• 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.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.763-773
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• 1996

Background : Behçet's syndrome is a chronic multisystemic disease affecting many organs such as skin, mucosa, eye, joint, central nervous system and blood vessels. Lung involvement occurs in 5% of Behçet's syndrome and is thought to be due to the pulmonary vasculitis leading to thromboembolism, aneurysm and arteriobronchial fistula. Pulmonary vasculitis in Behçet's syndrome is a unique clinical feature, differing from other vasculitis affecting the lung and is one of the major causes of death. Therefore, we examined the incidence, the clinical features, the radioloic findings and the clinical courses of the lung involvement in Behçet's syndrome. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiologic studies of 10 cases of the lung involvement in Behçet's syndrome diagnosed at Yongdong Severance Hospital and Severance Hospital from 1986 to 1995. We analysed the clinical features, the radiological findings, the treatment modalities and the clinical courses. Results: 1) The incidence of the lung involvement in Behçet's syndrome was 2%(10/487). The male to female ratio was 8 : 2 and the mean age was 34 years. The presenting symptom was hemoptysis in 5 of 10 cases, and massive hemoptysis was noted in 2 cases. Other pulmonary symptoms were cough(6/10), dyspnea(4/10), and chest pain(2/10). Other manifestations were oral ulcers(10/10), genital ulcers(9/10), skin lesions(7/10), and eye lesions(6/10). 2) The laboratory findings were nonspecific. The posteroanterior views of chest radiographies showed multiple infiltrates(6/10), nodular or mass-like opacities(4/10), or normal findings(2/10). The chest CT scans showed multifocal consolidations(6/8), and aneurysms of the pulmonary aneries(4/8). The pulmonary angiographies were performed in 3 cases, and showed pulmonary artery aneurysms in 2 cases. The ventilation-perfusion scans in 2 cases of normal chest x-ray showed multiple mismatched findings. 3) The patients were treated with combination therapy consisting of corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and colchicine or anticoagulant agents. Surgical resection was performed in one case with a huge aneurysm. 4) We have followed up nine of ten cases. Three cases are well-being with medical therapy, two cases are severely disabled now and four cases died due to massive hemoptysis, massive pulmonary embolism, or sepsis. Conclusion : Pulmonary vasculitis is a main feature of the lung involvement of Behçet's syndrome, causing hemorrhage, aneurysmal formation, and/or thromboemboism. The lung involvement of Behçet's syndrome is uncommon but is one of the most serious prognostic factors of the disease. Therefore, an aggressive diagnostic work-up for early detection and proper treatment are recommended to improve the clinical course and the survival.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2004

Background: Infective endocarditis shows higher operative morbidity and mortality rates than other cardiac diseases. The vast majority of studies on infective endocarditis have been made on aortic endocarditis, with little attention having been paid to infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. This study attempts to investigate the clinical aspects and operative results of infective endocarditis on the mitral valve. Meterial and Method: The subjects of this study consist of 23 patients who underwent operations for infective endocariditis on the mitral valve from June 1995 to May 2003. Among them, 2 patients suffered from prosthetic valvular endocarditis and the other 21 from native valvular endocarditis. The subjects were evenly distributed age-wise with an average age of 44.8$\pm$15.7 (11∼66) years. Emergency operations were performed on seventeen patients (73.9%) due to large vegetation or instable hemodynamic status. In preoperative examinations, twelve patients exhibited congestive heart failure, four patients renal failure, two patients spleen and renal infarction, and two patients temporary neurological defects, while one patient had a brain abscess. Based on the NYHA functional classification, seven patients were determined to be at Grade II, 9 patients at Grade III, and 6 patients at Grade IV. Vegetations were detected in 20 patients while mitral regurgitation was dominant in 19 patients with 4 patients showing up as mitral stenosis dominant on the preoperative echocardiogram. Blood cultures for causative organisms were performed on all patients, and positive results were obtained from ten patients, with five cases of Streptococcus viridance, two cases of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and one case each of Corynebacteriurn, Haemophillis, and Gernella. Operations were decided according to the AA/AHA guidelines (1988). The mean follow-up period was 27.6 $\pm$23.3 (1 ∼ 97) months. Result: Mitral valve replacements were performed on 43 patients, with mechanical valves being used on 9 patients and tissue valves on the other 4. Several kinds of mitral valve repair or mitral valvuloplasty were carried out on the remaining 10 patients. Associated procedures included six aortic valve replacements, two tricuspid annuloplasty, one modified Maze operation, and one direct closure of a ventricular septal defect. Postoperative complications included two cases of bleeding and one case each of mediastinitis, low cardiac output syndrome, and pneumonia. There were no cases of early deaths, or death within 30 days following the operation. No patient died in the hospital or experienced valve related complications. One patient, however, underwent mitral valvuloplasty 3 months after the operation. Another patient died from intra-cranial hemorrhage in the 31st month after the operation. Therefore, the valve-related death rate was 4.3%, and the valve-related complication rate 8.6% on mid-term follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, follow-up. 1, 3-, and 5-year valve- related event free rates were 90.8%, 79.5%, and 79.5%, respectively, while 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 100%, 88.8%, and 88.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The findings suggest that a complete removal of infected tissues is essential in the operative treatment of infectious endocarditis of the mitral valve. It is also suggested that when infected tissues are completely removed, neither type of material nor method of operation has a significant effect on the operation result. The postoperative results also suggest the need for a close follow-up observation of the patients suspected of having brain damage, which is caused by preoperative blood contamination or emboli from vegetation, for a possible cerebral vascular injury such as mycotic aneurysm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.600-606
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• 2007

