• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.124-128
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• 1994

We report a case of antipsychotics induced torsade de pointes in a 42-year-old female schizophrenic patient. The patient had taken perphenazine 20 mg/day, chlorpromazine 100 mg/day, and trifluoperazine 15 mg/day irregularly for about 8 years. She experienced syncope and a few difficulties in breathing. On EKG(electrocardiography), QT interval was delayed and polymorphic QRS complexes and ventricular tachycardia were observed. Following a switch of the antipsychotics to haloperidol, known to have fewest effects on the cardiac rhythms among antipsychotics, the arhythymias disappeared. However after discharge, as dose of haloperidol was increased, the symptoms such as chest discomforts and syncopes reappeared. We concluded that the torsade de pointes was developed by antipsychotics. The most common cause of sudden death in patients receiving antipsychotic treatment appears to be ventricular tochycardia. Therefore, clinician should be well aware of the possible side effects of antipsychotics and be cautious in prescribing such drugs to their patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.745-749
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• 2002

Cardiac rhabdomyoma is a rare type of benign tumor affecting the heart. There are a few previous reports of intracardiac rhabdomyomas causing ventricular arrythmia. We describe a 1-year-old female tuberous sclerosis patient who was presented with a ventricular tachycardia. Diagnostic echocardiography revealed two masses in the left ventricular outflow tract originating from the ventricular septum. The masses were surgically resected through aortotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass and the masses appeared benign. The pathology was that of a cardiac rhabdomyomas. Postoperative course was uneventful and the ventricular tachycardia was controlled.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.51-55
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• 2003

Purpose : We intended to find out the role of transesophageal atrial pacing in evaluation of infants and children with palpitation of unknown origin. Methods : We tried transesophageal atrial pacing study in 69 infants and children with palpitation, in whom tachycardia wasn't documented in electrocardiogram and reviewed retrospectively the records of transesophageal pacing and medical records of theses patients to find out the induction rate of tachycardia by transesophageal atrial pacing and the possible mechanism of tachycardia if induced. Results : In 70.1% infants and children with palpitation, tachycardia was induced, so we could conclude that tachycaridia was the cause of palpitation in these cases. In most cases, tachycardia was induced by rapid atrial pacing, and in 21% by using isoproterenol. Tachycardia induction rate was higher in <6-year-old children than ${\geq}6$-year-old children(P<0.05). In cases of the induced, we reviewed the mechanism of tachycardia. Of these induced tachycardias, 53.2% is atrioventricular reentry tachycardia, 34.0% were atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia, and 12.8% were idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia. Invasive electrophysiologic study was done to 10 patients of those induced. The results of electrophysiologic study and transesophageal pacing and recording were the same except for one patient. Conclusion : Transesophageal atrial pacing and recording is a less invasive, safe and useful method to find out the cause of palpitation and the mechanism of tachycardia in infants and children.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1226-1229
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• 1998

50 days old, 4.5kg male patient was admitted at department of pediatrics due to congenital heart disease with congestive heart failure. The echocardiographic finding was perimembranous type ventricular septal defect. The patient underwent open heart surgery for patch closure of VSD. Immediately postoperatively, junctional ectopic tachycardia developed and the patient was in hemodynamically unstable state with decreased urine output. We used inotropics, digitalis and diuretics, however these treatments were not effective in recovering the unstable state. Therefore, we tried a mild hypothermic treatment(34℃). During the POD #2, mild hypothermia method was repeated four times. The junctional ectopic tachycardia was converted to normal sinus rhythm, hemodynamic state was stable, and urine output was increased. The patient was discharged at POD #8.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.422-427
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• 1999

