• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 1997

We present a etrospective analysis of arterial embolectomies performed at the Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital. During the period of March 1987 Feburary 1996 twenty-six patients underwent embolectomies, eighteen patients were male and eight patients were female, mean age of patients was 56.8 years. Rest pain was the chief complaint in 24 patients, the remaining two patients complained of long term history of claudication after recovery of acute symtoms. But only 10 patients had sensBrylmotor symtoms. Heart was the most common source of embolization and frequent predisposing factor of embolism was ischemic heart disease in 8 cases and valvular heart disease in 11 cases. The sites of embolization were upper extremities artery in 6 cases, saddle embolism in 2 cases, lower extremities artery in 18 cases and the most common site of embolism was femoral artery in 1 1 cases. Preoperative angiography was taken in the diagnosis and planning of the embolectomy in 1) patients while in the other patient p eoperative angiography was not taken. Only two cases were operated within the golden period of 6 hours and other cases were operated in more than 6 hours after embolization. In all patients, the Fogarty embolectomy catheter was used without bypass surgery via bachial ateriotomy in the embolism of upper extremities artery, bilateral groin approaches in the saddle embolism and transfemoral approach in the embolism of lower extremities artery. However 3 patients were re-operated via transpopliteal approach in the distal poplitiotibial embolism. Eighteen patients received perioperative anticoagulation therapy by heparin or fraxiparine and wafarin was used in 17 patients at the time of discharge and the indication of anticogulation was patients of valvular heat disease andfor atrial fibrillation, peripheral artery atherosclerosis and recurrent embolism. Postoperative results of the embolectomy were as follows: fouteen pateints had excellent results, five cases had symtom improvement after re-operation, B. K. amputation in 1 case who had severe atherosclerosis of lower extremities, recurrent embolism in 1 case and death in 2 cases the cause of death were acute renal failure and cerebral artery embolism, respectively. The complications of the embolectomy were reperfusion syndrome, pseudoaneurysm and intimal dissection in one case each. Conclusively the problems of embolism is delayed diagnosis and increasing number of old aged patient who had suffered from ischemic heart diease. Preoperative angiography was not always needed for embol ectomy. Selective anticoagulation therapy can decrease incidence of re-embolism. In the distal poplitiotibial embolism, embolectomy of tibial artery was difficult.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1081-1089
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• 1996

Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum has continued to have a high surgical mortality and morbidity. This mAy attribute to the non-uniformity of the anomaly. We reviewed a total of 34 infants with pulmonary atresla and intact ventricular septum managed in this hospital between 1987 and 1995. Mean age and body weight were 57.2 (range, 3-208) days and 4.1 (range, B.3∼6.8) kg. The preoperative Z-value of the diameter of the tricuspid valve was less than -2 in 85.2% of patients and less than -4 in 33. 3% . It is well correlated w th right ventricular cavity size (n=27. r10.68, p< 0.05). Coronary artery-right ventricular fistulas were identified in 3 patients, and right ventricular dependency was suspected in 1 Over All hospital mortality was 23.5%(8/34), although it decreased to 16.6%(4124) in 1990s. Subsequent procedures were performed in 6 patients between 3 days and 58 months after Initial palliation : one bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt and 1 Fontan operation after systemic-pulmonary shunt, 3 transannular patch + atrial septal defect closure and 1 additional systemic-pulmonary shunt after polmonary valvectomy or valvotomy. Changes of Z-values of the diameter of tricuspid valve have been followed up in 11 patients between 1 and 66 months postoperatively. Z-values were increased In 5 out of 8 transannular right ventriculAr outflow tract enlargement group and in 1 out of 3 pulmonary valvectomy or valvotomy group. Our data suggest that tailoring a treatment to right ventricular cavity size and coronary anom lies may improve the surgical outcome. A Z-value of the tricuspid valve diameter could be used.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.38 no.5 s.174
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• pp.535-545
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• 2005

