• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.763-769
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• 1998

Background: Supravalvular aortic stenosis is a rare form of congenital cardiac anomaly involving ascending aorta distal to coronary orifice. Materials and methods: We operated 12 cases of supravalvular aortic stenosis between July 1986 and March 1997. Age ranged from 4 to 17(mean 10.2) years and 11 of them were male. Nine patients had clinical features of Williams syndrome. We experienced two types of supravalvular aortic stenosis, including 10 hour glass type and 2 diffuse type. Results: Preoperative transaortic pressure gradient ranged from 40 to 180(mean 92) mmHg by cardiac catheterization. Pulmonary stenosis was associated in 5 and 2 of them required angioplasty. Operative techniques included 6 standard aortoplasty with elliptical patch, 4 extended aortoplasty with inverted Y shaped patch, and 2 modified Brom's repair. There were no operative deaths. Postoperative echocardiographic evaluation was done at a mean interval of 12 months. Grade I or II aortic regurgitation was found in 3 cases. Postoperative cardiac catheterization revealed a mean transaortic pressure gradient of 26 (range 0 to 75) mmHg. A mean pressure drop was 78(range 30 to 114) mmHg. All patients were followed up for a mean of 40(range 1 to 67) months with uneventful clinical course. Conclusions: Our data proved the low mortality and excellent hemodynamic improvement after surgical relief of supravalvular aortic stenosis in children.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.1 s.270
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• pp.17-24
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• 2007

Background: The aim of this study is to assess the clinical results of various procedures in congenital aortic stenosis. Material and Method: From August 1987 to June 2004, 53 patients of congenital aortic stenosis underwent procedures such as percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty, aortic valvuloplasty, Ross procedure, and aortic valve replacement. The mean age of initial procedures was $8.2{\pm}6.0$ years. Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty was peformed in sixteen patients, aortic valvulopiasty in thirty two patients, Ross procedure in nineteen patients, and aortic valve replacement in fourteen patients. The mean follow duration was $80.6{\pm}60\;(0{\sim}207)$ months. Result: There was 15.1% (8/53) of early mortality and no late mortality. The six patients with critical aortic stenosis were died of left ventricular dysfunction in early series (before 1 year; 4 cases) and two patients died after the Ross procedure and aortic valve replacement respectively. After percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty, most patients needed reoperations (14/16). Thirteen patients needed reoperation, after aortic valvuloplasty. After Ross procedure, two patients needed reoperation due to aortic regurgitation caused by progressive aortic root dilatation. The actuarial survival rate after Ross procedure at 7 years was 90.5%. Conclusion: In young children before the age of one, percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty was considered as :he safe initial palliative procedure. But children over one year-old, aortic valvuloplasty were the effective procedure. Ross procedure can be preformed safely with good results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.88-91
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• 2004

Aortic regurgitation is not a rare complication of Takayasu's disease. Aortic regurgitation may aggravate cerebral ischemic syndrome like syncope in patients with stenotic or occlusive lesions in cerebral branches of aorta secondary to acute or progressive inflammation. In a 34-yrs-old male patient who complained of syncope and exertional dyspnea with occlusion of both carotid arteries and severe stenoses of both subclavian arteries, occlusion of right coronary artery, and aortic regurgitation, his symptom was improved with perioperative aggressive steroid therapy, stent insertion in both subclavian arteries, and aortic valve replacement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.696-703
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• 2009

