Historical Perspectives of Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: Inauguration and Activities of the Historical Records Preservation Committee

The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (KTCVS) was founded in 1968 and celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2018. The launch of the KTCVS may seem somewhat recent, given that the American Association for Thoracic Surgery was founded in 1917. However, considering the circumstances of the Korean medical community after the Japanese occupation (1910–1945), World War II (1940–1945), and the Korean War (1950–1953), this apparent delay is understandable. Even before the foundation of the KTCVS, the early pioneers of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery promptly adopted medical technologies from more advanced countries such as the United States, and contributed significantly to both cardiac and thoracic surgery despite difficult circumstances. In 2012, before the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KTCVS, members shared the opinion that objective records of the activities of the early pioneers should be identified and preserved, and reacted positively towards the necessity for historians who would preserve such records. With this background, the Historical Records Preservation Committee of the KTCVS (hereinafter, referred to as ‘the Committee’) was launched. The Committee published a white paper on the history of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 2015 and held an exhibition of the achievements of the pioneers at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KTCVS. The Committee also published a book entitled “The history of Korean thoracic surgery with photographs: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the society.” The Committee will keep making efforts to find and preserve materials related to activities during the early development of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Korea.

Historical Perspectives of The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: The Pioneer of General Thoracic Surgery in Korea: Pyung-Kan Koh 고병간 高秉幹(1899–1966) / 대한흉부외과학회지

No abstract available.

Historical Perspectives of Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: Inauguration and Activities of the Historical Records Preservation Committee / 대한흉부외과학회지

The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (KTCVS) was founded in 1968 and celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2018. The launch of the KTCVS may seem somewhat recent, given that the American Association for Thoracic Surgery was founded in 1917. However, considering the circumstances of the Korean medical community after the Japanese occupation (1910–1945), World War II (1940–1945), and the Korean War (1950–1953), this apparent delay is understandable. Even before the foundation of the KTCVS, the early pioneers of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery promptly adopted medical technologies from more advanced countries such as the United States, and contributed significantly to both cardiac and thoracic surgery despite difficult circumstances. In 2012, before the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KTCVS, members shared the opinion that objective records of the activities of the early pioneers should be identified and preserved, and reacted positively towards the necessity for historians who would preserve such records. With this background, the Historical Records Preservation Committee of the KTCVS (hereinafter, referred to as ‘the Committee’) was launched. The Committee published a white paper on the history of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 2015 and held an exhibition of the achievements of the pioneers at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KTCVS. The Committee also published a book entitled “The history of Korean thoracic surgery with photographs: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the society.” The Committee will keep making efforts to find and preserve materials related to activities during the early development of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Korea.

Isolated Unilateral Absence of Pulmonary Artery Associated with Contralateral Lung Cancer

Unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery (UAPA) is a rare congenital anomaly that may present with various symptoms, depending on the nature and severity of other cardiovascular anomalies. Furthermore, contralateral lung surgery in patients with UAPA is extremely rare, and clinical experience is limited. This report describes a case of surgical treatment of contralateral primary lung cancer in a patient with isolated UAPA. A 56-year-old man was diagnosed with primary lung cancer accompanied by isolated UAPA on the contralateral side. He underwent meticulous cardiorespiratory function tests preoperatively. We performed a right lower lobectomy. Although in the immediate postoperative period, the patient suffered from a mild decline in his respiratory function, he recovered uneventfully. The present case shows that preoperative awareness of UAPA and meticulous perioperative management enable contralateral lung surgery to be performed safely.

Esophageal Endoscopic Vacuum Therapy with Enteral Feeding Using a Sengstaken-Blakemore Tube

Early diagnosis followed by primary repair is the best treatment for spontaneous esophageal perforation. However, the appropriate management of esophageal leakage after surgical repair is still controversial. Recently, the successful adaptation of vacuum-assisted closure therapy, which is well established for the treatment of chronic surface wounds, has been demonstrated for esophageal perforation or leakage. Conservative treatment methods require long-term fasting with total parenteral nutrition or enteral feeding through invasive procedures, such as percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or a feeding jejunostomy. We report 2 cases of esophageal leakage after primary repair treated by endoscopic vacuum therapy with continuous enteral feeding using a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube.

Esophageal Endoscopic Vacuum Therapy with Enteral Feeding Using a Sengstaken-Blakemore Tube / 대한흉부외과학회지

Early diagnosis followed by primary repair is the best treatment for spontaneous esophageal perforation. However, the appropriate management of esophageal leakage after surgical repair is still controversial. Recently, the successful adaptation of vacuum-assisted closure therapy, which is well established for the treatment of chronic surface wounds, has been demonstrated for esophageal perforation or leakage. Conservative treatment methods require long-term fasting with total parenteral nutrition or enteral feeding through invasive procedures, such as percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or a feeding jejunostomy. We report 2 cases of esophageal leakage after primary repair treated by endoscopic vacuum therapy with continuous enteral feeding using a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube.

