• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.9
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• pp.843-852
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• 1991

We prospectively studied postoperative cardiac arrhythmia after open heart surgery to analyze the types and incidence of cardiac arrhythmia and to predict preoperative risk factors. And also we evaluated the effectiveness of atrial and ventricular epicardial electrodes which were placed during operation Between March 1990 and August 1990, We had operated on in 211 patients and we studied 201 consecutive patients excluding 10 patients. The study group included 99 males and 102 female patients, ages 1 month to 75 years[Mean$\pm$SD=28.0$\pm$21.7 years]. Postoperatively, all patients were regularly seen by the cardiac surgeon and cardiologist, They had continuous electrocardiographic monitoring for the first 3 days, initially in the intensive care unit and were checked routine electrocardiography on the postoperative 7 days, The postoperative cardiac arrhythmia were analyzed and possible associations of this arrhythmia with various pre, intra, and postoperative factors were studied by univariate and multivariate discriminant analysis, The overall incidence of postoperative cardiac arrhythmia except relative sinus bradycardia was 36.8%;[74/201], The incidence of postoperative cardiac arrhythmia in acyanotic congenital heart disease: 19.4%, cyanotic congenital heart disease: 20.8%, cardiac arrhythmia surgery: 33.3%, acquired valvular heart disease: 60.9% and coronary artery occlusive disease: 38.9%. Both univariate and multivariate studies indicated the pre operative symptom duration[p = 0013], the duration of medication[p=0.003], presence of preoperative arrhythmia[p<0.001] and pre-operative left atrial dimension in echocardiography to be the factor promoting postoperative cardiac arrhythmia. Multivariate discriminant analysis showed that the presence of preoperative cardiac arrhythmia, bypass time and the duration of preoperative symptom duration conveyed considerable risk factor on post-operative arrhythmia. The atrial wire electrodes were used diagnostically in 36 and were used therapeutically in 89 among 201 patients. Atrial pacing were used to treat relative sinus bradycardia, accelerated junctional tachycardia or premature atrial or ventricular contractions in 51 patients. Atrioventricular sequential pacing were used in 16 patients and ventricular pacing were used in 20 patients. Hemodynamics were evaluated in 2 patients of relative sinus bradycardia before and after atrial pacing. The atrial pacing increased the amount of cardiac output to 15% more. Because of their great utility in the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias, we conclude that routine placement of atrial and ventricular electrodes at the time of operation is indicated regardless of the nature of the open-heart procedure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.292-294
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• 2016

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a new treatment for refractory heart failure. However, most patients with heart failure treated with CRT are adults, middle-aged or older with idiopathic or ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. We treated a 12-year-old boy, who was transferred after cardiac arrest, with dilated cardiomyopathy, left bundle-branch block, and ventricular tachycardia. We performed cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator (CRT-D). After CRT-D, left ventricular ejection fraction improved from 22% to 4 4% assessed by echocardiogram 1 year postoperatively. On electrocardiogram, QRS duration was shortened from 206 to 144 ms. The patient's clinical symptoms also improved. For pediatric patients with refractory heart failure and ventricular arrhythmia, CRT-D could be indicated as an effective therapeutic option.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.363-373
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• 1986

