• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 1996

From March, 1983 to June, 1994, twenty-two patients underwent coronary artery and combined operations. The ages of the patients ranged from 42 years to 72 years (mean 60.4$\pm$8.2 years). There were 17 male and 5 female patients. The left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction ranged from 25% to 65% (mean 46.9$\pm$14.2%). Nine patients had mechanical complication of myocardial infarction (MI), of which 5 were LV aneurysm, 3 ventricular septal defect and 1 mitral regurgitation. Nine patients had rheumatic valvular heart disease of whom 7 with aortic valve disease and 2 with mitral valve disease. Two other patients had left atrial thrombi, only one with atrial septal defect a d another with aneurysm of ascending aorta. An average of 2.1$\pm$1.0 bypasses was done, ranging from one to four. There were 3 postoperative complications; 2 perioperative MI and 1 leg wound infection. Among complicated patients, mortality was 1 patient (4.5%) due to low cardiac output syndrome after perioperative MI. With 3 to 136 months follow-up (mean 41.1$\pm$40.2 months), late mortality was 1 patient due to cerebral vascular accident. Among long-term survivors, all patients are in New York Heart Association functional class I or II. Although the number of patients was small, our surgical results were favorable. Therefore we think that coronary revascularization combined with heart operation does not increase the operative risk when associated coronary artery disease is present, and it reduces the occurrence of late death.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1111-1116
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• 1988

Neurofibromatosis is very rare syndrome characterized by abnormal cutaneous pigmentation and numerous skin tumors was described by Smith in 1849, which is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Von Recklinghausen reported 2 cases of multiple skin and subcutaneous tumors in 1982. Malignant peripheral nerve tumors, although generally rare, are one of the most characteristic malignant tumors associated with Neurofibromatosis. We have experienced 3 cases of malignant Schwannoma in neurofibroma patients from 1982 to 1988 for 6 years at Thoracic and Cardiovascular surgery department, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. l. One is 62 years old female who was taken total hysterectomy followed by irradiation treatment due to Uterine Carcinoma 21 years ago. She had a large bulging mass on left anterior chest wall and was taken enbloc resection of tumor including rib confirmed malignant Schwannoma. 2. Another is 18 years old female who had large bulging mass on right chest wall and pleural effusion in right thoracic cavity. Thoracentesis revealed a large amount of lymphocytes misdiagnosed of Tbc, pleurisy with Neurofibromatosis. We performed tissue biopsy on bulging mass and the specimen was confirmed malignant Schwannoma 2 months after first diagnosis of Tbc. pleurisy. She was not accessible to radical resection because of far advanced malignant Schwannoma at that time. 3. Third case is 28 years old male who was taken enbloc resection of tumor including rib due to Neurofibroma with Neurofibromatosis at M. hospital 6 months ago. But he had rapid growing mass at operation site again and taken tissue biopsy confirmed of malignant Schwannoma. He was not accessible to enbloc resection due to malignant Schwannoma extending to mediastinal structures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.768-773
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• 2004