Spontaneous Echo Contrast Mistaken for Left Ventricular Thrombus during Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / 대한구급학회지

No abstract available.

Spontaneous Echo Contrast Mistaken for Left Ventricular Thrombus during Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation / 대한중환자의학회지

No abstract available.

Prosthetic Grafting and Arteriovenous Fistula for the Surgical Management of a Common Femoral Vein Injury Using a Staged Approach

A 27-year-old female patient was referred due to an edematous left lower extremity. Both saphenous veins had been ablated with an endovenous laser procedure used to treat varicose veins. Venography revealed that the left common femoral vein had been divided and that thrombosis was present at the site of division. No veins were available around the thighs. The patient was treated using a staged procedure. During the first stage, a ringed polytetrafluoroethylene graft was used to repair the common femoral vein, and an arteriovenous fistula was constructed from the femoral artery to the graft using a short segment of cephalic vein to increase graft patency. The edema was relieved postoperatively and the graft was patent. During the second stage, which was performed 6 months later, the fistula was occluded by coil embolization. The staged procedure described herein provides an alternative for venous reconstruction when autologous vein is unavailable.

A Korean Multi-Center Survey about Warfarin Management before Gastroenterological Endoscopy in Patients with a History of Mechanical Valve Replacement Surgery

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in the West allow the continued use of warfarin under therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) level. In Korea, no guidelines have been issued regarding warfarin treatment before EGD. The authors surveyed Korean cardiac surgeons about how Korean cardiac surgeons handle warfarin therapy before EGD using a questionnaire. Participants were requested to make decisions regarding the continuation of warfarin therapy in two hypothetical cases. METHODS: The questionnaire was administered to cardiac surgeons and consisted of eight questions, including two case scenarios. RESULTS: Thirty-six cardiac surgeons at 28 hospitals participated in the survey, and 52.7% of the participants chose to stop warfarin before EGD in aortic valve replacement patients without risk factors for thromboembolism. When the patient’s INR level was 2, 31% of the participants indicated that they would choose to continue warfarin therapy. For EGD with biopsy, 72.2% of the participants chose warfarin withdrawal, and 25% of the participants chose heparin replacement. In mitral valve replacement patients, 47.2% of the participants chose to discontinue warfarin, and 22.2% of the participants chose heparin replacement. For EGD with biopsy in patients with a mitral valve replacement, 58.3% of the participants chose to stop warfarin, and 41.7% of the participants chose heparin replacement. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that attitudes regarding warfarin treatment for EGD are very different among Korean surgeons. Guidelines specific to the Korean population are required.

Carney Complex with Multiple Cardiac Myxomas, Pigmented Nodular Adrenocortical Hyperplasia, Epithelioid Blue Nevus, and Multiple Calcified Lesions of the Testis: A Case Report

No abstract available.

A Case of Primary Subpleural Pulmonary Microcystic Myxoma Coincidentally Occurred with Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma

No abstract available.

Bronchial Artery Aneurysm Presenting as Hematemesis and Mediastinal Hemorrhage

Hematemesis is a rare manifestation of a ruptured bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) in the mediastinum. It is difficult to diagnose a ruptured BAA presenting as hematemesis, because it can be confused with other diseases, such as Boerhaave's syndrome, variceal disease, or a perforated ulcer. In this report, we describe a case of BAA resulting in hematemesis and mediastinal hemorrhage.

Surgical Planning by 3D Printing for Primary Cardiac Schwannoma Resection

We report herein a case of benign cardiac schwannoma in the interatrial septum. A 42-year-old woman was transferred from a clinic because of cardiomegaly as determined by chest X-ray. A transthoracic echocardiography and chest computed tomography examination revealed a huge mass in the pericardium compressing the right atrium, superior vena cava (SVC), left atrium, and superior pulmonary vein. To confirm that the tumor originated from either heart or mediastinum, cine magnetic resonance imaging was performed, but the result was not conclusive. To facilitate surgical planning, we used 3D printing. Using a printed heart model, we decided that tumor resection under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) through sternotomy would be technically feasible. At surgery, a huge tumor in the interatrial septum was confirmed. By incision on the atrial roof between the aorta and SVC, tumor enucleation was performed successfully under CPB. Pathology revealed benign schwannoma. The patient was discharged without complication. 3D printing of the heart and tumor was found to be helpful when deciding optimal surgical approach.

