation, fatigue. However, most of the patients are asymptomatic. The main purpose of treatment of chylopericardium is the prevention of cardiac tamponade and prevention of metabolic, nutritional, and immunological compromise due to chyle leak. Here, we report a case of chylopercardium secondary to lymphangiomyoma with review of the literature.

The Risk Factors Influencing the Postoperative Mortality of the Patients with an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Despite the rapid expansion of percutaneous endovascular repair, open surgical repair is still recognized as an option to achieve a cure. We retrospectively analyzed over a 6 year period the surgical outcomes, the complications and the mortality-related factors for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We analyzed 36 patients who underwent surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysms between May 2001 and June 2005, and between April 2007 and November 2009. The indications for surgery were rupture, a maximal aortic diameter >50 mm, and medically intractable hypertension or pain. RESULT: The mean patient age was 69.67+/-6.97 years (range: 57 to 84 years). Thirty two patients (88.9%) were males and 4 patients (11.1%) were females. Extension to the iliac artery existed in 28 patients (77.8%). Thirteen patients (36.1%) had ruptured aortic aneurysms. The mean maximal diameter of the aorta was 73.7+/-13.3 mm (60 to 100 mm). Surgery was performed by a midline laparotomy and 10 patients (27.8%) underwent emergency surgery. The mortality rate was 8.3%; the mortality rate for the patients with ruptured aneurysms was 23.1% and the mortality rate for patients with unruptured aneurysms was 0%. The postoperative complications included wound infection (3 cases), sepsis (2 cases), renal failure (2 cases) and pneumonia (1 case). Unstable vital signs, pre-operative transfusion, ruptured aneurysm, emergency surgery, comorbidity (DM and syncope) and complications (sepsis and renal failure) were the statistically significant mortality-related factors (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Emergency surgery for ruptured aortic aneurysms continues to have high mortality, but the unruptured cases are repaired with relative safety. Even though endovascular aortic repair is the trend for abdominal aortic aneurysms, an elective operation of the unruptured aneurysms could decrease the procedure's morbidity and the inconvenient for repeat evaluation with good surgical results.

Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Colorectal Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Surgical resection is an important curative treatment for pulmonary metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma. We analyzed the outcomes and the prognostic factors related to the post operative mortality after surgical resection for pulmonary metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 1994 and December 2009, 28 patients underwent complete pulmonary resection of metastatic colorectal carcinoma. We performed a retrospective review of the patient's characteristics and the factors affecting survival. Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and comparison between groups was performed by a log-rank analysis. RESULTS: The median survival was 53.07 months (Kaplan-Meier method). The number of pulmonary metastases (p=0.0151) and a prethoracotomy carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level over 5 ng/mL (p=0.0217) were significantly related with survival. CONCLUSION: The prethoracotomy CEA level and the number of metastases were significantly related with the survival rate. Resection of pulmonary metastatic lung lesion from colorectal cancer may improve the survival rate in a selected group of patients.

Obturator Bypass Surgery in a Patient with an Infected Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm with Sepsis / 대한흉부외과학회지

Infection of the both native and prosthetic vessels in the groin is a very serious disease because of recurrent arterial rupture and sepsis, and both these complications can cause death. The successful treatment of groin infection, including infection of the femoral artery, requires extensive excision of the infected tissues and restoration of the circulation. We experienced a case of obturator bypass in a patient with an infected femoral artery pseudoaneurysm and accompanying sepsis, and this occurred after performing a transfemoral angiogram in an A-V fistula of the carotid artery, and the patient also displayed intracranial hemorrhage.

Surgical Treatment of Congenital Cystic Lung Disease / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Congenital cystic diseases of the lung are uncommon, and they share similar embryogenic and clinical characteristics. But they are sometimes vary widely in their presentation and severity. Therefore they are often difficult to make different diagnosis each other, and all require surgical treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From 1993 to 2006, 38 patients underwent surgical procedures under these diagnostic categories in the Depart. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Busan-Paik Hospital, College of Medicine, Inje University. And we retrospectively reviewed these patients' charts for clinical presentations, surgical procedures, pathologic findings and postoperative morbidity and mortality. RESULT: There were 22 males and 16 females, ages ranged from 1 month after birth to 51 years and mean age was 20.8 years. The main symptoms were 19 fever, cough, sputum production due to recurrent infection, 7 dyspnea, 8 chest discomfort, 4 hemoptysis, but eight patients were asymptomatic. Computed tomography was chosen as diagnostic modalities and available for operation plan for all of patients. For all the cases, surgical resection were performed. Lobectomy was performed in 28 patients, simple excision (resection) in 8 patients, segmentectomy or wedge resection in 2 patients. There were 10 pulmonary sequestrations, 15 congenital cystic adenomatoid malformations (CCAM), 11 bronchogenic cysts, and 2 congenital lobar emphysemas. They all were confirmed by pathologic exams. The complications were 6 wound disruption or infection, 2 chylothorax, 1 ulnar neuropathy, but all of them were resolved uneventful. There was no persistent air leakage, respiratory failure, operative mortality and recurrence. CONCLUSION: We performed immediate surgical removal of congenital cystic lung lesions after diagnosis and obtained good results, so reported them with literature review.