Environmental survey from some abandoned metal mine areas was undertaken on to assess the risk of adverse health effects on human exposure to arsenic influenced by past Au-Ag mining activities. Elevated levels of As were found in tailings from the studied mine areas. This high concentration may have a impact on soils and waters around the tailing piles. In order to perform the human risk assessment, chemical analysis data of soils, rice grains and waters fur As have been used. The HQ values fer As via the rice grain and groundwater consumption were significantly higher compared with other exposure pathways in all metal mine areas. However, there were minimal soil and water dermal contact risks. The resulting Hl values of As from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas were higher than 5.0, and their toxic risk due to drinking water and rice grain was strong in these mine areas. The cancer risk of being exposed to As by the rice grain route from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas was $5.2\times10^{-4},\;6.0\times10^{-4}\;and\;8.1\times10^{-4}$, respectively. The As cancer risk via the exposure pathway of drinking water from these mine areas exceeded the acceptable risk of 1 in 10,000 fer regulatory purposes. Thus, the daily intakes of groundwater and rice grain by the local residents from the Dongil, Okdong and Hwacheon mine areas can pose a potential health threat if exposed by long-term arsenic exposure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.11 s.256
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• pp.761-772
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• 2005

Background: Following the implantation of heart valve prostheses, it is important to maintain therapeutic INR to reduce the risk of thromboembolism. The objective of this study was to suggest a practical dosing guideline for Korean outpatients with prosthetic heart valves managed by a pharmacist-run anticoagulation service (ACS). Material and Method: A retrospective chart review was completed for all patients enrolled in the ACS at Seoul National University Hospital from March, 1997 to September, 2000. Patients who were at least 6 months post-valve replacement and had nontherapeutic INR value (less than 2.0 or greater than 3.0) were included. The data on 688 patients (1,782 visits) requiring dosing adjustment without any known drug or food interaction with warfarin were analyzed. The amount of adjusted dose and INR changes based on the INR at the time of the event were calculated. Aortic valve replacements (AVR) patients and mitral or double valve replacement (MVR/DVR) patients were evaluated separately. Result: Two methods for the warfarin dosage adjustment were suggested: Guideline I (mg-based total weekly dose (TWD) adjustment), Guideline II (percentage-based TWD adjustment). The effectiveness of Guideline 1 was superior to Guideline II overall in patients with both AVR and MVR/DVR. Conclusion: The guideline suggested in this study could be useful when the dosage adjustment of wafarin is necessary in outpatients with mechanical heart valves.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.9 s.254
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• pp.609-615
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• 2005

Background: Some controversy still exists concerning the operative indications of coronary fistulas. Nevertheless, a short-term and long-term outcomes are excellent with surgical interventions. In this study, we assessed our surgical results on this disease entity during the last 20 years. Anatomic diversity was described as well. Material and Method: From April 1986 to March 2005, 20 patients with coronary fistulas underwent surgical correction in Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Result: Twelve patients ($60\%$) were asymptomatic prior to surgery. All had electrocardiogram and echocardiogram and all but 3 had coro-nary angiogram preoperatively. Anatomically, none of them had two or more coronary fistulas. The sites of origin were left coronary system in 11 patients and right in 9. The draining sites were right ventricle in 11, right atrium in 3, left ventricle in 3, main pulmonary artery in 2, and superior vena cavae in 1. All of the involved, the coro-nary arteries were dilated or aneurismal. In 1 case, there was atherosclerotic change but no ischemic evidence in preoperative electrocardiogram. Operative techniques included external obliteration (13), internal obliteration (5), and both (2). External obliteration was done by ligation of the fistulous tract only in T patients, by fstula ligation plus plication in 3 and by plication or patch closure via fistulotomy in 3. There was no operative mortality. All of postoperative morbidities including transient sinus arrhythmia (2), complete atrioventricular block (1), decreased left ventricular function (2), ventricular tachycardia (1), pericarditis (1), and seizure (1) improved on discharge. The mean follow-up was 55.1$\pm$50.2 months (4.0 months${\~}$18.0 years) and there were no recurrences of fistula. There was 1 second operation for aortic root aneurysm, which developed after external patch closure of right coronary fistula. Conclusion: We demonstrated here that coronary fistulas can be cured with excellent clinical outcome and low operative risk under precise diagnosis. Understanding the anatomic diversity will help to construct surgical plans.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.749-755
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• 1998