Background: A Comprehensive Aortic Root and Valve Reconstruction (CARVAR) procedure is comprised of aortic root wall reconstruction and corrections of the leaflets for treating various aortic valve diseases. We evaluated our recent early clinical experience with the CARVAR procedure. Material and Method: From October 2007 to September 2008, 114 cases (66 males) of CARVAR procedures were performed, The mean patient age was 53 years (range: 14~84) The patients were divided into 4 groups: 1) the AAR group: aortic regurgitation with aortic root wall deformity such as annulo-aortic ectasia or ascending aortic aneurysm (n=18), 2) the IAR group: isolated AR with leaflet abnormality (n=42), 3) the IAS group: isolated aortic stenosis (n=51) and 4) the PAVR group: previous aortic valve replacement (n=3). Sinotubular junction (STJ) reduction was done in all the patients, leaflet correction was done in 10 of the AAR group patients and in all the patients of the other groups, annulus reduction was done in 14 of the MR group patients and in 6 of the IAR group patients. Aortic dissection was excluded from this analysis. Result: There was no mortality or follow-up death. The diameter of the aortic sinus decreased from $54.6{\pm}8.4$ mm to $38.3{\pm}3.8$ mm in the AAR group, the mean AR grade decreased from 3.2 to 0.2 in the IAR group, the mean aortic valve pressure gradient decreased from $47.1{\pm}24.4$ mmHg to $15.1{\pm}11.7$ mmHg in the IAS group and the mean AR grade decreased to 0 in the PAVR group. Balloon type coronary perfusion cannula-related coronary ostial stenosis developed in 4 patients and this was treated with OPCAB in three patients and with PTCA in one patient. Two patients developed postoperative infectious endocarditis. All the patients were discharged and followed up in a stable condition. Conclusion: The CARVAR procedure showed excellent short term results, but a good further follow up result is required to apply this procedure to most kinds of aortic valve diseases.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.160-165
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• 2009

A 4-month-old intact male Boxer dog(9 kg of body weight) was presented with the primary complaints of heart murmur and exercise intolerance. Diagnostic studies revealed severe subaortic stenosis. Since the pressure gradient(PG) in stenotic aortic valve area was higher than ${\sim}120mmHg$(5.4 m/s of peak velocity), the dog was underwent balloon valvuloplasty. With this procedure, the peak aortic velocity was reduced to 3.9 m/s(${\sim}60mmHg$ of PG) and the clinical condition of dog was markedly improved. Periodic re-evaluations performed at monthly interval revealed no further deterioration. This is the first case report of subaortic stenosis treated by non-surgical palliative balloon valvuloplasty in Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.6 s.275
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• pp.445-447
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• 2007

Occlusion of a coronary artery ostium and especially occlusion of the right by an aortic cusp is a rare condition. We experienced an adult patient with occlusion of the right coronary ostium that was due to fusion of the right coronary cusp to the aortic wall along with underlying rheumatic aortic valve stenosis. During the operation, the adherent right coronary cusp was excised. After confirming that the right coronary ostium was patent, the other cusps were removed, and this followed by replacement of the aortic valve with a mechanical valve. The postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.10
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• pp.667-673
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• 2007

Background: Patients with severe aortic valve disease frequently display mitral valve regurgitation (MR). In such patients, the clinical course of MR after isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) may be important for determining the treatment strategies. After isolated AVR, the change of the concomitant moderate degree or less of MR according to the type of aortic valve disease is not known well. The aim of this study was to analyze the post-operative changes of MR after performing AVR in those patients with severe AS (Group S) and those with severe AR (Group R). Material and Method: We retrospectively evaluated 43 patients with severe aortic disease and a moderate degree or less of mitral valve regurgitation, and these patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement from January 1996 to June 2005. The patients were divided into two groups: the aortic valve stenosis group (n = 29) and the aortic valve regurgitation group (n = 14). The patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography preoperatively and at 7 days, $6{\sim}10$ months and more than 18 months (mean follow-up duration: 38 months) postoperatively. Result: The mean age was 60.9 years (Group S: 62 years, Group R: 52.5 years) and 60% (Group S=55%, Group R=71%) of the patients were male. The preoperative MR was mild in 29 (67.5%), mild to moderate in 11 (25.5%), and moderate in 3 (6.9%) patients. In the Group S patients, MR improved in 16 (55%) patients at the immediate postoperative days and in 17 (59%) patients at more than 18 months postoperatively. On the other hand, all the Group R patients exhibited earlier improvement. The decrease of LA size had a similar pattern to the MR change, but there were no significant differences in the change of the ejection fraction of the two groups. Conclusion: In the patients with severe aortic valve disease and concomitant low grade MR, the MR after AVR improved earlier and more effectively in the patients with AR than in those patients with AS.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.586-590
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• 1998