Primary Malignant Cardiac Lymphoma in Right Atrium: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

A primary malignant lymphoma that originates in the heart is extremely rare. A 68-year-old male patient was admitted due to aggravated dyspnea. After echocardiography and chest computed tomography evaluation, a huge mass in the right atrium and the right ventricle was detected. We decided to perform emergency surgery due to a high risk of infarction and hemodynamic disturbance. After the near total removal of the huge mass in the right cardiac chamber, the interatrial septum and antero-lateral part of the right atrium were reconstructed by the use of a bovine pericardial patch. The final pathological diagnosis was a primary malignant lymphoma. The patient and his guardians refused chemotherapy (including radiotherapy), and the patient was discharged to his home, where the prognosis was hopeless.

Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in a Patient with a Functional Single Lung: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

A functional single lung caused by lung diseases or pneumonectomy can result in anatomic and physiologic changes that may interfere with the conduct of subsequent coronary artery bypass surgery. Since this type of case is extremely rare, there has not been any report on this in Korea. A 71-year-old female with a history of a destroyed left lung from pulmonary tuberculosis 13 years ago was admitted for evaluation of her increasing chest pain that she'd experienced for 2 weeks. Since coronary angiographies demonstrated 80% stenosis of the left main os, 90~95% stenosis of the p-LAD, 90% stenosis of the m-LCx and 90% stenosis of the RCA, coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) was planned. Off-pump CABG with vein grafts through a median sternotomy was performed and the patient recovered the same as other CABG patients without complications.

The Effect of a Bypass Operation for Atherosclerotic Arterial Obstructive Disease at the Lower Extremity / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: There are various treatment modalities for atherosclerotic arterial obstructive disease at the lower limbs, for example, conservative physical therapy, medication, operation etc. Yet it has been established that an arterial bypass operation is the most effective treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of arterial bypass operation within our experience and to determine the indicators of treatment. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Ninety six patients received arterial bypass operation for atherosclerotic arterial obstructive disease from June 2002 to April 2006. We evaluated the feasibility of arterial bypass operation based on the improvement of symptoms and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) and the surgical outcomes, as based on the complications, the amputation rates and the patency rates. We also assessed the possible risk factors such as gender, age, a smoking history, co-morbidities, the anastomotic sites, the graft size and the graft type. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients. The total mean follow-up period was 29.4+/-13.1 months. RESULT: The mean age was 65.95+/-9.61 and there were 88 male patients. The most common clinical manifestation was ischemic resting pain in the lower extremities. The underlying combined diseases were hypertension (61%), diabetes (43%), cardiac problems (35%) and smoking (91.7%). The most frequent site of arterial obstruction was the superficial femoral artery (44 cases, 40%). A femoropopliteal artery bypass operation with a Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) synthetic graft was done in 44 cases (40%) and the great saphenous vein graft was used in 11 cases. The postoperative ABI increased significantly from 0.30+/-0.11 preoperatively to 0.63+/-0.11 (p < 0.001) postoperatively. In 8 cases, amputations above the ankle level were necessary. The graft patency rates were 86.4% and 68.0% after 1 and 3 years, respectively. There were 29 cases (30.21%) of patency failure; the male gender, smokers and hypertension were significantly more frequent in the failure group. Of these, hypertension was the most powerful risk factor (p=0.042). CONCLUSION: The arterial bypass operation is an effective treatment modality for controlling the symptoms such as pain and claudication, and for preventing major amputations for the patients with atherosclerotic arterial obstructive disease. This study suggests quitting smoking, strict blood pressure control, selection of an appropriate graft, regular outpatient follow up and proper medication would offer higher patency rates and more favorable outcomes.

Surgical Treatment of a Posttraumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Left Subclavian Artery Mimicking a Mediastinal Tumor: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Posttraumatic pseudoaneurysms of the subclavian artery are very rare. A 49-year-old woman who had been involved in a car accident ten years before presentation was initially diagnosed with a mediastinal tumor at a local clinic. Exploratory thoracotomy was performed for evaluation and treatment. During the operation, a hematoma was evacuated, and primary repair was undertaken to stop massive bleeding. Computed tomography angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the left subclavian artery. The patient was treated with aneurysmectomy and end-to-end anastomosis. The postoperative course was uneventful.

Tuberculous Aortitis with Aorto-bronchial Fistula / 대한흉부외과학회지

Tuberculous aortitis is a very rare disease. Furthermore, it is all the more rare for it to be complicated by the development of an aortic aneurysm or the formation of aorto-bronchial fistula. If it is complicated by rupture of the aorta, mortality is very high. If the patient didn't contract tuberculosis, but was expectorating blood, we would have to carry out a chest CT promptly, in order to make a rapid and accurate diagnosis of this disease. A 46-year-old male patient was admitted due to the sudden onset of intermittent hemoptysis and chest discomfort. CT scans of the chest showed an aneurysmal change to the descending thoracic aorta, and the formation of an aorto-bronchial fistula, which originated from this aneurysm and communicated with its left lower lobe. We operated with an artificial vessel graft interposition of the descending thoracic aorta and a left lower lobectomy. Because the diagnosis was of tuberculosis, we started anti-Tbc medication and long term anti-Tbc medication was recommended.

Bronchial Foreignbody after Right Lower Lobe Lobectomy / 대한흉부외과학회지

Bronchial foreign bodies commonly occur through aspiration or inhalation. Here we present a very rare case of migration of a non-metallic foreign body into the bronchus 5 years after lobectomy. The foreign body, a Teflon pellet used to control parenchymal bleeding in the lung, was removed by a bronchofiberscope. Although the mechanism of migration remains unknown, our case and a previous Japanese case provide evidence that non-metallic foreign bodies can migrate from the lung parenchyma to the bronchus.