BACKGROUND: Although various anastomotic techniques and suture materials have been used in esophageal anastomosis, anastomotic leakage and stenosis are still somewhat frequent and serious complications when compared to other intestinal anastomoses. We have used interrupted single-layer suture technique using monofilament polypropylene suture in various esophageal anastomoses, including repair of the esophageal atresia, since 1990. Methods and method: We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of this technique on postoperative leakage and stenosis in several esophageal reconstructions. The esophageal reconstructions using this technique were performed in 90 patients at Dong-A University Hospital from April 1990 through December 1996. RESULTS: Anastomotic leakage occurred in 5 patients (5.6%) with one operative death. Stenosis at the anastomotic site occurred in 15 patients (n=86, 17.4%), which was most common in esophagogastrostomy (22%) and least common in esophagocolostomy (5%). This result was comparable to other methods including the autosuture technique. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that this suture technique in esophageal anastomosis can be used with reasonable results in various esophageal reconstructions including correction of the esophageal atresia.
Anastomotic Leak ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Esophageal Atresia ; Humans ; Polypropylenes* ; Retrospective Studies ; Suture Techniques* ; Sutures*

We experienced a case of thoracic aortic aneurysm combined with coronary artery disease. A 68-year-old man complained of anginal pain in the left anterior chest and nonspecific pain in the posterior chest. The aneurysm was extending from left subclavian artery to the diaphragm and sign of impending rupture was noted in the chest CT. Coronary angiograms revealed significant obstruction of left circumflex coronary artery(>95%) and left anterior descending artery(>50%). Exposure was obtained through the left posterolateral thoracotomy incision in the 4th intercostal space and then partial femoro-femoral cardio- pulmonary bypass was established. After aortic cross clamping, the aneurysmal sac was opened and repaired with interposition of 26 mm Hemashield graft. Under the beating heart with femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass, aorto-left circumflex coronary bypass with autogenous saphenous vein used as conduit was performed. Postoperatively multiple cerebral infarction ensued due to intraoperative hypovolemic shock and hypoxic brain damage during cardiopulmonary bypass. Currently, the patient's mental status is drowsy and in an improving state.
Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cerebral Infarction ; Constriction ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diaphragm ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypoxia, Brain ; Rupture ; Saphenous Vein ; Shock ; Subclavian Artery ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplants

A 56-year old female underwent total aortic arch replacement March 1995, because of an expanding chronic Debakey type I aortic dissection. This aortic dissection had an intimal tear at the origin of the right carotid artery. Retrograde and antegrade propagation of dissection resulted in aortic arch blood flow separation and expanding pseudolumen to the abdominal aorta. Sudden anuria (ARF) developed 3 hours later postoperatively and renal doppler ultrasonography and aortography showed diminished blood flow of renal arteries. We performed balloon aortic dilatation but failed. She could be restored good renal flow after intimal flap fenestration resection and thrombectomy of the abdominal aorta. This patient could be discharged in a state of mild CRF after 2 months of ICU care for respiratory and renal failure.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Anuria ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Aorta, Thoracic* ; Aortography ; Carotid Arteries ; Dilatation ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Renal Artery ; Renal Insufficiency ; Thrombectomy ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

From May 1, 1993 to May 31 1995, the authers studied retrospectively 211 patients who underwent cardiovascular operation with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Because we were interested in new development of ARF (prevalence, mortality rate, and main risk factors), we performed a multivariate statistical analysis about data of patients with preoperative serum creatinine values of less than 1.5 mg/dL. Normal renal function before operation (serum creatinine level less than 1.5 mg/dL) was registered in 198 (74%) patients. Of these, 27 (14%) patients showed postoperative renal complication, including 20 (10%) patients classified as renal dysfunction (serum creatinine level between 1.5 and 2.5 mg/dL) and 7 (4%) patients as acute renal failure (serum creatinine level higher than 2.5 mg/dL). The mortality rate was 5.8% in normal patients, 5% in patients with renal dysfunction, and 43% when acute renal failure developed (p=0.036). Indeed, the renal impairment proved to be an independent predictor of mortality (odd ratio 2.52~11.25), along with cardiovascular (odd ratio 4.20) and respiratory (odd ratio 2.18) complications. Multivariate analysis identified the following variables as independent risk factors for postoperative renal impairment : advanced age (odd ratio 1), need for emergency operation (odd ratio 3.78), low-output syndrome (odd ratio 3.66), respiratory complication (odd ratio 1.30), need for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (odd ratio 1.4). The 13 patients (7%) with preoperative renal failure showed a significantly higher morbidity and mortality rate than those without renal complications before operation. We concluded that the likelihood of severe renal complications is resonably low in the patients undergoing cardiac operation without preexisting renal dysfunction, but associated mortality remains high. A prominant role of hemodynamic factor in the development of postoperative acute renal failure must be recognized during preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Circulatory Arrest, Deep Hypothermia Induced ; Creatinine ; Emergencies ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Mortality ; Multivariate Analysis ; Postoperative Period ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

The anomaly which the right pulmonary artery originates from the ascending aorta is a rare and usually fatal form of congenital heart disease. This lesion is often associated with a patent ductus arteriosus. Death frequently occurs in early infancy. Anomalous origin of the right pulmonary artery is much more common than anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery. The anomalous right pulmonary artery usually arise from the posterior aspect of the ascending aorta close to the aortic valve. We report a 1 month-old infant with right pulmonary artery arising from the ascending aorta, which was corrected successfully by direct anastomosis to the main pulmonary artery.
Aorta* ; Aortic Valve ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Pulmonary Artery*

