internal thoracic artery is used in myocardial revascularization because of many advantages. However, it may not be appropriate in the usual extrapleural or intrapleural route, because it can be easily displaced and injured due to the slender and weak characteristics. We introduce here, a simple technique of repositioning the skeletonized left internal thoracic artery in a stable and straight course by creating a tunnel between the left lateral pericardium and thymic tissue.
Mammary Arteries* ; Myocardial Revascularization ; Pericardium ; Skeleton*

A 56-year-old female with a permanent unipolar pacing (VVI) system underwent elective coronary bypass surgery and mitral valve replacement. Because the unipolar sensing is subject to considerable nonmyocardial electrical noise, the pacing function may be disturbed by the use of electrocautery. Temporary atrial and ventricular bipolar epicardial leads and external generator were used for maintaining A-V sequential pacing during the use of electrocautery. Before aortic cross-clamp was released after cardiac operation, regular cardiac rhythm could spontaneously be resumed with an integrated cardioplegic strategy, avoiding the use of defibrillator.
Defibrillators ; Electrocoagulation ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve ; Noise ; Thoracic Surgery*

Chronic irritation to arterial wall by foreign material may give rise to delayed vascular injury. A 50 years old male patient with kyphoscoliosis had undergone fixation of orthopedic Cotrel-Dubousset(CD) rods and screws. Fourteen months after that surgery, a false aneurysm of the descending thoracic aorta associated with pulsating hematoma in the muscular chest wall developed. The false aneurysm was managed by resecting the diseased aortic segment and replacing the vascular graft.
Aneurysm, False* ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedics ; Spine* ; Thoracic Wall ; Transplants ; Vascular System Injuries

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to analyze the early and intermediate-term performance of aortic valve replacement. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 1986 and January 1996, records of 61 consecutive patients who had received aortic valve replacement were reviewed. 38 were male and 23 were female patients, ranging from 10 to 71 years of age (mean: 40.5+/-11.2). RESULTS: The early death rate was 4.9% (3/61). A thorough follow-up rate of 93.1% was accomplished in these 58 patients who left the hospital (mean: 51.5+/-32.0 patient-months) under the assistance of the same operator. Three of these patients who left the hospital died. The late death rate was 5.2% (3/58). Five patients experienced anticoagulant-related hemorrhage (all were minor). Three patients had thromboembolic episodes. There was no clinical evidence of hemolysis and structural failure of valves used. Of those patients who survived, the NYHA functional class improved significantly. Linearized rate were 1.58%/patient-year and 2.0%/patient-year respectively for thromboembolism and anticoagulant-related hemorrhage. The 10 year actuarial survival rate was 83.6%. CONCLUSION: This early and intermediate-term follow-up suggests that the mechanical valve is a reliable and durable prosthesis with good hemodynamic function and low rate of prosthesis-related complication.
Aortic Valve* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemodynamics ; Hemolysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Male ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Prostheses and Implants ; Survival Rate ; Thromboembolism

BACKGROUND: Prolonged air leak is a common complication after thoracoscopic bullectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A technique is described to minimize postoperative air leak in thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of recurrent or persistent spontaneous pneumothorax. RESULTS: A 3.5cm utility incision is made in the anterior axillary line at the level of the third intercostal space, and blebs and bullae are stapled and sutured without excision, using standard surgical instruments and stapler. CONCLUSIONS: This technique may be useful to reduce prolonged air leak after removal of the bleb and bullous lesion, and may minimize the delayed recurrence of ipsilateral pneumothorax.
Blister* ; Pneumothorax ; Recurrence ; Surgical Instruments ; Thoracoscopy*

BACKGROUND: Anticoagulant therapy can be required during pregnancy with prosthetic heart valves. Warfarin and heparin provide real protection against thromboembolic phenomena, but they also carry serious risks for the fetus and the mother. In an attempt to identify the best treatment for pregnant women with cardiac valve prostheses who are receiving anticoagulant, we studied 19 pregnancies, the warfarin was discontinued and heparin was administered every 12 hours by subcutaneous injection in doses adjusted to keep the midinterval aPTT in the therapeutic range(at least 2-2.5 control) from the conception to the 12th week of gestation and oral antiocagulant was then administered until the middle of the third trimester in the therapeutic range(at least 2 INR), and heparin therapy was restared until delivery. Also in order to avoid an anticoagulant effect during delivery, it has been our practice to instruct women to either discontinue their heparin injections with the onset of labur or to stop heparin injections 12 hours prior to the elective induction of labour. RESULT: The outcome of 19 pregnancies managed with above protocol was spontaneous abortion in 3 cases, voluntary termination in 2 cases, premature delivery at 35 weeks in 1 case and delivery at full-term in 14 cases. There was no maternal morbidity and moratality and fetopathy. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in the second and third trimester of pregnancy, warfarin provide effective protection against thromboembolism, Oral antiocagulant therapy should be avoided in 2 weeks before delivery because of the risk of serious perinatal bleeding caused by the trauma of delivery to the anticoagulated fetus. However, the substitution of heparin at first trimester and 2 weeks before delivery reduce the incidence of complications.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fetus ; Heart Valve Prosthesis* ; Heart Valves* ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Mothers ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnant Women* ; Thromboembolism ; Warfarin

