• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.47-51
• /
• 2007

Purpose : The early diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD) is difficult sometimes, especially in atypical or incomplete cases presenting 4 or less principal clinical features without coronary arterial lesions (coronary arterial ectasia or aneurysm). The authors investigated the incidence of echocardiographic abnormalities in patients with KD to discover whether abnormal echocardiographic findings might be helpful in the early diagnosis of KD. Methods : Echocardiography was done in the acute stage of 103 patients with KD (Kawasaki group) and 40 patients with other acute febrile illnesses (control group). Abnormal echocardiographic findings were classified into 4 categories and defined as follows; 1) significant pericardial effusion, 2) significant valvular dysfunctions, 3) left ventricular systolic dysfunction, 4) coronary arterial ectasia or aneurysm. Results : In the Kawasaki group, significant pericardial effusion was present in 24 patients (23.3 percent), significant valvular dysfunctions in 30 patients (29.1 percent), left ventricular systolic dysfunction in 10 patients (9.7 percent), and coronary arterial lesions in 27 patients (26.2 percent). In the control group, significant pericardial effusion was present in only one patient (2.5 percent). The number of patients with any one of echocardiographic abnormalities was 57 (55.3 percent) in Kawasaki group and one (2.5 percent) in control group. The sensitivity of echocardiography in the diagnosis of KD was 55.3 percent, the specificity 97.5 percent, the positive predictive value 98.3 percent, and the negative predictive value 45.9 percent. Conclusion : If abnormal echocardiographic findings, even if other than coronary arterial lesions, are confirmed in patients in whom KD is suspected, it seems desirable to inifiate specific treatment for KD.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.16-22
• /
• 2010

Electrocardiogram(ECG) analysis and arrhythmia recognition are critical for diagnosis and treatment of ill patients. Cardiac arrhythmia is a condition in which heart beat may be irregular and presents a serious threat to the patient recovering from ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF). Other arrhythmias like atrial premature contraction (APC), Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) and superventricular tachycardia (SVT) are important in diagnosing the heart diseases. This paper presented new method to classify various arrhythmias contrary to other techniques which are limited to only two or three arrhythmias. ECG is decomposed into Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) by Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD). Burg algorithm was performed on IMFs to obtain AR coefficients which can reduce the dimension of feature vector and utilized as Multi-class SVM inputs which is basically extended from binary SVM. We chose optimal parameters for SVM classifier, applied to arrhythmias classification and achieved the accuracies of detecting NSR, APC, PVC, SVT, VT and VP were 96.8% to 99.5%. The results showed that EMD was useful for the preprocessing and feature extraction and multi-class SVM for classification of cardiac arrhythmias, with high usefulness.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.7
• /
• pp.780-784
• /
• 1996

The localized form of subaortic stenosis shows a spectrum of pathological lesions varing from dis- crete membrane to a thickened flbromuscular collar. Aortic valve is commonly involved late in the pro- cess resulting in regurgitation. Because of the likelihood o the progressive obstruction and aortic regurgitation, early elective oper- ation should be considered for the patient with subaortic stenosis. We experienced a case of localized fibromuscular subaortic stenosis associated with aortic regurgi- tation. Excision of the fibromuscular ridge and septal myectomy-myotomy relieved the subaortic seen- osis. Regurgitant aortic valve was repaired by peeling away the Hbrotic tissue on the cusps and subcommissural annuloplasty at the each commissural area. On postoperative echocardiographic examination, the systolic pressure gradient between left ventricle and aorta decreased markedly and the aortic regurgitation was not detected at all.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.2
• /
• pp.214-222
• /
• 2002

Purpose : The aim of this study was to evaluate myocardial injury in children treated with adriamycin by echocardiography, which is non-invasive and safe measurement for children. Methods : Left ventricular dimensions, wall stress, and contractile function were determined by echocardiographic methods in 17 patient recepients with adriamycin chemotherapy at rest(group 1) and during stress(group 2). Twenty age-matched normal subjects were established as control group. Results : End-diastolic dimension was decreased in both groups(group 1; $92{\pm}7%$ of normal, group 2; $87{\pm}8%$ of normal, P<0.05). Left ventricular end diastolic volume and wall mass were also decreased in both groups(group 1; $96{\pm}12mL/m^2$ and $145{\pm}18g/m^2$, group 2; $87{\pm}8mL/m^2$ and $137{\pm}16g/m^2$, respectively, P<0.05 and P<0.05) and group 2 showed lower values than group 1. Meridional end systolic stress(ESSm) was increased in both groups but there was no significant difference between the two groups(group 1; $52.6{\pm}6.2g/cm^2$, group 2; $63.5{\pm}8.5g/cm^2$, P<0.05, normal value $45.7{\pm}3.5g/cm^2$). The load-independent relation of rate-corrected circumferential fiber shortening velocity(Vcfc) to ESSm has a significant abnormal change in 7 out of 17(41%) in group 1 and 12 out of 17(71%) in group 2. Conclusion : The load-dependent systolic index, such as fractional shortening, may fail to show abnormality because of the compensatory changes in preload and afterload which can mask the impaired contractility. Therefore, systolic performance also should be monitored by a load-indepedent contractility index such as slope value of the end-systolic pressure-dimension relation and the position of the left ventricular stress-fiber shortening velocity after exercise.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.255-262
• /
• 1996

