• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 2013

Background: We present our 12-year experience of pulmonary thromboendarterectomy in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Materials and Methods: Between January 1999 and March 2011, 16 patients underwent pulmonary thromboendarterectomy. Eleven patients (69%) were classified as functional class III or IV based on the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. Seven patients had a history of inferior vena cava filter insertion, and 5 patients showed coagulation disorders. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy was performed during total circulatory arrest with deep hypothermia in 14 patients. Results: In-hospital mortality and late death occurred in 2 patients (12.5%) and 1 patient (6.3%), respectively. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support was required in 4 patients who developed severe hypoxemia after surgery. Thirteen of the 14 survivors have been followed up for 54 months (range, 2 to 141 months). The pulmonary arterial systolic pressure and cardiothoracic ratio on chest radiography was significantly decreased after surgery ($76{\pm}26$ mmHg vs. $41{\pm}17$ mmHg, p=0.001; $55%{\pm}8%$ vs. $48%{\pm}3%$, p=0.003). Tricuspid regurgitation was reduced from $2.1{\pm}1.1$ to $0.7{\pm}0.6$ (p=0.007), and the NYHA functional class was also improved to I or II in 13 patients (81%). These symptomatic and hemodynamic improvements maintained during the late follow-up period. Conclusion: Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension shows good clinical outcomes with acceptable early and long term mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.867-870
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• 2007

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined as venous and/or arterial thromboses, recurrent fetal losses, thrombocytopenia in combination with repeatedly positive tests for the lupus anticoagulant (LAC), and anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL). The pulmonary manifestation is APS are relatively rare. We report a rare case of antiphopholipid syndrome with systemic lupus erythematosus in a patient who presented with pulmonary hypertension secondary to a chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. A bilateral thromboendarterectomy was performed satisfactorily and the incision was extended to the left intrapleural pulmonary artery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.684-687
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• 2002

Besides lung transplantation, pulmonary thromboembolectomy is the only effective therapeutic option for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. It is however associated with a considerably high hospital mortality between 6.6 to 23%. Proper patient selection is critical when considering a patient for pulmonary thromboembolectomy. And It cannot be overemphasised that the key to the success of the operation is complete endarterectomy of the entire pulmonary arterial tree. We report that pulmonary thromboendarterectomy under total circulatory arrest was an effective and safe method in the surgical correction of the chronic thrornboernbolic pulmonary hypertension and enabled complete removal of superimposed peripheral organized thrombi in a good operative field.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1092-1100
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• 1989

Since May 1987 to April 1989, fifteen patients have been subjected to coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] including coronary thromboendarterectomy in 3 patients at Hanyang University Hospital. The correlation between the preoperative coronary angiography, electrocardiography, clinical status, operative finding and postoperative blood flow, complication and degree of clinical improvement were evaluated. 1. Ten patients [67 %] were male and five patients [33 %] were female, Ages ranged from 30 to 68 years. [average 52.2 years] 2. The angina by types of presentation was stable in 3 patients, unstable in 12 patients with resting, postinfarction and progressive angina as the criteria of unstability. 3. The number of involved vessels were single in 6 cases, double in 4 cases, triple in 5 cases including 1 case of left main coronary arterial disease. 4. The distribution of sites of distal anastomosis revealed predilection to left coronary arterial system [83 %], especially left anterior descending arterial system. 5. The author performed 4 cases of single bypass, 4 cases of double bypass, 5 cases of triple bypass and 2 cases of quadruple bypass. Of these 15 patients, 3 patients received coronary thromboendarterectomy, LAD in 2 patients and right coronary artery [RCA] in 1 patient. 6. The distal anastomosis were performed first with using saphenous vein grafts as conduits in all cases except 1 case using Gore-Tex conduit because of deficient in length and narrowed internal mammary artery and sequential bypass methods were employed in last 6 cases. 7. One operative death occurred and therefore, mortality rate was 6.7%. The perioperative myocardial infarction were occurred in 3 cases [20%] and its cause was supposed that they were triple vessel disease and therefore, aortic cross clamping times were relatively long. 8. All survivors were followed for 17.7 months on an average [range 5-28 months] and they have had symptomatic improvement except 1 case having mild degree of angina at 1.5 months after operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.127-132
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• 1970

A patient was 29 year old house wife who was admitted to the Yonsei University Medical Center on 6 th of Nov., in 1970, with chief complaints of complete loss of bilateral visual acuity, generalized weakness, frequent palpitations, claudication of masseter muscles and intermittent fainting. These symptoms were developed 5 years prior to admission. Physical finding on admission revealed complete loss of bilateral visual acuity, absence of both radial and carotid pulse, but there was good femoral and popliteal pulse. She couldn't open her mouth as she desired and had weakness of mastication. Radiological findings of plane chest PA were not significant. Aortogram(Cineangiogram) showed non-visualization of both carotid and subclavian arteries. It showed only innominate and interal mammary artery preoperatively. The operative findings were as follows: There were complete obliterative changes in both common carotid and subclavian arteries, and periarteritis in the innominate artery. Tube Dacron Prosthesis Bypass with V-arm between innominate artery and both common carotid arteries was performed after thromboendarterectomy. Histopathological finding of the thromboend arterectomy specimen was compatible with pulseless disease, which showed marked fibrous thickening of intima and a diffuse inflammatory cell infiltration of the whole layers. Her postopererative course was uneventful. Follow up aortogram(Cineangiogram) was taken on 11th postoperative day, which revealed both common carotid arteries patent. Her preoperative Subjective symtoms disappeared remarkably, such as her visual acuity improved much, fainting and vertigo disappeared completely and she can go to bath room without difficulty and help. Another patient was 34 year old house wife who was admitted on August, 1964 with chief complaints of frequent fainting and progresive visual loss. She was operated only thromboendarterectomy of both common carotid arteries. Postoperative course was smooth and subjective symptoms were disappeared.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.1201-1208
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• 1991