There remains controversy regarding the appropriate surgical treatment for coarctation of the aorta because of relatively high rate of recoartation and high mortality in the cases associated with complex anomalies. We evaluated 31 consecutive patients who underwent surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta from May 1992 through June 1996. Nineteen patients(61.3%) were neonates and 26(83.9%) were under three months. Nine patients did not have major associated anomalies(Group I), 15 patients had ventricular septal defect(Group II), and 7 patients had major complex anomalies(Group III). 35.5% of the patients had arch hypoplasia. Surgical procedures performed were as follows: extended end-to-end anastomosis in 17 patients, combined resection-flap procedure in 7 patients, and subclavian flap aortoplasty in 7 patients. Residual coarctation occurred in 7(25%) of 28 patients; 2 after subclavian flap aortoplasty(2/6, 33.3%), none after combined resection-flap procedure(0/7, 0%)), and 5 after extended end-to-end anastomosis(5/15, 33.3%). Higher incidence of residual coarctation was noticed in the group with arch hypoplasia. The incidence of postoperative coarctation at a mean follow-up of 20.5 months in survivals was 12.0%(3/25); 2 cases after subclavian flap aortoplasty(2/6, 33.3%), none after combined resection-flap procedure(0/7, 0%), and one after end-to-end anastomosis(1/12, 8.3%). The mortality rate related to coarctation repair was 9.7%(3 patients, all in Group III). This study revealed that isolated coarctation of aorta and coarctation with ventricular septal defect(groups I and II) can be repaired with low mortality, but repair of coarctation with complex anomaly had a high operative mortality. Also the patients with arch hypoplasia had higher incidence of post-operative residual coarctation.
Aortic Coarctation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Mortality

Pulmonary aspergilloma is potentially a life threatening disease resulting from the colonization of lung cavities by Aspergillus fumigatus. A case is reported: a 43-year-old man with symtomatic cavitary aspergilloma presenting with severe productive coughing, hemoptysis, occasional fever, and chilling. On preoperative plain chest radiograph and CT scan, we could find a rounded irregular opacity in a large pulmonary cavity. He received 2 separate operations for therapeutic need. At the first opertion, we performed cavernostomy and thoracoplasty because of severe pleural adhesions, tearing of cavity wall, and high risk of respiratory insufficiency. At the second operation, we performed myoplasty and omentoplasty for closure of remaining air space and complete wrapping of the BPF site. All symptoms of dyspnea and hemoptysis have since resolved. We believed that in the high risk patients who have severe respiratory symptoms, such as in aspergilloma and open cavity with a risk of respiratory insufficiency, cavernostomy followed by myoplasty or omentoplasty should be recommended.
Adult ; Aspergillus fumigatus ; Colon ; Cough ; Dyspnea ; Fever ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lung ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Surgical Flaps ; Thoracoplasty ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

A 50-year-old male patient was admitted due to right ventricular and aortic foreign bodies with ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm. The patient had a history of Kirschner wire fixation of right sternoclavicular joint 3 months ago. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, two K-wires were removed and injured pulmonary valve leaflet and aortic wall were repaired successfully. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 14th postoperative day.
Aneurysm, False ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Valve ; Sternoclavicular Joint

BACKGROUND: Anatomic correction of transposition of the great arteries by means of the arterial switch operation is now accepted as the therapeutic method of choice. This retrospective study attempts to assess the results of the neonatal arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries performed by our newly established institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 33 consecutive neonates underwent the arterial switch operation between October 1991 to November 1997. There were 27 neonates with transposition and intact ventricular septum, 3 with ventricular septal defect, and 3 with Taussig-Bing anomaly. The mean age was 10.9+/-7.9 days and mean body weight was 3.29+/-0.44kg. RESULTS: Overall postoperative hospital mortality was 30.3% (10 patients). The mortality has improved with time; 75% (6 patients) among first 8 consecutive patients before 1994, 20% (2 patients) among 10 patients in 1994 and 1995, and 13.3% (2 patients) among 15 patients since 1996. Univariated analysis of risk factors revealed that earlier date of the operations and one of preoperative events were determinants for operative death. There were two late deaths. A mean follow-up of 17.4+/-16.5 months was achieved in all 21 survivors. All were in New York Heart Association functional class I. One patient had mild pulmonary stenosis and two had mild aortic valve regurgitation on their echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that we should continue to perform arterial switch operation for neonates with transposition of the great arteries because the mortality of the operation has been improved and the operative survivors have good functional results with low incidence of late complications.
Aortic Valve ; Arteries ; Body Weight ; Double Outlet Right Ventricle ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survivors ; Transposition of Great Vessels ; Ventricular Septum

A 56 years old male patient admitted to our neurology department because of repeated tingling sensation in right 3, 4, 5th. fingers and weakness on grasping, which were progressively developed recently. At this time, he had also suffered from claudication in both lower extremities. Carotid angiogram showed that right internal carotid artery was obstructed completely, and both common, both external and left internal carotid arteries had significant stenosis, Concommitantly, aortogram suggested complete obstruction just below the renal arteries. We planned staged operation for two separated arterial lesions. Both carotid endarterectomy was performed. and we used carotid shunt for left side during operation. Abdominal aortic lesion was operated 2 weeks later. We obligately clamped aorta just below the celiac artery and infused kidney perservation solution to pertect kidney during ischemia. Reversed Y bypass graft and kidney perservation was successful despite of 40 minute ischemia. Postoperative coure was uneventful and patient was discharged without any specific problem.
Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal* ; Carotid Arteries* ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Carotid Stenosis ; Celiac Artery ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Endarterectomy, Carotid* ; Fingers ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Ischemia ; Kidney* ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurology ; Organ Preservation ; Renal Artery ; Sensation ; Transplants*