The donor pool for heart transplants is severely limited and there is still a legal problem of brain death. This study assessed the function of hearts "absolute anoxic" for ten minutes after asphyxia by perfusing the hearts on a Langendorfr apparatus for 45 minutes with Krebs-Henseleit buffier at 37 t at 80 cm H2O. Forty isolated rat hearts were divided into four groups. Ten control hearts (group 1) were perfused on the circuit without intervening ischemia. Ten hearts (group 2) were harvested, quickly flushed with 5cc of cold University of Wisconsin solution, and stored in the same cold solution for 4 hours. Ten hearts (group 3) were excised, quickly flushed with 5 u of cold Stanford cardioplegic solution and stored in cold saline solution for 4 hours. Ten asphyxiated hearts (group 4) had warm ischemia for ten minutes and were perfused with 5u of cold Stanford cardioplegia containing 7,500 units of urokinase to dissolve intravascular clots, and stored in cold saline solution for 1.5 hours. Time of spontaneous defibrillation (TSD) after perfusion was significantly longer in group 2, group 3 and group 4 than in group 1. TSD in group 3 and group 4 was significantly longer in comparison to that of group 2. Left ventricular developed pressure(LVDP) at 15 minutes was significantly lower in group 3 and group 4 than in group 1 and group 2. In group 4, LVDP at 30 minutes and 45 minutes was significantly lower compared with that in group 1 . In conclusion, asphyxiated rat hear;ts which had absolute anoxia for 10 minutes after as hyxia showed relatively satisfactory cardiac function. function.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.248-251
• /
• 2009

Nonocclusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is a rare complication that occurs in about 0.05% of patients after openheart surgery, and NOMI refers to the mesenteric ischemia that's caused by splanchnic vasospasm without occlusion of the great intestinal vessels. In the presently reported case, NOMI developed to maintain the blood flow to the heart and brain after several minutes of a hypotensive status and the latter was caused by acute aortic dissection that complicated an aortic cannulation procedure. Unfortunately, the patient died even though the problems were diagnosed early and proper treatment was administered. Early diagnosis of NOMI by angiography and the selective infusion of vasodilators are thought to be the only way to improve survival for patients with clinically suspected NOMI.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.98-101
• /
• 2008

Once it is diagnosed, immediate surgical extirpation is desirable for treating left ventricle myxoma that's accompanied with stenosis of the left ventricle outflow tract. This is because this condition may potentially induce fatal complications such as cerebral infarction or myocardial infarction that's triggered by myxoma embolus, or even sudden death due to coronary malperfusion. An 18-year-old male with the chief complaint of NYHA class II exertional dyspnea was found to have a $4{\times}3\;cm^2$ sized mass on transthoracic ultrasonography, which was shown to move down the left ventricle outflow tract on the systolic phase. The mass was immediately extirpated by incision of the left ventricle; the mass was finally diagnosed as a myxoma. The patient was discharged on at the 10th day postoperatively without any complications. On the 22-month follow-up observation made at the out-patient clinic after discharge, there have been no noticeable, significant changes seen on physical examination or the cardiac ultrasonography.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2004

MDCT is a useful, non-invasive, diagnostic tool in the evaluation of coronary artery disease. However, the image quality is affected by an irregular heart rhythm of the patients. Especially, premature ventricular contraction induced stair-step artifacts in the reconstruction of 2-D or 3-D images of the heart including coronary arteries. In recent, we experienced some improving of the image quality after correcting the PVC. Accordingly, the purpose of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the arrhythmia correction method, which was commercially available software, in improving the quality of the reconstruction images of the heart. Image analysis was performed, in consensus, by two radiologists. The scores for image quality were ranked as follows; excellent is 4 (image quality is markedly improved and is helpful in the image evaluation), good is 3 (image quality is mildly improved, but is somewhat helpful in the image evaluation), fair is 2 (image quality is improved and is not helpful in the image evaluation), and poor is 1 (image quality is not improved). We used ANOVA method to evaluate the statistical significant differences in the image qualities among the correction methods of the arrhythmia with below 0.05 of p-value. The method of moving the R-R interval showed statistically significant differences in improving of the image quality in patients with arrhythmia. We concluded that the regulation of R-R interval in patients with arrhythmia was an effective method to improve the image quality in the reconstructions of the MDCT coronary angiograms.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.4
• /
• pp.417-423
• /
• 2006