Failure of mitral valve repair sometimes may be ascribed to severe or progressive alteration of the subvalvar apparatus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of new chordae formation on mitral repair. Material and Method: From March 1997 to february 1999, 26 patients underwent mitral valve repairs with new chordae formation, we compared the symptoms and echocardiographic findings checked at preoperative state, and intraoperative period, discharge, and their last OPD visit. There were 45 male, and 11 female patients, and their mean age was 51.2$\pm$43.4 years. Etiology of the lesions was degenerative (18), rheumatic (6), infective (1) and ischemic (1). Chordal lesions were caused by rupture (18), elongation (6), and a combination of two causes (2). Associated lesions included atrial septal defect (2), tricuspid insufficiency (7), aortic insufficiency(4), and a combination of previous two factors (2). The number of mean artificial chordae was 3.6$\pm$1.6. Annuloplasty was per-formed in all cases. The CPB time was 182,1$\pm$63.7 minutes and the ACC time was 133.1$\pm$45.6 minutes. Aver-age follow up period was 49.2$\pm$7.1 months. Result: There was no early death. Early reoperation was performed in bud patients, one patient received mitral valve replacement because of an abnormality of annuloplasty and ano-ther received pericardiostomy due to postoperative pericardial effusion. During the follow up of 49.2$\pm$7.1 moths, there was no late mortality. Postoperative NYHA functional class checked at last OPD visit was class I in 22 patients (88%), class II in 2 (8%), and class III in 1 (4%). Regarding the late echocardiogram MR was absent in 20 patients (78%), 1 in 4 (15%), and II in 1 (4%). The postrepair mitral valve area was 2.2$\pm$0.35 $\textrm{cm}^2$ Conclusion: This study suggests that mitral valve repair using new chordae formation provides good early and mid term survivals and functional improvement. We think that the artificial chorda formation with polytetrafluoroethylene suture might be safe and effective technique for mitral valve repair.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.573-579
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• 2008

Background: Composite valve graft replacement is currently the treatment of choice for a wide variety of the lesions of aortic root disease. The purpose of this study was to explore the results of aortic root replacement after using the Cabrol technique over a 13-year period at our institution, and we analyzed the results to help surgeons make better decisions when repairing aortic root disease. Material and Method: Between January 1994 and December 2006, twenty-five patients underwent a Cabrol technique operation at our institution. The mean patient age was $43.7{\pm}14.1$ years old (range: $6{\sim}65$ years) and the male and female ratio was 21:4 (84% : 16%). The patients' follow-up was 100% complete, and the mean follow-up period was $60.7{\pm}50.4$ (range:$1{\sim}162$) months. Annuloaortic ectasia (n=18) was the most frequent cause of aortic disease in this series, followed by aortic dissection (n=7). The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was $177.2{\pm}44.9$ minutes and the mean aortic cross clamping time was $123.4{\pm}34.1$ minutes. Nine patients were checked with MDCT (Multidetector computed tomography) for evaluating a well functioning secondary graft and the coronary anastomosis site. Result: The early mortality rate was 4% (1 of 25 patients). A significant stenosis, kinking or occlusion of the secondary graft was detected by MDCT in 4 patients. The overall survival rate was 88%. Conclusion: The Cabrol technique demonstrated a significant incidence of long-term complications such as secondary graft stenosis or obstruction. It could be used when the modified Bentall technique is not feasible.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.929-936
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• 2003

We analysed the surgical outcomes of immediate reoperations after mitral valve repair. Material and Method: Eighteen patients who underwent immediate reoperation for failed mitral valve repair from April 1995 through July 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. There were 13 female patients. The mitral valve disease was regurgitation (MR) in 12 patients, stenosis (MS) in 3, and mixed lesion in 3. The etiologies of the valve disease were rheumatic in 9 patients, degenerative in 8, and endocarditis in 1. The causes of reoperation was residual MR in 13 patients, residual MS in 4, and rupture of left ventricle in 1. Fourteen patients had rerepair for residual mitral lesions (77.8%) and four underwent replacement. Result: There was no early death. After mean follow-vp of 33 months, there was one late death. Echocardiography revealed no or grade 1 of MR (64.3%) in 9 patients and no or mild MS in 11 patients (78,6%). Reoperation was done in one patient. The cumulative survival and freedom from valve-related reoperation at 6 years were 94% and 90%, respectively. The cumulative freedom from recurrent MR and MS at 4 years were 56% and 44%, respectively. Conclusion: This study suggests that immediate reoperation for failed mitral valve repair offers good early and intermediate survival, and mitral valve rerepair can be successfully performed in most of patients. However, because mitral rerepair have high failure rate, especially in rheumatic valve disease, adequate selections of valvuloplasty technique and indication are important to reduce the failure rate of mitral rerepair.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.261-266
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• 2003