Background: Infective endocarditis shows high surgical mortality and morbidity rates, especially for aortic endocarditis. This study attempts to investigate the clinical characteristics and operative results of isolated aortic endocarditis. Material and Method: From July 1990 to May 2005, 25 patients with isolated aortic endocarditis (Group I, male female=18 : 7, mean age $43.2{\pm}18.6$ years) and 23 patients with isolated mitral endocarditis (Group II, male female=10 : 13, mean age $43.2{\pm}17.1$ years) underwent surgical treatment in our hospital. All the patients had native endocarditis and 7 patients showed a bicuspid aortic valve in Group I. Two patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis and one patients developed mitral endocarditis after a mitral valvuloplasty in Group II. Positive blood cultures were obtained from 11 (44.0%) patients in Group I, and 10 (43.3%) patients in Group II, The pre-operative left ventricular ejection fraction for each group was $60.8{\pm}8.7%$ and $62.1{\pm}8.1%$ (p=0.945), respectively. There was moderate to severe aortic regurgitation in 18 patients and vegetations were detected in 17 patients in Group I. There was moderate to severe mitral regurgitation in 19 patients and vegetations were found in 18 patients in Group II. One patient had a ventricular septal defect and another patient underwent a Maze operation with microwaves due to atrial fibrillation. We performed echocardiography before discharge and each year during follow-up. The mean follow-up period was $37.2{\pm}23.5$ (range $9{\sim}123$) months. Result: Postoperative complications included three cases of low cardiac output in Group I and one case each of re-surgery because of bleeding and low cardiac output in Group II. One patient died from an intra-cranial hemorrhage on the first day after surgery in Group I, but there were no early deaths in Group II. The 1, 3-, and 5-year valve related event free rates were 92.0%, 88.0%, and 88.0% for Group I patients, and 91.3%, 76.0%, and 76.0% for Group II patients, respectively. The 1, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 96.0%, 96.0%, and 96.0% for Group I patients, and foo%, 84.9%, and 84.9% for Group II patients, respectively. Conclusion: Acceptable surgical results and mid-term clinical results for aortic endocarditis were seen.

• The Journal of the Korean bone and joint tumor society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.126-133
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• 2005

Purpose: to know the treatment result of squamous cell carcinoma in extremity had poor prognosis with risk factor including burn scar and chronic osteomyelitis. Material and Methods: Between Octorber 1993 and September 2002, 20 patients with squamous cell carcinoma in extremity had no distant metastasis was got operation and followed over 36 months. Amputation was done when it was hard to get enough wide margin or neurovascular structure was involved instead of wide excision. Mean age of patients was 57.2 years old and male to female was 16 to 4. TMN staging and histologic grading were performed. Results: There were 6 metastasis (30%) in 20 cases for mean 48.3 months (36-84 months). 3 metastasis to local lymph node and 3 distant metastasis were happened at lung (in 3 cases) and thorasic vertebra (in 1 case). Survival was 18 cases at last look. 5-year survival rate was 50%. 3 local recurrence was developed at average 11 months (4-18 months). Complication was focal skin defect after wide excision and skin graft in 2 cases. The patients by wide excision got average 1.9 time operation and by amputation got average 1.3 time. Conclusion: Squamous cell carcinoma at extremity in Korea had high metastasis rate due to burn scar and chronic osteomyelitis, and it showed equal treatment result which treated by wide excision compared with amputation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.843-847
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• 2001

