Predisposing Factors of Postoperative Pulmonary Complication in Children with Congenital Heart Disease

PURPOSE: Postoperative care usually required 24-48 hours at intensive care unit (ICU) in children with congenital heart disease. More longer ICU stay may give more chances to produce the postoperative complications. Postoperative pulmonary complication is produced to a much higher incidence after longer immobilized state with keeping catheters and arterial and venous lines. So, we evaluated the predisposing factors those are oriented to ICU stay factors and age, hematologic abnormalities, hepatic dysfunction, infections during ICU care in children with congenital heart disease. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of postoperative factors for children undergoing open heart surgery in intensive cardiac unit, Wonkwang medical cardiac center. A total of 193 pediatric patients who had cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in a 10 year period from Jan. 1995 until Dec. 2004 were reviewed. After logistic regression test, predisposing factors were deemed significant if associated with a pulmonary complication with P<0.05. RESULTS: Children who fell postoperative pulmonary complication in our institution occupied 15% of 193 patients with congenital heart disease. Of all clinical factors considered, those significantly associated with postoperative pulmonary complication were as follows: high ALT level, longer duration of mechanical ventilation and arterial line maintenance. CONCLUSION: Prompt weaning of mechanical ventilation and removal of arterial line during ICU stay in children underwent open heart surgery may be necessary to decrease the risks of postoperative pulmonary complication.

Easy Exposure of Invisible Left Anterior Descending Artery / 대한흉부외과학회지

During coronary artery bypass surgery, there are several discrete maneuvers that facilitates localization of the invisible left anterior descending coronary artery. In some cases with intramyocardial left anterior descending artery, long-term patency of a bypassed graft may depend on anastomosing the internal mammary artery graft to the more proximal and superficial site of the intramyocardial left anterior descending artery. We describe an easy technique to locate the proximal superficial left anterior descending artery with a distal coronary arteriotomy and retrograde insertion of a coronary probe.

Clinical Results According to the Level and Extent of Sympathicotomy in Essential Hyperhidrosis / 대한흉부외과학회지

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic sympathicotomy is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of essential hyperhidrosis with immediate symptomatic improvement. However, this is offset by the occurrence of a high rate of side effects, such as embarrassing compensatory hyperhidrosis. Therefore, by comparing and assessing the degree of symptomatic improvement or compensatory sweating following sympathicotomy at various levels and the extent of block, we are to determine the optimal level of sympathicotomy and which method will result in minimal side effects and maximal benefits. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From January 1998 to June 2001, the thoracoscopic sympathicotomy was performed in 150 patients suffering from essential hyperhidrosis in the Dept. of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital. The patients were divided into three groups. Group I(n=50): patients having undergone T2,3,4 sympathicotomy, Group II(n=50): patients having undergone T2 sympathicotomy which consist of blocking the interganglionic neural fiber on the second rib, and group III(n=50): patients having undergone T3 sympathicotomy which consist of blocking the interganglionic neural fiber on the third rib. The parameters were composed of the satisfaction rate of treatment, the degree of compensatory sweating, postoperative complications, and changes of plantar sweating. RESULTS: There was no difference in age and sex among the groups. All of the treated patients obtained satisfactory alleviation of essential hyperhidrosis in immediate postoperative period. However the rate of long-term satisfaction were 80%, 92%, and 96% in groups I, II, and III respectively(p<0.05). More than embarrassing compensatory hyperhidrosis was present in 50%, 28%, and 18% in groups I, II, and III respectively(p<0.05). Slight but comfortable amounts of palmar humidness was expressed in decreasing order, group III(34%), group II(6%), and group I(4%) respectively (p<0.05). In regard to plantar sweating, decrease in sweating was expressed in each of the three groups, but was not significant between the groups. CONCLUSION: we suggested that the incidence and degree of compensatory hyperhidrosis is closely related to the site and the extent of thoracic sympathicotomy. The resection of the lower interganglionic neural fiber of the second thoracic sympathetic ganglion on the third rib is a practical and minimally invasive method for the treatment of essential hyperhidrosis than other surgical methods. It showed less incidence and degree of compensatory truncal hyperhidrosis and facial anhidrosis, and also caused lesser dryness of hand.

Surgical Treatment with Extracorporeal Circulation for Acute Dissection of Descending Thoracic Aorta / 대한흉부외과학회지

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.

Stapling and Suturing of Blebs and Bullae without Excision in Thoracoscopic Surgery / 대한흉부외과학회지

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.