Clinical Efficacy of Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

BACKGROUND: Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) has come into use and been widely extended because of the low complication rate and less-invasiveness. This article aimed to describe our experience in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm with EVAR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted for the 22 patients who underwent EVAR in a single hospital December 2001 to June 2009. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 68.5+/-7.6 years. There were several risk factors and comorbidities in 20 patients (90.9%). The mean diameter of the aortic aneurysms was 61.2+/-12.9 mm. The mean length, diameter, and angle of the aneurysmal neck were 30.5+/-15.5 mm, 24.0+/-4.5 mm, and 43.9+/-16.0degrees, respectively. The mean follow-up period of the patients was 28.8+/-29.5 months. The 30-day postoperative mortality was none. Seven patients (31.8%) had endoleaks during the hospital stay and three patients (13.6%) had endoleaks during the follow-up period. One patient (4.5%) died due to a ruptured aortic aneurysm. The cumulative patient survival rates were 88.2%, 88.2%, and 70.6% at 1, 3, and 5 years of follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSION: EVAR is currently a safe, feasible procedure for high risk patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm because of low postoperative complication and mortality if patients are selected properly and followed up carefully.

One Stage Repair of Berry Syndrome in a Neonate Using an Autologous Arterial Flap / 대한흉부외과학회지

Berry syndrome (a distal aortopulmonary window and a right pulmonary artery originating from the ascending aorta, an intact ventricular septum, a patent ductus arteriosus and an interrupted aortic arch) is a rare complex congenital cardiac malformation. We describe a case of one stage repair with using an autologous arterial flap in a 19-day-old neonate who was suffering with this malformation, and we report on the development of postoperative right pulmonary artery stenosis and its successful management with performing multiple balloon angioplasties.

Midterm Result of Starnes Operation: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

We report here on the midterm results after a Starnes operation for a severely symptomatic neonate with Ebstein's anomaly. A one-day-old baby presented with cyanosis and severe cardiomegaly. We performed patch closure of the tricuspid valve with a central shunt after failure of tricuspid valve repair with vertical plication of the atrialized ventricle at her age of 19 days. The coronary sinus was drained into the right ventricle. She underwent bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt and extracardiac conduit Fontan operation at her age of 16 and 30 months, respectively. She is now 56 months old and is doing very well. The recent follow-up study revealed that she was in normal sinus rhythm and had a normal sized left ventricle with good function and the small right ventricle without thrombus formation.

En Bloc Resection of a Thoracic Outlet for a Recurred Malignant Schwannoma of the Brachial Plexus: A case report / 대한흉부외과학회지

Neurogenic tumors of the brachial plexus are rare. An malignant schwannoma originates from the schwan cells or nerve sheath cells. Occasionally, schwannomas are associated with Von Rechlinghausen's disease, but this is rare. We were recently presented with a thirty-five year old female patient with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis about ten years prior. The patient also presented with a mass that has been slowly growing for one year. Onset of pain occurred six months after the tumor began to grow. The mass was 5X7 cm in size. The patient underwent en bloc resection of the tumor as the mass recurred twice in spite of postoperative radiotherapy.