Background: Replacement of the esophagus remains a challenge for surgeons involved in esophageal disease. From 1996 to 1999, a total of 27 patients with esophageal cancer underwent free jejunal transfer(12cases) or esophagogastrostomy(15cases). To determine the results such as leakage of anastomosis site, stenosis, reflux esophagitis and operation time, respiratory complications, etc. we reviewed the 4 years experiences. Material and method: Palliative bypass surgery or esophageal prosthesis and cancers of the pharyngoesophageal or esophagogastric junction were excluded in this study. Resection was usually peformed through right thoracotomy and anastomosis was made with EEA staplers in esophagogas-trstomy. In cases of jejunal free transfer, 6cases of proximal esophagojejunostomy were stapled anastomosed and remaining 6 cases and all distal site were hand-sewn anastomosed. All reconstruction was done through posteromediastinal route. Result: There were two mortalities from thoracic esophagogastrostomy and one from jeunal free transfer. Major and minor complications(anastomosis site leakage: 3 cases, graft failure: 2cases etc) occurred in 27 cases. In 15 thoracic esophagogastrostomy cases, 11 patients had mild to moderate reflux esophagitis and 5 patients incurred stricture of the anastomosis. Operation time was about 550$\pm$280 minutes in jejunal free transfer, and about 300$\pm$ 160 minutes in esophagogastromy patients. Conclusion: Post operative reflux esophagitis and dysphagia were more frequent in Ivor-Lewis operation group than jejunal free transfer group; however, respiratory complications and operation time were significantly longer in jejunal (roe transfer group(p<0.05). To minimize the incidence of postoperative reflux esophagitis and dysphagia, patient evaluation focused on jejunal free transfer surgery is better than esophagogastrostomy followed by adequate post operative care.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.785-791
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• 2002

The results of reoperative valve replacement can be improved if appropriate analysis for the risk of reoperation was achieved. The purpose of our study was to analyze the results of reoperations for failure of bioprosthesis, and to define the risk factors in high-risk populations for reoperative procedures. Material and Method The series of 46 consecutive patients who had undergone first reoperative replacement for failed bioprosthesis between 1993 and 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. Mean age was 42 $\pm$ 12 years, mean body surface area was 1.52 $\pm$0.15 $m^2$. The reoperative procedure comprised of 36 MVR, 8 DVR, and 2 AVR. The first operation comprised of 2 DVR, 1 AVR, and 43 MVR. Factors which were choose to assess a predictor of results in reoperative valve replacement were sex, old age(＞60 years), early age at first operation(＜30 years), long interval between first and redo operation(.15years), poor NYHA functional class(＞3), LV dysfunction(LVEF＜45%), long operation time(＞8hours), endocarditis, combined procedures, and renal insufficiency, Result : Overall mortality was 4.3%(2 cases). The risk factors that influenced postoperative complications and unexpected postoperative results were lower ejection fraction(p＝0.012), older age(p＝0.045), endocarditis(p＝0.023), long operation time above 8 hours(p＝0.027). There was no statistically significant factor influencing hospital mortality. Conclusion : No factor influenced the mortality. Better results could be achieved if reoferation was performed carefully in poor left ventricular function, old aged patient, and with endocarditis. Effort to shorten the operation time would be helpful on postoperative results.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.793-802
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• 1997

