• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.9 s.254
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• pp.648-651
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• 2005

Calcific constrictive pericarditis is considered to be a nonspecific response to chronic inflammation. This disease has become rare, because the cause of it is usually tuberculosis, which has the tendency to decrease. Other possible causes of it include radiation, rheumatoid disorders, sarcoidosis, and trauma. Whatever the etiology, it can lead to cardiac tamponade by reducing cardiac diastolic filling. We report, herein, the case of a patient with heart failure by a calcific pericardial ring.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.973-978
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• 1991

From January, 1982, to December, 1990, 15 patients underwent pericardiectomy for chronic constrictive pericarditis on Department Of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Pusan National University. There were 9 male and 6 female patients [male to female ratio was 1.5: 1] ranging from 15 years to 63 years old [mean age 35.0]. All patients underwent pericardiectomy through a median sternotomy, partial cardiopulmonary bypass was performed on two patients. There were 3 postoperative death [20%]. Six cases [40%] were tuberculous origin 5 cases [34%] were Idiopathic [nonspecific chronic inflammatory change was considered to idiopathic], 2 cases [13%] were malignant origin, 2 cases [13Yo] were pyogenic origin. Dyspnea on exertion was evident in all patients and abdominal distention, general weakness, palpitation, peripheral edema were found. Eleven patients showed low voltage of QRS wave, 7 patients showed diffuse ST-T wave change, 2 patients showed atrial fibrillation on EKG. There were 6 patient showed pericardial thickening, 5 patients showed evidence of restriction, 5 patients showed pericardial effusion, 4 patients showed low cardiac output on preoperative echocardiogram. Hemodynamic response to pericardiectomy were observed; preoperative CVP 26.8 cmH2O declined to 15.0 cmH2O. Preoperative NYHA Functional class showed class II - 1, class III - 10, class IV - 4, postoperative NYHA functional class showed class I - 7, class II - 4, class Ill - l.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.619-626
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• 2010

Background: The indications and the optimal time of surgery of infective endocarditis are controversial. We report the surgical results of our hospital during the last 10 years with literature review. Material and Method: Between January 2000 and December 2009, we enrolled 23 infective endocarditis patients who underwent surgery, and analyzed retrospectively. In the preoperative blood culture, 8 cases (34.8%) were positive. The average preoperative antibiotics treatment period was $20.78{\pm}16.00$ days. There were 12 (52.2%) urgent operations. The average follow up period was $49.26{\pm}33.21$ months. Result: 20 mechanical valve replacements were performed, 9 in aortic position, 8 in mitral position and 3 in the both positions. The other procedures were one mitral valvuloplasty, one infected myxoma extirpation, and one infected pacemaker lead removal with debridement. The average period of postoperative intravenous antibiotic treatment was $24.39{\pm}15.98$ days. There were 5 complications, including 2 cases of postoperative bleeding, one postcardiotomy syndrome, one cerebral ischemia, and a low cardiac output syndrome. There were statistically significant postoperative improvement in NYHA class, left ventricle end diastolic/end systolic volume, and left atrium size (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: We could obtain the satisfactory results without any moftalities by using sufficient preoperative antibiotics in hemodynamically stable patients, and by prompt surgery in unstable patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.656-662
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• 1997

Aortic valvuloplasty has recently gained attention as an attractive alternative procedure for aortic valvular disease. Between March 1995 to August 1996, 14 patients with pure aortic regurgitation(AR) underwent aortic alvuloplasty using leaflet extension with glutaraldehydepreserved autologous pericardium. There were 11 males and 3 females, and the mean age was 34.8 $\pm$ 15.3 years. Preoperative echocardiography and cardiac catheterization revealed that the degree of AR was mean 3.4$\pm$0.65, and more than moderate degree of mitral regurgitation(MR) were detected in 4 patients. In 12 patients, 3 leaflets were extended and in another 2 patients only one deformed leaflet was extended. Concomitant mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) was performed in 4 patients. The competency of the aortic valve after completion of repair was evaluated by the transesophageal echocardiography in operating theater, and there was no aortic and mitral stenosis or regurgitation. In an early postoperative echocardiography, trivial AR was detected in 3 patients and mild MR in 1 patient. The end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions of the left ventricle were decreased significantly(p<0.05) as compared with those of preoperative values. T ere was no mortality and no significant postoperative complication encountered. Late complication developed in 2 patients during the follow-up period(mean 7.9$\pm$ 5.9 months). One patient underwent AVR on postoperative 7th month due to endocarditis, and the another patient with Behcet's disease underwent Ross operation at postoperative 4th month. In conclusion, AVP of leaflet extension technique offers an excellent early clinical result and represents a good alterna!ivy surgical treatment for the pure AR especially in young age group, although long-term follow-up is necessary to determine the durability of glutaraldehyde-preserved autologous pericardium as a valve leaflet.