Background: Tachycardia induced heart failure model would be the model of choice for the dilated cardiomyopathy. This more closely resembles the clinical syndrome and does not require major surgical trauma, myocardial ischemia and pharmacological or toxic depression of cardiac function. When heart failure is progressive, application of new surgical procedures to the faling heart is highly risky. It has been shown that recovery trajectory from heart failure is a new method in decreasing animal mortality. The purpose is to establish the control datas for recovery trajectory in the canine heart failure model. Material and Method: 21 mongrel dogs were studied at 4 stages(baseline, at the heart failure, 4 and 8 weeks after recovery). Heart failure was induced during 4 weeks of continuous rapid pacing using a pacemaker. Eight weeks of trajectory of recovery period was allowed. Indices of left ventricular function and dimension were measured every 2 weeks and the hemodynamics were measured by use of Swan-Ganz catheterization and thermodilution method every 4 weeks. Values were expressed as mean${\pm}$standard deviation. Result: 4(20%) dogs died due to heart failure. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume at the 4 stages were 40.8${\pm}$7.4, 82.1${\pm}$21.1, 59.9${\pm}$7.7 and 46.5${\pm}$6.5ml. Left ventricular end-systolic volume showed the same trend. Ejection fractions were 50.6${\pm}$4.1, 17.5${\pm}$5.8, 36.3${\pm}$7.3, and 41.5${\pm}$2.4%. Blood pressure and heart rate showed no significant changes. Pressures of central vein, right ventricle, pulmonary artery, and pulmonary capillary wedge showed significant increase during the heart failure period, normalizing at the end of recovery period. Stroke volumes were 21.5${\pm}$8.2, 12.3${\pm}$3.5, 17.9${\pm}$4.6, and 15.5${\pm}$3.4ml. Blood norepinephrine level was 133.3${\pm}$60.0pg/dL at the baseline and 479.4${\pm}$327.3pg/dL at the heart failure stage(p=0.008). Conclusion: Development of tachycardia induced heart failure model is of high priority due to ready availability and reasonable amenability to measurements. Recovery trajectory after cessation of tachycardia showed reduction of cardiac dilatation and heart function. Application of new surgical procedures during the recovery period could decrease animal mortality.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.9
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• pp.1097-1105
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• 2002

Purpose : This study was conducted to estabilish the prevalence, clinical features and relationship between ECG findings and echocardiographic findings of Wolff-Parkinsion-White(WPW) syndrome in asymptomatic preschool children. Methods : An electrocardiographic screening study was performed on 77,824 preschool children in Jeonbuk province from April, 1999 to August, 2001. Patients with WPW syndrome underwent echocardiographic study. Results : Twenty three patients with WPW syndrome were discovered by electrocardiographic screening of preschool children. The prevalence rate was 2.9 per 10,000 preschool children and there was no significant sexual difference. Two patients had a history of symptoms related to tachyarrythmia. According to the ECG classification of Rosenbaum et al., five patients were type A and 18 were type B. Utilizing the criteria of Gallagher et al, right anterior, 12 patients; right anteiror paraseptal, four patients; left anteiror, three patients. Nineteen of 23 patients underwent echocardiographic study. Four of five patients with type A WPW syndrome had abnormal early systolic anterior motion of left ventricular posterior wall. Twelve of 14 patients with type B had abnormal interventricular septal motion characterized by early sytolic posterior motion immediately after inscription of the delta wave. Conclusion : The prevalence rate of preschool children in Jeonbuk province was 2.9/10,000. By the classification according to the electrocardiographic findings, the accessory pathway location was dominant right side than left side. In the echocardiographic study, type A WPW syndrome showed abnormal left ventricular posterior wall motion and type B WPW showed abnormal interventricular septal motion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.966-972
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• 1997

Between June 1994 to August 1996, 13 patients underwent emergency coronary artery bypass operations. There were 3 males and 10 females and ages ranged from 56 to 80 years with the mean of 65.5 years. The indications for emergency operations were cardiogenic shock in 12 cases and intractable polymorphic VT(ve'ntricular tachycardia) in 1 case. The causes of cardiogenic shock were acute evolving infarction in 6 cases, PTCA failure in 4 cases, acute myocardial infarction in 1 case, and post-AMI VSR(ventricular septal rupture) in 1 case. Pive out of 13 patients could go to operating room within 2 hours. However, the operations were delayed from 3 to 10 hours in 8 patients due to non-medical causes. In 12 patients, 37 distal anastomoses were constructed with only 3 LITA's(left internal thoracic arteries) and 34 saphenous veins. In a patient with post-AMI VSR, VSR repair was added. In a patient with intractable VT and critical sten sis limited to left main coronary artery, left main coronary angioplasty was performed. Pive patients died after operation with the operative mortality of 38.5%. Three patients died in the operating room due to LV pump failure, one patient died due to intractable ventricular tachycardia on postoperative second day, and one patient died on postoperative 7th day due to multi-organ failure with complications of mediastinal bleeding, low cardiac output syndrome, ARF, and lower extremity ischemia due to IABP. In 8 survived patients, 3 major complications (mediastinitis, PMI, UGI bleeding) developed but eventually recovered. We think that the aggressive approach to critically ill patients will salvage some of such patients and the most important factor for patient salvage is early surgical intervention before irreversible damage occurs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.713-718
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• 1997