Two successful pulmonary thromboendartectomies were performed. In the first case, it was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia and ventricular fibrillation In the second case, it was done under deep hypothermia and intermittent circulatory arrest. The patients are recovered uneventfully without complication and discharged from the hospital on warfarin. Their symptoms were improved and the follow-up pulmonary perfusion scans revealed no evidence of residual pulmonary embolus in both cases.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.373-376
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• 2001

만성 폐색전증으로 혈전 제거술을 하고 난 다음 기관지내 대량 출혈은 빈도는 적으나 상당히 높은 사망률을 보이는 합병증 중의 하나이다. 기관지내 대량 출혈이 생겼을 때 체외 막 산소화 장치와 각각 다르게 조절한 인공호흡기 2대를 이용하여 특별한 휴유증 없이 잘 치료한 경험을 하였기에 보고하는 바이다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.109-116
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• 1974

Eleven cases of peripheral arterial injuries treated at Korea University Woo Sok Hospital during these 3 years and 3 months from Feb. 1971Eleven cases of peripheral arterial injuries treated at Korea University Woo Sok Hospital during these 3 years and 3 months from Feb. 1971 to May 1974 were reviewed. Common causes of injuries were stab wound, automobile accidents and iatrogenic injuries during operation. Of the 11 arterial injuries 3 were femoral artery which` was the commonest in frequency and the next was 2 cases of brachial artery. The most frequent type of injury was transection. Laceration, contusion and spasm was also recognized. The need to operate immediately following an injury was emphasized. Operative procedures were end to end anastomosis and saphenous vein graft in 5 and 2 cases, respectively. Other cases were undergone multiple suture ligature due to staphyllococcal infection, insertion of polyethylene catheter, and lateral suture after thromboendarterectomy. Fractures and extensive soft tissue damage associated with arterial injuries with widespread destruction of the collateral circulation aggravated the situation and complicated the amputation of lower extremity in 4 cases. The factors influencing the amputation were time lag, presence of associated injuries and complications.[KTCS 1974;1:109-116] Common causes of injuries were stab wound, automobile accidents and iatrogenic injuries during operation. Of the 11 arterial injuries 3 were femoral artery which` was the commonest in frequency and the next was 2 cases of brachial artery. The most frequent type of injury was transection. Laceration, contusion and spasm was also recognized. The need to operate immediately following an injury was emphasized. Operative procedures were end to end anastomosis and saphenous vein graft in 5 and 2 cases, respectively. Other cases were undergone multiple suture ligature due to staphyllococcal infection, insertion of polyethylene catheter, and lateral suture after thromboendarterectomy. Fractures and extensive soft tissue damage associated with arterial injuries with widespread destruction of the collateral circulation aggravated the situation and complicated the amputation of lower extremity in 4 cases. The factors influencing the amputation were time lag, presence of associated injuries and complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.10
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• pp.792-796
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• 2001

Chronic pulmonary artery thromboembolism is a relatively rare phenomenon causing hypoxia and pulmonary hypertension that eventually leads to respiratory failure and right heart failure. Patients with acute pulmonary artery thromboembolism are generally treated with antithrombotics and thrombolytics. However, in cases with chronic pulmonary artery thromboembolism the fibrinized thrombus is so strongly adhered to the pulmonary artery wall that medical treatment becomes ineffective and surgical treatment must then be considered. We report a 47year old patient, with a history of repeated admission due to unresolved chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic pulmonary artery thromboembolism at a local hospital, who underwent a successful endarterectomy of pulmonary artery thromboemboli using intermittent total circulatory arrest.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.644-650
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• 2005

Background : Bilateral pulmonary thromboendarterectomy(PTE) is recognized as the definitive treatment for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We investigated the symptomatic, hemodynamic and prognostic effects of PTE in comparison with medical treatment. Methods : Twenty-four patients diagnosed with CTEPH from 1995 to 2003 at the Asan Medical Center were divided into two groups: patients treated with PTE(PTE group, n=12) and those not treated with PTE(Med group, n=12). The serial changes in dyspnea, the tricuspid regurgitation maximal velocity (TRVmax) and survival of the PTE and Med groups were compared retrospectively. Results : In PTE group, during a follow-up period of 1 year, the New York Heart Association(NYHA) functional class significantly improved, while there was no significant improvement in the Med group. PTE significantly lowered the TRVmax from $4.23{\pm}0.54m/sec$ to $3.22{\pm}0.70m/sec$ over a follow up period of 2 years. (p=0.028) However, the TRVmax in the medically treated group did not show any significant improvement, changing from $3.98{\pm}0.68m/sec$ to $4.27{\pm}0.95m/sec$ during 1 year. The 5-year survival of the PTE group was 77.9% compared with 64.3% in the medically treated group. Conclusion : PTE provides substantial long-term improvement in dyspnea and the echocardiographic changes compared with medically treated patients.