Even though the pathogenesis is still controversial, electrocardiographic changes after congenital open heart surgery depend on various etiologic factors. Author reviewed 261 cases of congenital open heart surgery patient experienced in the Dept. of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan National University Hospital, since July, 1981 to Sept., 1985. The results were summarized as followed: 1. The age distribution was from 3 to 29 years old with mean age 10.8 years. And the most frequent congenital heart defect we had done operation was VSD. 2. Preoperatively, the most frequent ECG finding was abnormal QRS complex and postoperatively the most frequent ECG change was arrhythmia. 3. The most frequent arrhythmia before operation was intraventricular conduction disturbance. 4. Right ventriculotomy incision produced the more frequent abnormal ECG changes postoperatively than right atriotomy or pulmonary arteriotomy. 5. According to the operative technique, outflow patch graft of TOF repair produced the highest frequency of ECG changes after operation, and in comparing simple and patch closure of VSD, the latter was higher frequency of ECG changes, in valvotomy and infundibulectomy of PS, the latter was higher too. 6. The common symptom and signs in abnormally ECG changed patients after operation were palpitation, dyspnea, congestive heart failure and murmur in this order., 7. The longer the time of CPB, the more number of abnormally ECG changed patients had been developed after operation. 8. The most of postoperative ECG changed patients recovered spontaneously or with only medication and were clinically insignificant. And the rest other minor group recovered with temporary pacing. Eight cases out of 261 [3.1%], these with abnormal QRS complex and arrhythmia couldn`t recover in spite of every effort and eventually succumbed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.48-51
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• 2002

The conversion of failing Fontan circuit to total cavopulmonary connection(TCPC) is recommended as a therapeutic option in patients with late Fontan complications such as atrial arrhythmia, atrial enlargement, pulmonary venous obstruction, and ventricular dysfunction. Combined TCPC with extracardiac conduit and cryoablation of arrhythmia circuit is preferred for treatment of failing Fontan coulection with atrial lachyarrhythrnia. We report a case of conversion of atriopulmonary connection to extracardiac conduit Fontan and cryoablation of atrial arrhythmia circuit in a patient with tricuspid atresia, who also had ectopic atrial tachycardia, right atrial thrombi, pulmonary venous obstruction, and ventricular dysfunction. This patient and the parents were Jehovah's Witnesses; therefore, the patient underwent the procedure without blood transfusion.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.672-677
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• 1992

This is a clinical review of the results from electric cardioversion and pharmacological therapy used in our hospital for reverting cardiac arrythmia in patients with mitral valve surgery between Jan. 1990 and Jun. 1991. Of 62 evaluated patients, 16 patients had regular sinus rhythm and the other 46 had arrhythmias [42; atrial fibrillation 1; atrial flutter 1; premature ventricular contraction] preoperatively. In 2 of patients with sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation newly developed after surgery and was converted into sinus rhythm soon by intravenous administration of digoxin. Remaining 14 patient resumed sinus rhythm spontaneously. In patients with preoperative arrythmia, 3 patients reverted into sinus rhythm from atrial fibrillation by electric cardioversion at operative field, 1 patient by lidocain and mexiletine, 4 patients by combined use of digoxin and verapamil, 4 patients by 2 times of oral quinidine and 9 patient by long term use of oral amiodarone. Throughout this consecutive trials of anti-arrhythmic drugs and electric cardioversion, Conversion into normal sinus rhythm occurred in 48% of patients with arrhythmia developed after mitral valve surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.644-651
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• 2004

Background: Refractory atrial arrhythmias in patients late after the Fontan operation result in significant morbidity and mortality. We reviewed our experience with arrhythmia surgery in patients who had Fontan operation. Material and Method: Between July 1986 and December 2003, 275 early survivors after Fontan operation were reviewed. Fourteen patients underwent. arrhythmia surgery at reoperation after Fontan operation, and mean age at reoperation was 16.8$\pm$7.1 (range: 4.5 ∼ 30.6) years. Mechanisms of arrhythmia included atrial flutter in 8 patients, and atrial fibrillation in 2. Arrhythmia surgery has evolved from isthmus cryoablation in 12 patients to right-sided maze in 2 patients. Thirty-two patients. underwent prophylactic isthmus cryoablation concomitantly at initial Fontan operation. Result: Postoperative arrhythmias occurred in 68 patients (24.7%) among 275. There was no early and late mortality after the arrhythmia surgery. After redo Fontan operation, all patients maintained normal sinus rhythm. Atrial flutter recurred in 3 patients who had sinus conversion with medication and 7 required permanent pacemakers with a mean follow-up of 26.5$\pm$29.1 (range: 2 ∼ 73) months. All patients have improved to NYHA class I or II. After prophylactic cryoablation at initial Fontan operation, 29 patients (90.6%) had sinus rhythm, 1 patient had junctional tachycardia, 1 patient had sinus nodal dysfunction, and 1 patient had AV block with a mean follow-up of 51.3$\pm$19.8 (range: 4∼80) months. Conclusion: Redo Fontan operation, and concomitant arrhythmia surgery reduced atrial arrhythmias and improved NYHA functional classification.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2008