Fracture of the sternum has been considered as a serious injury and also associated with major complications such as myocardial, major thoracic vascular, and spinal injury. Retrospective datas from blunt trauma victims admitted to our hospital were analyzed to determine significance of sternal fractures and possible associated injures. 101 sternal fractures by blunt trauma were admitted from january, 1986 to december, 1995. Frequency was about 3.51 olo of the nonpenetrating chest trauma. The ratio of male to female was 1.82 versus 1. Most common cause in the stemal fracture was high decelerating injury(73 cases). Most common fracture site was sternal body(75 cases). Average days of adm ssion were 26 days. Abnormal ECG findings were sinus bradycardia(Teases), complete or incomplete RBBB(6 cases), sinus tachycardia(4 cases), specific S-T change(3 cases), 1st degree A-V block(2 cases), LVH(1 case), PVC(1 case), and Low voltage(1 case). CPK-MB was increased about 32.Lolo of sternal fractures. Except of expired 2 patients, patients were treated with conservative treatment(94 cases) and open reductions & steel wire fixations(5 cases). Complication after operation was wound infection(1 case). Causes of death were 1 hypovolemia and 1 acute respiratory distress syndrome. In conclusion, although sternal fracture is less frequent, and mostly treats with conservative treatment, it shoed be carefully observed because of critical associated injuries.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.52-62
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• 1991

The toxic effect of azalea extract, expecially on cardiovascular system, is relatively unclear. The purpose of this study is to study the possible underlying mechanism and effect of toxic ingredient of azalea on cardiovascular system. The 71 healthy rabbits were divided into 10 groups : In group as preliminary study ; 4cc of normal saline was administered intravenously(N) ; 0.7gm/kg and 1.0gm/kg of azalea extract was administered respectively in the same route, volume(A1, A2) ; atropine was administered intravenously(A) ; after pretreatment with atropine(0.04mg/kg) to block parasympathetic system, azalea extract was injected like the above groups(AA1, AA2) ; normal saline, 0.7gm/kg and 1.0gm/kg of azalea extract were administered respectively with 0.2cc(1 : 1000) epinephrine(E0,E1,E2). We measured the following indices at I minute interval during first 10 minutes and then 10 minute interval during next 30 minutes : RR interval, QTc interval, maximal systolic and diastolic pressure drop with occuring time and presence of significant arrhythmia. The results were as follows : 1. The changes of RR interval, QTc interval were significantly increased in groups by Azalea extract. The blood pressure change was significantly decreased in groups by Azalea extract. There were no significant differences according to dosage of Azalea extract. 2. The changes of RR interval, blood pressure were significant differences between administration of atropine and Azalea extract after pretreatment with atropine, but not in the change of QTc interval. 3. There were no significant differences in the change of RR interval, ATc interval, blood pressure drop according to pretreatment with atropine. 4. The interaction between epineprine and Azalea extract was not noted by the effect of epineprine itself. 5. The ST change by 0.7gm/kg, 1.0gm/kg of Azalea extract was revealed in 1 case(14.0%), 7 case(100%), respectively. 6. Most of all cases with arrhthymia, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, were noted in the group by epineprine, except one case by Azalea extract(1.0gm/kg). It was idioventricular rhythm. In conclusion, azalea extract has negative inotropic and chronotropic effect with arrhythmogenic potential possibly through direct myocardial ischemia or injury but we cann't be absolutely exclusive of actions of autonmic nervous system, especially parasympathetic nervous system.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.12
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• pp.1528-1533
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• 2002

Purpose : Isolated noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium(INVM) is one of the unclassified cardiomyopathies that is characterized by numerous, excessively prominent trabeculations, and deep intertrabecular recesses. We performed this study to evaluate the clinical features of INVM in children. Methods : The medical records of 10 patients with INVM were reviewed. We analyzed the clinical manifestations, hemodynamics, pattern of inheritance, and long-term prognosis of INVM in children. Results : Age at diagnosis was $45{\pm}53months$(1 day-14 years) with follow-up lasting as long as 78 months. Most INVM was asymptomatic on diagnosis. Associated cardiac anomalies were noted in six patients(ventricualr or atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus with mitral valve prolapse, or mitral valve cleft). Depressed or flat changes of T wave in lead II, III and aVF were observed on electrocardiography. Various arrhythmia including WPW syndrome with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, third-degree atrioventricular block, and familial sick sinus node dysfuction were observed. The degree of trabeculation in INVM was significantly prominent from level of mitral valve to apex compared to age-matched control. Familial recurrences were noted in two patients. The systolic function of the left ventricle was decreased in 20% of patients during the follow-up period, but systemic embolism or ventricular tachycardia was not observed. Conclusion : INVM is not a rare disorder. The cardiac function may be deteriorated in children as well as adults during long-term follow up. Thus early diagnosis and long-term follow-up must be done. So, the nation-wide multicenter clinical study would be mandatory to evaluate the incidence, long-term prognosis, and establishment of objective diagnostic criteria of INVM.