Inferior sinus venosus defect is a rare lesion in which there is a large interatrial communication adjacent to the atrial connection of the inferior caval vein. The defect is located posteriorly and inferiorly, outside the confines of the true atrial septum, and partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections are the rule. We underwent surgical repair in four patients with inferior sinus venosus defect and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return. There were three males and one female with an age range from four months to 25 years. A cross-sectional echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization had been performed preoperatively in all patients, but the correct diagnosis had been made in only one case. Surgical repair was indicated due to congestive heart failure, and one patient of 4-month-old needed urgent operation. The repair was accomplished by suturing a untreated autologous pericardial patch to the right of the pulmonary veins, so that the defect was closed and all the pulmonary venous blood was directed to the left atrium. The preoperative knowledge of the unusual anatomy allows the surgeon to repair the anomaly without difficulties. For the patients in whom interatrial communication and anomalous pulmonary venous return are suggested, surgeon has to pay careful attention to the anatomical landmarks to avoid incorrect placement of the patch.
Atrial Septum ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Catheters ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Heart Failure ; Heart Septal Defects ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pulmonary Veins ; Scimitar Syndrome ; Veins

Tailoring thoracoplasty is employed prior to, following, or concomitant with pulmonary resection when it is anticipated that insufHclent lung tissue will remain to fill the pleural space following a pulmonary resection. This study reviewed a series of eight patients treated with tailoring thoracoplasty between 1990 and 1995. Indications were to close a persistent space In four patients and to tailor the thoracic cavity to accept diminished lung volume concomitant with a pulmonary resection in the other four patients. The primary underlying disease was lung cancer in three patients and pulmonary tuberculosis In five patients, two of whom had concomitant aspcrgilloma, two, pneumothora, and one, empyema with bronchopleural fistula. In four patients with a prior pulmonary resection, the tailoring thoracoplasty was performed within eight days after the resection surgery. There was no failure to accommodate the thoracic cavity to insufficient lung tissue, even though two patients needed a second thoracoplasty. We conclude that tailoring thoracoplasty may be performed to close anticipated persistent pleural space and to accommodate diminished lung volume with acceptable cosmetic results Early, after, or concomitant with pulmonary resection in selected patients.
Empyema ; Fistula ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Thoracic Cavity ; Thoracoplasty* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

BACKGROUND: When internal thoracic artery (ITA) and saphenous vein graft are anastomosed to the same coronary artery, the patency rate of the internal thoracic artery graft with relatively narrow diameter may be decreased owing to competition of pressure and flow rate. We evaluate the clinical outcome and the patency of the ITA graft in patients undergoing dual grafting to the same coronary artery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In 14 patients with the ITA graft having relatively low flow, the ITA and saphenous vein graft were anastomosed to the same coronary artery. During the mean follow-up period of 33.5 months, coronary angiography was performed in 6 patients who complained of recurrent angina, needed confirmation of graft flow, or showed postoperative Q wave. RESULT: In all 6 patients, the ITA and saphenous vein grafts were patent without stenosis or obstruction. Two patients showed good flow in both grafts, 2 showed competitive flow in the ITA graft, and the remaining 2 showed poor flow in the ITA graft. CONCLUSION: Early operative closure When saphenous vein grafting was added to the same coronary artery that the internal thoracic artery was anastomosed to, the perfusion to the coronary artery was satisfied and the dual grafting did not affect the short-term and mid-term patency rate of the ITA.
Arteries* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Vessels ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mammary Arteries* ; Perfusion ; Saphenous Vein* ; Transplants*

The surgical management of acute type B dissection is controversial. The complexity of the repair usually requires a period of aortic cross-clamping exceeding 30 minutes, which can cause ischemic injury of the spinal cord. Several forms of distal perfusion have been considered for use to prevent this injury. To determine the safety and efficacy of a graft replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass in reparing acute dissection of descending thoracic aorta, we retrospectively reviewed our surgical experience treating 8 patients who had aortic dissection secondary to atherosclerosis, trauma, and carcinoma invasion. Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed with two aortic cannulas for simultaneous perfusion of the upper and lower body and one venous cannula for draining venous blood from the right atrium or inferior vena cava. Although aortic cross-clamp time was relatively long (average, 117.8 minutes; range, 47 to 180 minutes) in all cases, there was no neurologic deficit immediately after graft replacement for the aortic lesion. Two patients (25%) of relatively old age died on the postoperative 31st and 41st days, respectively, because of delayed postoperative complications, such as pulmonary abscess and adult respiratory distress syndrome. Although any of several maneuvers may be appropriate in managing dissection of the descending aorta, graft replacement with cardiopulmonary bypass during aortic cross-clamping may be a safe and effective method for the treatment of acute dissection of the descending thoracic aorta.
Aorta ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Atherosclerosis ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Catheters ; Extracorporeal Circulation* ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Lung Abscess ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Perfusion ; Postoperative Complications ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; Transplants ; Vena Cava, Inferior