• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.637-640
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• 2007

Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare benign cardiac tumor with an elevated risk for embolization and most papillary fibroelastomas do not cause symptoms. In this report, we describe a case of previous undiagnosed masses of the aortic valve that were incidentally found on intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography during coronary artery bypass surgery. Upon surgery, masses were found on the left and right aortic cusps and the pathological findings were consistent with a papillary fibroelastoma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1205-1213
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• 1997

This study reviewed useful aspects of the intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography among the patients in whom heart surgery were undertaken between January 1996 and July 1996 at St.Pauls hospital, Medical College of Catholic University, Seoul, Korea. During that period, 61 patients were operated on because of valvular heart disease(25 patients), coronary artery disease(22 patients), congenital heart disease(13 patients), and combined coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease(1 patient). Two patients(1 redo-VSD and 1 valvular heart diease) needed repeated aortic cross clamping and complementary procedures because of incomplete initial procedures. There was no incidence of air embolism. We could observe significant relationship of cardiac output monitoring methods either by thermodilution technique and transesophageal echocardiography by linear regression analysis(p<0.001). We tested myocardial response(percentage of systolic wall thickness, PSWT) with low dose dobutamine challenge to predict post-CABG myocardial perfusion. And the test showed statistically significant resp.onse(sensitivity 76%, specificity 94.7%, positive predictive value 95%, negative predictive value 75%). These results suggest that cardiac surgeon could draw more benefits by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.724-728
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• 2001

We report a case of an 8 years and 11 month-old male patient who had developed severe tricuspid insufficiency(TI) after correction of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery(ALCAPA). Transthoracic echocardiogram and coronary angiography confirmed ALCAPA, ischemic mitral regurgitation and trivial TI. He underwent direct reimplantation of the left coronary artery to the aortic root by using additional cannulation at the main pulmonary artery for arterial inflow and cardioplegia delivery to the left coronary artery. After the correction of ALCAPA, transesophageal echocardiogram(TEE) revealed good antegrade flow at the aortic implantation site of the left coronary artery and severe TI(Gr III-IV/IV). Cardiopulmonary bypass was reestablished and tricuspid valve was repaired with Kay-type annuloplasty, artificial chordae formation and chordal shortening plasty. The postrepair TEE revealed trivial to mild TI.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.8
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• pp.606-609
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• 2003

A 70-year-old man with aphasia due to ischemic cerebral events by thromboemboli was admitted. The cause of thromboemboli was investigated, and transesophageal echocardiography and chest MRI revealed an encapsulated cystic mass in the right atrium, not circulating. It was a homogeneous cystic mass suggesting a tumor (Myxoma) rather than thrombus. Right atrial mass was resected together with partial atrial septum under the normgthermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Histologically it was an atrial septal aneurysm, closed on itself, filled with blood. We re-port this rarely seen case with a review of the literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.448-451
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• 2004

Report of right atrial thrombus complicating pulmonary embolism after cardiac surgery is rare. A 54-year-old woman operated on the atrial septal defect 10 months ago was admitted for left pleuritic pain and dyspnea. Multiple segmental perfusion defects were detected in lung perfusion scan. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a large mobile right atrial mass attached to the free wall of the right atrium with a stalk. Despite the intravenous heparinization for 13 days, follow-up echocardiography revealed the right atrial mass had not diminished in size. The mass which was confirmed as an organizing thrombus was excised under cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on warfarin therapy.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 2009

Purpose : Active perioperative intervention and improvement on surgical technique has decreased the mortality rate of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC); however, when complicated with pulmonary venous obstruction, operative mortality is still high. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical course of TAPVC. Methods : Twenty-seven patients who were diagnosed with TAPVC (without other complex heart anomalies) by echocardiogram at Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 1994 to February 2008 were included. Results : Mean age at diagnosis was $28.1{\pm}33.4$ days (1-126 days). Sites of drainage were supracardiac type (15), cardiac (6), infracardiac (5), and mixed (1). Seven patients had pulmonary venous obstruction: 5 with supracardiac type, 1 with cardiac, and 1 with infracardiac. Intraoperative trans-esophageal echocardiograms were performed in 14 patients (58.3%). The operative mortality was 16.7% (4 of 24) and overall hospital mortality (including deaths without operation) was 22.2% (6 of 27). There were 5 postoperative pulmonary venous obstructions. The sites of obstruction were anastomotic in 3 of 5 (60%) patients, and ostial pulmonary vein in the other 2 (40%) patients. Three patients who presented with anastomotic pulmonary venous obstruction underwent reoperation, but all the patients were found to have pulmonary venous anastomotic obstruction. The other 2 patients with ostial pulmonary vein obstruction who had no significant symptoms were diagnosed by routine echocardiographic examination during follow-up. Conclusion : In TAPVC patients, early diagnosis and aggressive surgical management will improve prognosis, and we must pay attention to early and late pulmonary vein restenosis through intraoperative trans-esophageal echocardiogram and peri- and post-operative echocardiographic follow-up examinations.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.928-928
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• 2003