Students' Perceptions of Team-Based Learning by Individual Characteristics in a Medical School / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine medical students' perceptions of team-based learning (TBL) according to their individual characteristics: gender, team efficacy, interpersonal understanding, proactivity in problem solving, and academic ability. METHODS: Thirty-eight second-year medical students who took an integrated cardiology course participated in this study; 28 were male and 10 were female. A questionnaire on individual characteristics and a questionnaire on the perception of TBL were administered, and the scores of individual characteristics were grouped into three: high, middle, and low. The data were analyzed by t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The TBL efficacy perception scale consisted of 3 factors: team skill, learning ability, and team learning. The group of male students and the group of students with high academic ability recognized the effect of TBL on improvements in learning ability more than females and those with low academic ability. The group of students with high team efficacy reported that TBL was effective with regard to team skill improvement. The group of students with high scores on interpersonal understanding and high proactive problem solving tended to perceive the TBL's effect on team skill improvement. Team efficacy and proactivity in problem solving had a positive effect on the perception of TBL. CONCLUSION: Medical students' perceptions of the effectiveness of TBL differ according to individual characteristics. The results of this study suggest that these individual characteristics should be considered in planning of team learning, such as TBL, to have a positive impact and stronger effects.

Early and Mid-term Changes of the Distal Aorta after Total Arch Replacement for Acute Type A Aortic Dissection

BACKGROUND: Total arch replacement (TAR) is being more widely performed due to recent advances in operative techniques and cerebral protective strategies. In this study, the authors reviewed the relationship between TAR and early- and mid-term changes of the false lumen after TAR in acute type A aortic dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients (aged, 54.7+/-13.3 years) who underwent TAR for acute type A dissection between June 2004 and February 2012 were reviewed. The relationship between the percentage change in the aortic diameter and the false lumen patency status was assessed by examining the early and late postoperative computed tomography imaging studies. RESULTS: There were two in-hospital mortalities, one late death, and three follow-up loses. The mean follow-up duration for the final 21 patients studied was 54+/-19.0 months (range, 20 to 82 months). The incidence of false lumen thrombosis within 2 weeks of surgery in the proximal, middle, and distal thoracic aorta, and the suprarenal and infrarenal abdominal aorta were 67%, 38%, 38%, 48%, and 33%, respectively, and 57%, 67%, 52%, 33%, and 33% for those examined at a mean of 49+/-18 months after surgery, respectively. The false lumen regressed in 11 patients (42.3%). The aortic diameters were larger in the patients with a patent false lumen than those with a thrombosed false lumen at all levels of the descending aorta (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: TAR and a more complete primary tear-resection can be accomplished with a relatively low-risk of morbidity and mortality. Enlargement of the distal aorta significantly correlated with the false lumen patency status.

The Unusual Suspect: Anemia-induced Systolic Anterior Motion of the Mitral Valve and Intraventricular Dynamic Obstruction in a Hyperdynamic Heart as Unexpected Causes of Exertional Dyspnea after Cardiac Surgery

Dynamic left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction is a characteristic feature of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; however, it can also occur in association with hyperdynamic LV contraction and/or changes in the cardiac loading condition, even in a structurally normal or near-normal heart. Here, we report a case of anemia-induced systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve and the resultant intraventricular obstruction in a patient who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and suffered from anemia associated with recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding.

Diagnosis of Acute Aortic Dissection by the 2010 American Heart Association Guideline at Emergency Room: Analysis of a Delayed Diagnosis

PURPOSE: Acute aortic dissection is a rare and life-threatening disease, requiring an immediate evaluation and treatment. In 2010, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association suggested a new risk score system for the detection of an acute aortic dissection. This system was applied to our known patients with acute aortic dissection. METHODS: 155 patients with acute aortic dissection regardless of the types from January 2000 to June 2012 were examined. The known risk factors and 12 newly proposed risk factors were compared, based on the new guidelines, after dividing them into a delayed diagnosis group and early diagnosis group. The impact of the aortic dissection detection (ADD) risk score on the diagnostic process was assessed. RESULTS: The abrupt onset of pain was the most frequent symptom (65.2%) and only had an impact on an early diagnosis (p=0.021). 83 patients (53.5%) showed a widened mediastinum in the chest X-rays. The diagnosis was delayed in 21 patients (13.8%). According to the new guideline, 149(96.1%) were identified by 1 or more of the 12 clinical markers. 6(3.8%), 88(56.8%) and 61(39.3%) patients were classified as low, intermediate and high risk, respectively. Three of the 6 low risk patients showed mediastinal widening. CONCLUSION: The clinical risk markers and the ADD risk score system in the 2010 guidelines detected patients with high sensitivity. The new risk score system appears to be a valuable diagnostic index at the initial presentation.

Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Initially Diagnosed with Myocardial Infarction

No abstract available.

Newly Developed Aortic Dissection After Aorta Cannulation During Mitral Valve Surgery in a Patient With Marfan Syndrome

We report a case of newly developed aortic dissection after aorta cannulation during mitral valve surgery in a patient with Marfan syndrome. An unexpected fatal complication of cardiac surgery detected on postoperative imaging survey in Marfan syndrome patient and its surgical finding are described.