Background: The regression of the left ventricular hypertrophy after prosthetic valve replacement in patients with aortic valvular stenosis is an important factor to determine the appropriateness of the replaced prosthetic valvular size. Methods: To assess the regression of myocardial hypertrophy, a retrospective analysis of Doppler echocardiographic and electrocardiographic data was undertaken before, soon after(7.5$\pm$2.1 day), and late after(10.7$\pm$1.8 months) surgery in 36 patients(22 males, 14 female, mean age 54$\pm$12.1 years, mean BSA 1.61$\pm$0.15m2) with predominant aortic valvular stenosis. The patients underwent St. Jude Medical aortic valve replacement. By the size of the valves used, the patients were divided into three groups(19, 21 and 23+). Results: The mean body surface area(1.48$\pm$0.13) in the patients with the 19 mm valve was smaller than that in the other groups(1.63$\pm$0.12)(p<0.05). No significant changes of ejection fraction were detected in all groups over time. Left ventricular muscle mass index(gm/m2) was reduced significantly in the 21 and 23+ groups over time(p<0.05), but there were no significant changes in the 19 mm valve group. The electric voltage height on EKG at the period of late after surgery was reduced significantly in all groups(p<0.05). Conclusion: Despite clinical improvement, the LVH was not reduced significantly in 19 mm valve group. Thus we suggest that more attention and additional procedures such as annular enlargement should be taken in patients who will undergo the replacement of 19 mm prosthetic valve.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.687-694
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• 2008

Background: Although aortic valve sclerosis causes no significant hemodynamic alterations, it is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death and myocardial infarction. However, the role of ${\beta}_3$ integrin in aortic valve sclerosis remains unclear. Material and Method: Twenty male New Zealand rabbits were divided into two groups. Group 1 rabbits (n=10) received a normal chow diet, while group 2 (n=10) rabbits received a diet containing 1% cholesterol for 12 weeks. After the rabbits were euthanized, their aortic valves and ascending aortas were excised for analysis. Result: Total serum cholesterol ($2,148.3{\pm}1,012.5\;mg/dL$ versus $53.7{\pm}31.8\;mg/dL$, p<0.05), triglyceride ($240.4{\pm}218.3\;mg/dL$ versus $31.6{\pm}6.4\;mg/dL$, p<0.05), and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol($2,065.3{\pm}960.9\;mg/dL$ versus $29.1{\pm}30.9\;mg/dL$, p<0.05) levels were significantly higher in the cholesterol diet group compared with the normal diet group. Myofibroblasts and macrophages were more highly expressed in the aortic valve leaflets of rabbits in the cholesterol diet group than of those in the normal diet group. A real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed decreased ${\beta}_3$ integrin mRNA levels in the hypercholesterolemic aortic valves and aortas. Conclusion: The present study shows that hypercholesterolemia induces aortic valve sclerosis. These findings suggest that alterations in ${\beta}_3$ integrin may playa role in the development of aortic valve sclerosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.8 s.253
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• pp.545-550
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• 2005

Background: Discrete subaortic stenosis is known to recur frequently even after surgical resection. We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative and postoperative changes in pressure gradient through left ventricular outflow tract, and the recurrence rate. Material and Method: Between September 1984 and December 2004, 34 patients underwent surgical treatment. Mean age of patients was $17.1\pm15.2$ years and 19 patients $(55.9\%)$ were male, 16 patients $(47.1\%)$ had previous operations and associated diseases were aortic regurgitation (11), coarctation of aorta (3), and others. Result: Immediate postoperative peak pressure gradient was significantly lower than preoperative peak pressure gradient (21.8 mmHg vs 75.8 mmHg, p<0.04). Peak pressure gradient measured after 50.3 months of follow up was 20.2 mmHg which was also significantly lower than that of preoperative value but not significantly different from that of immediate postoperative value. There was no surgical mortality but one patient developed cerebral infarction. Mean follow up duration was $69.8\pm54.6\;months$. During this period, 5 patients $(14.7\%)$ had reoperation, 3 $(8.8\%)$ of whom were due to recurred subaortic stenosis. We found no risk factors for recurrence and survival for free from reoperation was $76.4\%$. Conclusion: Excision of subaortic membrane combined with or without myectomy in discrete subaortic stenosis showed sufficient relief of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with low mortality and morbidity, but careful long term follow up is necessary for recurrence, since it is not predictable.