승모판성형술 직후에 시행한 재수술에 대한 연구보고는 많지 않다. 저자들은 승모판성형술 직후 성형술 실패로 판단되는 환자에서 즉시 시행한 재수술 결과에 대해 알아보았다. 대상 및 방법: 1995년 4월부터 2001년 7월까지 세종병원에서 승모판성형술을 받은 환자 중 체외순환 이탈 직후 시행한 경식도초음파 검사에서 승모판막폐쇄부전 혹은 협착이 의미있게 잔존하거나 다른 이유로 재수술이 즉시 필요하였던 18명을 대상으로 후향적으로 조사하였다. 남녀비는 5 : 13이었고 평균 연령은 44세였다. 승모판막 질환은 폐쇄부전 12명, 협착 3명, 그리고 혼합형이 3명이었다. 원인은 류머치스성 9명, 퇴행성 8명, 그리고 심내막염이 1명이었다. 재수술의 원인은 잔존 승모판폐쇄부전 13명, 협착 4명, 그리고 좌심실천공이 1명이었다. 14명(77.8%)에서 재성형술을, 4명에서는 인공기계판막치환술이 시행되었다. 결과: 조기사망은 없었다. 조기결과는 승모판막치환을 한 4명을 제외한 14명 중 13명(92.9%)에서 0-I도의 폐쇄부전을 보였고 협착은 14명 모두 경도 이하 상태였다. 평균 33개월을 추적조사 한 결과 1명이 술 후 4개월 후 심기능부전으로 사망하였다. 승모판폐쇄부전은 9명(64.3%)에서 0-I도를, 승모판협착은 11명(78.6%)에서 경도 이하였고 재수술은 1명에서 시행되었다. 6년 생존율과 재수술로부터의 자유도는 각각 94%와 90%였다. 4년 후 승모판폐쇄부전 및 협착 재발로부터의 자유도는 각각 56%와44%였다. 결론: 승모판막성형술 직후 재수술은 양호한 조기 및 중기 생존율을 보이며 일차성형술 실패 후에도 높은 빈도에서 재성형술이 가능하다. 하지만 재성형술 시 특히 류머치스성 판막질환에서는 판막 기능부전 발생률이 높기 때문에 성형술 후 판막부전의 재발을 줄이기 위해서는 성형술의 적절한 적용 및 적응증 선별이 중요할 것으로 생각된다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.447-455
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• 2009

Background: Prosthetic valve endocarditis usually presents with clinical symptoms that are more severe than native valve endocarditis, and prosthetic valve endocarditis shows the spread of infection into the surrounding tissue as well as into the superficial endocardial layers. The postoperative prognosis is especially poor for valve re-replacement for the cases of active endocarditis that are unable to receive a full-course of pre-antibiotic therapy due to complications and the ensuing clinical aggravation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical profiles, laboratory findings and mid-term surgical results of active prosthetic valve endocarditis. Material and Method: Among the 276 surgically treated infective endocarditis patients who were treated during the period from January 1998 to July 2008, 31 patients were treated for prosthetic valve endocarditis. Among these patients, 24 received surgical treatment for an 'active' state, and they were selected for evaluation. Result: The most frequently encountered symptom was a febrile sensation. Eight cases (33.3%) were accompanied by systemic thromboembolism, among which 5 cases (20.8%) had an affected central nervous system. 'Vegetations' were most commonly found on transesophageal echocardiography, and the 'Staphylococcus species' were the most frequent pathogens. There were 4 deaths in the immediate postoperative period, and an additional 4 patients died during the follow-up period (Mean$\pm$SD, 42.1$\pm$36.9 months). The cumulative survival rate was 79% at 1 year, 73% at 3 years, 66% at 5 year, and 49.5% at 7 years. Conclusion: The cases of active prosthetic valve endocarditis that were unable to receive a full course of preoperative antibiotics therapy generally have a poor prognosis. Nevertheless, early surgery and extensive resection of all the infected tissue is pivotal in improving the survival rate of patients with surgically treated active prosthetic valve endocarditis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.780-783
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• 2003

Pacemaker lead-related infective endocarditis is an uncommon, but serious complication. We report a case of a 45-year-old man who had symptom of intermittent high fever and rupture of sinus Valsalva that developed after a redo aortic valve replacement and transvenous permanent pacemaker implantation. Positive blood cultures of streptococcus viridans and transesophageal echocardiography showing a large mobile vegetation on pacemaker lead and tricuspid valve lead to the diagnosis of pacemaker lead-related infective endocarditis. Initial antibiotic therapy followed by surgical extraction of the pacemaker lead and wide debridement of infective tissues including multiple vegetations was required. Postoperative antibiotic therapy was continued for 4 weeks. The postoperative course has been uneventful. The patient is totally asymptomatic and is doing well up to now.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.259-264
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• 2003

Purpose : We have performed an analysis on patients who received Rastelli operation in our institute and reviewed their progress postoperatively. Various factors with suspected relationship to the outcome have been considered to help in future treatment and follow-up. Methods : We analyzed retrospectively 43 patients who either received Rastelli operation in Yonsei University Cardiovascular Center from March 1995 to April 1997 or who received post-procedural cardiac catheterization and follow-up echocardiography in the out-patient department after the procedure. Results : No statistically valid relationships were found between the age of the patient, their body weight, preoperative pulmonary arterial index and pressure, presence of pulmonary branchial stenosis and postoperative results. Cases with atrioventricular concordance showed lower age and body weight, and discordant cases exhibited lower ejection fraction 3 days postoperatively. Upon follow up, lower NYHA score was seen in patients with severe residual stenosis. In the group that received cardiac catheterization after the procedure, residual stenosis and right ventricular pressure measurement in echocardiography showed good correlation with the catheterization data. Conclusion : In cases where conduit insertions of the right ventricular outflow tract are required to achieve total correction in complex cardiac deformity, early operation does not seem to provide a clear risk to the patient. In patients with atrioventricular discordance, careful postoperative observation of the ventricular function seems to be needed. Also, echocardiography appears to be a sound method in follow-up of patients after the correctional procedure.