Purpose : The objectives of this study were to assess ventricular function by tissue Doppler imaging in children who were receiving chemotherapy or who had received chemotherapy, and to apply repeated tissue Doppler imaging to make an early assessment in cardiac toxicity studies. Methods : This study was conducted on 23 oncology patients on-treatment or off-treatment from April 2005 to July 2005 at Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University. All patients(group 1) were divided into two groups, fractional shortening(FS) over 29 percent(group 2) and FS under 28 percent (group 3) in the first category. These same patients were also divided into the following groups : group treated with anthracyclin(group 4) and group treated without anthracyclin(group 5). Deceleration time(DT), isovolumic relaxation time(IVRT), FS, peak early diastolic(E), and peak late diastolic (A) velocity of transmitral flow were measured by M-mode and pulsed wave Doppler. Systolic(Sm), peak early diastolic(Em), and peak late diastolic(Am) velocity in apical 4-chamber and 2-chamber views were measured by tissue Doppler imaging. The author calculated a modified Tei index, E/A, E/Em ratio by using measured values. Results : Twenty three patients were enrolled : 12 boys and 11 girls. The average age of patients was 8 years and 4 months. Thirteen out of 23 patients were in the group treated with anthracyclin (group 4) and 6 had FS under 28 percent(group 3). E/Em ratio showed a significant difference between group 1 and control group($6.46{\pm}1.85$ vs $7.06{\pm}1.64$, P<0.05). Other parameters had no difference statistically. Conclusion : This study showed that the change of cardiac function developed earlier in diastolic function than in systolic function, as E/Em ratio reflecting the mean LV diastolic pressure showed a significant difference between the control group and chemotherapy groups. Echocardiography using tissue Doppler imaging is a non-invasive, comfortable and reliable method for post-chemotherapy follow up.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.40 no.3 s.272
• /
• pp.168-179
• /
• 2007

Background: The recent trend of an increasing number of patients with acute cardiogenic shock or chronic congestive heart failure following myocardial infarction, as well as the considerable number who can not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass after open heart surgery, call for immediate efforts to develop affordable ventricular assist devices that are suitable for the Korean physique. Recently, a pneumatic pulsatile ventricular assist device (VAD), named DKUH-75, has been developed by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, in collaboration with the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Dankook University College of Medicine. The feasibility of the DKUH-75 VAD was evaluated on the bases of common hemodynamic variables and echocardiographic measurements in pigs, which are subjected to an acute cardiogenic shock state following myocardial infarction, using a novel coronary artery ligation method employing the ischemic preconditioning concept. Material and Method: Acute cardiogenic shock was induced in 10 Yorkshire Landrace Duroc strain pigs by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery via an ischemic preconditioning process. The hemodynamic variables were monitored, with epicardial echocardiographic measurements performed before and one hour after the ligation. The DKUH-75 VAD was implanted into 5 pigs one hour after the onset of the shock. The hemodynamic variables and echocardiographic measurements were taken one hour after installation of the VAD. Result: The systolic, diastolic and mean systemic arterial pressures were significantly decreased in all the experimental animals one hour after the ligation. The systolic, diastolic and mean pulmonary arterial pressures were increased (Eds note: this completely contradicts the preceding statement? However, if you mean the non-experimental animals this should be stated?). The left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was increased, but the cardiac index decreased, An increase in the left ventricular end systolic dimension and decreases in the fractional shortening and ejection fraction were observed all animals one hour after the coronary artery ligation. In all 5 of the VAD implanted pigs, the systolic and mean systemic arterial pressures were increased, and the pulmonary arterial pressures decreased one hour after the implantation; the LVEDP decreased, but the cardiac index was significantly increased, In the echocardiographic measurements, the left ventricular end systolic dimension decreased after the implantation of the VAD, but the fractional shortening and ejection fraction significantly increased. Conclusion: Significant improvements in the hemodynamic variables and echocardiographic measurements were observed in the 5 VAD implanted animals one hour after installation, which had been subjected to an acute cardiogenic shock state by ligation of the coronary artery, indicating that the DKUH-75 VAD could help in the recovery of the myocardial function. This suggests that the DKUH-75 VAD is feasible in the short term in relation to an acute cardiogenic shock state due to myocardial infarction.