Background: Twelve patients with acyanotic tetralogy of Fallot(TOF), characterized by the combination of a malaligned ventricular septal defect(VSD) and infundibular pulmonic stenosis with the clinical finding of acyanosis at rest, underwent surgical correction between January 1988 and July 1997. Materials and methods: 9.92% of patients with the diagnosis of TOF were acyanotic TOF in the same period. Ages ranged from 12 to 42 months(mean 25.2 months). 2D-echocardiographic studies, cardiac catheterization, and angiocardiograms were performed in all patients before operation. The preoperative mean systemic arterial oxygen saturation was 93.5%. According to the 2D-echocardiographic analysis, there was Lt-to-Rt shunt through VSD in 4 patients, bidirectional shunt in 2 patients, and no shunt in 6 patients. Results: The preoperative mean right ventricle to pulmonary artery(RV-PA) pressure gradients were 52.3 mmHg on 2D- echocardiogram and 48.4 mmHg on cardiac catheterization. The repair of ventricular septal defect was performed through a right atrial approach and the hypertrophic infundibular muscle bundles were resected by the transatrial and transpulmonary approach. Six patients(50%) received a transannular patch. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 135.0 minutes, and the aortic crossclamp time was 87.8 minutes. Postoperative complications included bleeding necessitating reentry in one and chylothorax in one. No patient died after operation and there were no late deaths. Postoperative 2D-echocardiograms revealed tiny patch dehiscence in 5 cases and a moderate RV-PA pressure gradients(mean 15.3 mmHg). All patients were in New York Heart Association functional class 1 after operation. Conclusions: acyanotic TOF is the uncommon form of TOF, and acyanotic TOF can be repaired with a good outcome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1095-1101
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• 1996

From July 1983 to June 1995, 95 consecutive patients with mitral stenosis were treated surgically in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chonbuk national University Hospital, mitral valve replacement(MVR) in 62 patients and open mitral commissurotomy(OMC) in 33 patients. Mitral stenosis combined with coronary artery disease, with aortic valve disease, or wish mitral valvular Insufficiency, were excluded from this study. Surgical procedures for mitral stenosis were evaluated, according to complication, reoperation, mor- tality, nd functional change at mid- and long-term postoperative period. Cardiothoracic ratio in the MVR group was greater than the OMC group(0.59 $\pm$0.07 in MVR, 0.53 $\pm$0. 07 in OMC, p<0.05), but other variables(age, sex, MYHA functional classification, EKG finding, echocardiographic finding) did not show significant difference between two groups in the preoperative periods. Even though pathologic valvular lesion(Sellor's pathologic type m: 35 in MVR, 13 in OMC) and valvular calcification(35 in MVR, 11 in OMC) were severe in the MVR group(p=0.001) at intraoperative observation, OMC was possible in 11 patients(23.9%) among 46 patients with valvular calcification and in 13 patients(27.1 %) among 61 patients with Sellor's pathologic type IH . There was no significant difference in early and late mortality, actuarial survival(75% in MVR, 87.6% in OMC at 12 year), but early and late hemorrhagic, thromboembolic complications in the MVR group were greater than in the OMC. Functional changes in NYHA functional classification, EKG lEnding, cardiothoraclc ratio, and echocardiographic finding(EF, LVIDS, LWDd, LAD) did not differ between two groups in mid- and long-term postoperative periods. We conclude that our efforts for preservation of the native valve would be continued, because hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications in the MVR were greater than in the OMC, and OMC was possible even in patients with severely stenotic and calcified mitral valve, although there was no sis-nificant difference in the functional change, mortality, and survival between the M VR and OMC.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.561-565
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• 2001

Patients who have complex endocarditis with involvement of both the aortic and mitral valves and intervalvular fibrous skeleton are among the most difficult to treat and still have the highest surgical mortality and morbidity rates. We report one case of aortic and mitral valve replacement with reconstruction of the fibrous skeleton performed in a 55-year-old female patient who had an aortic annular abscess and both the aortic and mitral prosthetic valve endocarditis with destruction of the fibrous skeleton. Previously, she had undergone redo double valve replacement\`, Transesophageal echocardiogram showed the paravalvular defect at the noncoronary aortic sinus and abnormal sinus tract along the fibrous skeleton. Emergent operation was performed due to positive blood cultures of staphylococcus epidermidis and persistent sepsis despite appropriate antibiotic therapy. After aortotomy extended to the roof of left atrium, both prosthetic valves and destroyed fibrous skeleton were completely resected and the aortic annular abscess was debrided and closed with a bovine pericardial patch. Reconstructions of both aortic and mitral annuli and the fibrous skeleton were done by using two separate bovine pericardial patches in triangular shape and mechanical valves were implanted. Postoperatively, adequate antibiotic therapies were continued and the patient was discharged at the postoperative 72 days without evidence of recurrence of endocarditis. Transthoracic echocardiogram of the postoperative 8 months shows no paravalvular leakage or recurrence of endocarditis and the patient has been followed up with no symptom.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2004