A clinical analysis was performed on 52 cases of tuberculous pleurisy experienced in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery and department of medicine, Chosun University Hospital during a period from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1995. Among them, male was 39 cases, female was 13 cases, with age ranged from 7 to 73 years. The common symptoms were chest pain 75%, dyspnea 59.6%, cough 55.8%. The most common diagnostic tool was pleural biopsy. The protein levels in the tuberculous pleural effusion were 0.9∼6.5 gmojo, and ratios of effusion protein to serum protein were 0.48 ∼ 1.06. The glucose levels in the tuberculous pleural effusion were 37∼ 112 mg%. The LDH levels in the tuberculous pleural effusion were 80 ∼ 2440 unitlml, and ratios of tuberculous p eural effusion LDH to serum LDH were 0.48 ∼ 1.03. The ADA levels in the tuberculous pleural effusion were 24-63 lU/L. The common surgical methods of treatment in the tuberculous pleurisy were closed thoracostomy in 18 cases(66.7%), and thoracentesis in 5 cases(18.5%). This study compares the clinical results of group A and group B. There were no significant differences for age and sex, lag period from initial symptoms to admission, diagnostic method, and protein, pH, LDH, glucose, ADA levels in tuberculous pleural effusion. Authors noted that the discharge after admission on the tuberculous pleurisy was more faster in patients with surgical treatment than in patients with only medical treatment. (Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997;30:793-802)

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.451-455
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• 1998

Bovine pericardial bioprosthesis treated with glutaraldehyde is one of the most popular prosthetic materials, but late calcific degeneration must be solved. According to the alleged hypothesis of this calcification mechanism the free aldehyde groups on the surface of the tissue treated with glutaraldehyde bind to the circulating free calcium and induce mineralization. For mitigating the calcific degeneration, I added MgCl2 into the 0.625% glutaraldehyde solution to compete with calcium for binding to free aldehyde from the glutaraldehyde. I prepared 60 pieces of square shaped bovine pericardia and fixed in the 0.625% glutaraldehyde solution as control group(group 1), and the other 60 pieces in the same glutaraldehyde solution with 4g/L MgCl2 6H2O as the other group(group 2). After fixation for 1 month these were implanted into the bellies of 60 Sprague-Dawley rats subdermally and extracted on 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 6 months later. With atomic absorption spectophotometry I measured the deposited calcium amount with the following results; 1 month and 2 months after implantation I could not find any differences between two groups, but in the 3rd month calcium was 1.738 mg/g in group 1 and 0.786 mg/g in group 2 and in the 6th month calcium had risen to 3.102 mg/g in group 1 and 1.623 mg/g in group 2, which has statistical significance(p<0.05). This means magnesium shows meaningful calcium mitigation effects on subcutaneously implanted bovine pericardium in the rat models.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.338-344
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• 2001

배경: 말기 신부전 환자에서 심장병, 특히 관상 동맥 질환의 이환이 늘어나면서 관상동맥 우회수술의 대상 환자가 지속적으로 증가하고 있다. 이들 환자군은 수술후 유병률과 사망률이 매우 높고 고위험군으로 알려져 있다. 대상 및 방법: 1996년 3월부터 2000년 5우러까지 서울 중앙 병원 흉부외과에서 술전 말기 신부전증으로 진단 받은 후 관상 동맥 우회수술을 시행받은 환자 25명을 대상으로 의무 기록을 중심의 후향적 분석을 하였다. 술전 위험 인자 및 술전 신기능, 수술 결과, 술후 경과, 수술후 합병증, 사망률 및 생존률 등을 분석하였다. 결과: 술전 평균 크레아티닌 청소율은 12.7$\pm$5ml/mim였고 술전 평균 혈중 크레아티닌 치는 6.2$\pm$3mg/dl(1.7-14.4)였다. 술전 투석을 시행중인 환자는 11례(44%)였고 술전 투석을 시행하지 않았던 14례(56%)중 8례(8/14, 57.1%)는 수술전후로 새로이 투석이 필요하였다. 술전 혈액 투석 중이었던 9례중 2례에서 수술후 복막 투석으로 전환하였다. 수술 사망률은 2례(8%)로 흡인성 폐렴과 종격동염으로 1례, 그리고 수술후 출형과 종격도염으로 1례가 사망하였다. 수술후 합병증은 14명(56%)의 환자에서 발생하여 매우 높은 발생율을 보였다. 만기사항은 2례(8%)에서 발생하였으며 사망원인은 카테터에 의한 복막염이었다. 생존 환자의 4년 생존률은 82$\pm$13% 였다. 결론: 말기 신부전 환자에서의 관상동맥 우회수술을 비교적 만족스러운 범위의 수술 사망률(8%)을 보였으나 합병증 발생률이 매우 높고 합병증 발생 시 사망률이 매우 높아 수술주위 감염 예방과 세심한 환자 관리가 필요하다.