Background: Surgery of abdominal aortic aneurysm revealed high operative mortality. We reviewed our 11-years' experiences of abdominal aortic aneurysm operation and wish to obtain information on the treatment. Material and Method: From Jan. 1990 to Dec. 2000, 48 patients were operated due to abdominal aortic aneurysm in Yonsei Cardiovascular Center Mean age was $62.8{\pm}12.7$ and there were 40 males and 8 females. Among 48 patients, nine patients had ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, and mean aneurysm diameter of non-ruptured cases was $8.8{\pm}2.4$cm. Result: There were 6 early deaths, and early mortality was 12.5%. Among 9 patients of preoperative aneurysm rupture, three patients died (33.3%), and among 39 patients of non-ruptured cases, 3 patients died (7.7%). Among preoperative variables, age (p<0.05), preoperative BUN level (p<0.05), and DM (p<0.05) were risk factors of early mortality. Among discharged 42 patients, 40 patients were followed up (f/u rate=95.2%) and mean follow up was $3.6{\pm}0.2$ years. During follow up periods, five patients died (late mortality=11.9%), and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed $81.7{\pm}7.6$% survival rate at five and ten year. Linealized incidence of graft related event was 3.53% per patient-year. Conclusion: Surgical mortality of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm was higher than non-ruptured cases; therefore, early resection of the aneurysm can decrease the surgical mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.10 s.255
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• pp.693-698
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• 2005

Background: Sinus valsalva aneurysm (SVA) is a rare disease, and it is frequently accompanied by ventricular septal defect and aortic valve regurgitaion. For treatment of SVA, several surgical mordalities were applied, but there was no report on the long-term result after surgical repair in Korea. We reviewed our 28 years of experiences and analyzed the long-term results after treatment of sinus valsalva aneurysm with or without rupture. Material and Method: Between March 1974 and February 2002, 81 patients were operated under the impression of sinus valvsalva aneurysm or sinus valsalva aneurym rupture. Retrospectively we reviewed the patients' record. Mean age of patients was $29.2\pm11.5$ and there were 49 males. Accompanyng diseases were as follows: VSD in 50, PDA in 2, Behcet's disease in 2, TOF in 1, RVOTO in 1, AAE in 1. Seventy-seven $(95\%)$ patients had sinus valsalva rupture and in 14 patients, subacute bacterial endocarditis was accompanied. Degree of aortic valve regurgitation was as follows: grade I: 8, II: 10, III: 9, IV: 4. Most common rupture site was right coronary sinus (66 patients, $81\%$) and most common communication site was right ventricle (53 patients). In repair of sinus valsalva rupture, patch was used in 37 patients, and direct suture was done in 38 patients. Result: There was one surgical death $(1.2\%)$. Follow up was done in 78 patients $(97.5\%)$, mean follow up period was $123.3\pm80.9(3\~330\;months)$. During the follow up period, 3 patients died $(3.8\%)$. One patient died of heart failure, another patient died of arrhythmia and the other one died of unknown cause. In two patients, complete atrio-ventricular block was developed during follow up period, and there was no operation related event or complication. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed $92.5\pm3.5\%$ survival at 15 and 27 years and it seems to be satisfactory. Conclusion: Long-term surgical results and survival is satisfactory after repair of sinus valsalva aneurysm with or without rupture.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.384-390
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• 2003