Background: We tested the effect of indomethacine and total spinal anesthesia on the improvement of placental flow during cardiopulmonary bypass on fetal lamb. Material and Method: Twenty fetuses at 120 to 150 days of gestation were subjected to bypass via trans-sternal approach with a 12 G pulmonary arterial cannula and 14 to 18 F venous cannula for 30 minutes. All ewes received general anesthesia with ketamine. In all the fetuses, no anesthetic agents were used except muscle relaxant. Ten served as a control group in which placenta was worked as an oxygenator during bypass (Control group). The remainder worked as an experimental group in which pretreatment with indomethacine and total spinal anesthesia was performed before bypass with the same extracorporeal circulation technique as control group (Experimental group). Observations were made every 10 minutes during a 30-minute bypass and 30-minute post bypass period. Result: Weights of the fetuses ranged from 2.2 to 5.2 kg. In Control group, means of arterial pressure decreased from 44.7 to 14.4 mmHg and means of Pa$CO_2$ increased from 61.9 to 129.6 mmHg at each time points during bypass. Flow rate was suboptimal (74.3 to 97.0 $m\ell$/kg/min) during bypass. All hearts fibrillated immediately after the discontinuation of bypass. On the contrary, in Experimental group, means of arterial pressure reamined higher (45.8 to 30 mmHg) during bypass (p<0.05). Means of Pa$CO_2$ were less ranging from 59.8 to 79.4 mmHg during bypass (P<0.05). Flow rates were higher (78.8 to 120.2 $m\ell$/kg/min) during bypass (p<0.05). There were slower deterioration of cardiac function after cessation of bypass. Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that the placental flow was increased during fetal cardiopulmonary bypass in the group pretreated with indomethacine and total spinal anesthesia. However, further studies with modifications of the bypass including a creation of more concise bypass circuit, and a use of axial pump are mandatory for the clinical application.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2004

Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) system is a device for respiratory and/or heart failure treatment, and there have been many trials for development and clinical application in the world. Currently, a non-pulsatile blood pump is a standard for ECLS system. Although a pulsatile blood pump is advantageous in physiologic aspects, high pressure generated in the circuits and resultant blood cell trauma remain major concerns which make one reluctant to use a pulsatile blood pump in artificial lung circuits containing a membrane oxygenator. The study was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that placement of a pressure-relieving compliance chamber between a pulsatile pump and a membrane oxygenator might reduce the above mentioned side effects while providing physiologic pulsatile blood flow. The study was performed in a canine model of oleic acid induced acute lung injury (N=16). The animals were divided into three groups according to the type of pump used and the presence of the compliance chamber, In group 1, a non-pulsatile centrifugal pump was used as a control (n=6). In group 2 (n=4), a single-pulsatile pump was used. In group 3 (n=6), a single-pulsatile pump equipped with a compliance chamber was used. The experimental model was a partial bypass between the right atrium and the aorta at a pump flow of 1.8∼2 L/min for 2 hours. The observed parameters were focused on hemodynamic changes, intra-circuit pressure, laboratory studies for blood profile, and the effect on blood cell trauma. In hemodynamics, the pulsatile group II & III generated higher arterial pulse pressure (47$\pm$ 10 and 41 $\pm$ 9 mmHg) than the nonpulsatile group 1 (17 $\pm$ 7 mmHg, p<0.001). The intra-circuit pressure at membrane oxygenator were 222 $\pm$ 8 mmHg in group 1, 739 $\pm$ 35 mmHg in group 2, and 470 $\pm$ 17 mmHg in group 3 (p<0.001). At 2 hour bypass, arterial oxygen partial pressures were significantly higher in the pulsatile group 2 & 3 than in the non-pulsatile group 1 (77 $\pm$ 41 mmHg in group 1, 96 $\pm$ 48 mmHg in group 2, and 97 $\pm$ 25 mmHg in group 3: p<0.05). The levels of plasma free hemoglobin which was an indicator of blood cell trauma were lowest in group 1, highest in group 2, and significantly decreased in group 3 (55.7 $\pm$ 43.3, 162.8 $\pm$ 113.6, 82.5 $\pm$ 25.1 mg%, respectively; p<0.05). Other laboratory findings for blood profile were not different. The above results imply that the pulsatile blood pump is beneficial in oxygenation while deleterious in the aspects to high pressure generation in the circuits and blood cell trauma. However, when a pressure-relieving compliance chamber is applied between the pulsatile pump and a membrane oxygenator, it can significantly reduce the high circuit pressure and result in low blood cell trauma.