Background: Since Ross and Sormeville first reported the use of aortic homograft valve for correction of pulmonary atresia in 1966, homograft valves are widely used in the repair of congenital anomalies as conduits between the pulmonary ventricle and pulmonary arteries. On the basis of these results, we have used it actively. In this report, we describe our experience with the use of cryopreserved valved homograft conduits for infants and children requiring right ventricle to pulmonary artery connection in various congenital cardiac anomalies. Material and Method: Between January, 1996 and December 2001, 27 infants or children with a median age of 16 months(range 9days to 18years) underwent repair of RVOTO using homograft valved conduit by two surgeons. We studied 22 patients who have been followed up at least more than one year. The diagnosis at operation included pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (n=13), truncus arteriosus (n=3), TGA or corrected TGA with RVOTO (n=6). Homograft valved conduits varied in size from 15 to 26 mm (mean, 183.82 mm). The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 80.4 months (median, 48.4 months). Result: There was no re-operation due to graft failure itself. However, early progressive pulmonary homograft valve insufficiency developed in one patient, that was caused by dilatation secondary to the presence of residual distal pulmonary artery stenosis and hypoplasia after repair of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect. This patient was required reoperation (conduit replacement). During follow-up period, there were significant pulmonary stenosis in one, and pulmonary regurgitation more than moderate degree in 3. And there were mild calcifications at distal anastomotic site in 2 patients. All the calcified homografts were aortic in origin. Conclusion: We observed that cryopreserved homograft conduits used in infant and children functioned satisfactorily in the pulmonic position at mid-term follow-up. To enhance the homograft function, ongoing investigation is required to re-establish the optimal strategy for the harvest, preservation and the use of it.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.679-683
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• 1998

From June 1995 to May 1997, we have implanted 52 Sorin Bicarbon mechanical valves in 41 patients. They were 16 men and 25 women, and their mean age was 47.4${\pm}$14.8(range; 18∼74 y.o.). 35(27 mm∼31 mm) were in mitral position, 15(19 mm∼25 mm) in aortic position, and 2(31 mm) in tricuspid position. 3 CABGs and a tumor excision were taken concomittantly. 35 patients were primary operation, and 6 were re-do operations. By intraoperative transesophageal doppler echocardiography, transvalvular peak/mean pressure gradient was 6.1${\pm}$2.7/2.4${\pm}$1.4 mmHg in mitral position and 27.6/10.7 mmHg in aortic position. The effective valve opening area in mitral position was 3.2${\pm}$0.6 cm2. Follow-up was total 508.6 patient-months, and mean follw-up was 12.7${\pm}$9.2 months. NYHA class was improved from 2.6${\pm}$0.6 to 1.2${\pm}$0.3 in average postoperatively. During that period, there was no operative death. 2 late non-valve related deaths were occurred. One was died of COPD, and the other was possible acute myocardial infarction. Among 7 postoperative complications, one valve related complication(minimal paravalvular leakage) was noticed. In conclusion, Sorin Bicarbon mechanical valve is believed one of the safe choice in clinical settings. It showed excellent hemodynamic and mechanical functions, and very low postoperative valve related complications in short term clinical experience.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.1 s.270
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

Backgound: It has been shown that the endothelium of cardiac valves and adjacent great vessels have a reduced immune reaction compared to other vessels. We investigated the clinical feasibility of using immunologically untreated xenogenic valves, in a pig-to-goat pulmonary valve conduit implantation model. Material and Method: Porcine pulmonary valve conduits were prepared without specific immunologic treatment and implanted into the right ventricular outflow tract of goats while undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Two goats each were assigned to the following observation time intervals: one day, one week, three months, six months and twelve months. Echo-cardiographic examinations were performed prior to sacrifice of the goat to evaluate pulmonary valve function. After the xenograft specimens were retrieved, histological changes were evaluated microscopically. Result: Ten of the twelve animals survived the predetermined observation time intervals. Aneurysmal dilatations, of the anterior wall of the implanted pulmonary artery, were observed at each of three and twelve month-survival animals. A variable degree of pulmonary valve regurgitation was observed on echocardiography. However, valve stenosis, thrombotic occlusion and vegetation were not seen. Microscopically, the nuclei of the donor tissue disappeared as a result of pyknosis and karyolysis; however the three components of the implanted xenografts (the pulmonary artery, the valve and the infundibulum) were gradually replaced by host cells over time, while maintaining their structural integrity. Conclusion: Immunologically untreated xenogenic pulmonary valve conduits were replaced by host cells with few observed clinical problems in a pig to goat pulmonary valve implantation model. Therefore, they might be an alternative bioprosthesis option.