Purpose: Supraventricular arrhythmia is a well-known complication of cardiothoracic surgery, and is common in patients wirth underlying cardiovascular disease. Also, it's treatment and prognosis are well known. However the incidence, the contributing factors, and the prognosis for supraventricular arrhythmias in noncardiothoracic surgical patients are less well known. This study was undertaken to investigate the incidence, the clinical presentation, the prognosis, and the factors comtributing to the prognosis for supraventricular arrhythmia in the surgical intensive care unit. Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 34 patients with newly developed or aggravated supraventricular arrhythmias in the surgical intensive care unit between March 2004 and February 2005. The incidence, the risk factors, and the prognosis of supraventricular arrhythmias were analyzed. Results: During a 12month period, the incidence of supraventricular arrhythmia was 1.79% (34/1896). Most patients had pre-existing cardiovascular disease and sepsis. The mortality rate was 29.4%, and the most common cause of death was multiple organ failure due to septic shock. The mean value of the APACHE II score was 20.9, and the surgical intensive care unit and the hospital lengths of stay were 9.9 days and 25.8 days, respectively. The APACHE II score measured when the arrhythmia developed was a significant factor in predicting mortality, Conclusion: Supraventricular arrhythmias result in increased mortality and increased length of stay in both the surgical intensive care unit and the hospital. The arrhythmia itself did not cause death, but a high APACHE II score incicated a poor prognosis. This may reflect the severity of the illness rather than an independent contributor to mortality.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.18-24
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• 2011

Background: We evaluated the efficacy of Cox-maze IV procedure using bipolar irrigated radiofrequency ablation and cryothermy in chronic atrial fibrillation associated with valvular heart disease. Material and Methods: From November 2005 to June 2009, ninety four patients have undergone valvular heart surgery with Cox-maze IV procedure. Preoperative duration of atrial fibrillation was $7.6{\pm}6.5$ years and follow-up duration was $22.7{\pm}12.3$ months. Results: There were two (2.1%) postoperative deaths not related to maze procedure. Two cerebrovascular accidents, five low cardiac output syndromes and two permanent pacemaker implantations have occurred after surgery. Preoperative ejection fraction on echocardiography was $55.3{\pm}8.1%$ and ejection fraction of postoperative six month was $54.7{\pm}6.5%$. Left atrial size of preoperative and postoperative were $61.5{\pm}11.6\;mm$ and $53.1{\pm}8.4\;mm$ at each. Freedom from atrial fibrillation rate at postoperative six-month was 80.7% and the cases of recurrence of atrial fibrillation after six months were three (3.3%). Risk factors for failure or recurrence of maze procedure were old age (p=.010) and preoperative moderate or severe tricuspid regurgitation (p=.033). Conclusion: The Cox-maze IV procedure using RFBP2 and cryothermy is quite safe and freedom from atrial fibrillation at postoperative 6 month was 82.5%. Risk factors for failure or recurrence of atrial fibrillation after Cox-maze IV were old age and preoperative over moderate tricuspid regurgitation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.595-603
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• 1993

We analysed 60 consecutive patients who got Senning operation for transposition of the great arteries [TGA] with or without ventricular septal defects [VSD]. There were 41 simple TGA [group I] and 19 TGA with VSD [Group II], the operative mortality was 20 % [in group I 4.9 %, group II 52.6 %]. Among the survivors [n=48], the mean follow-up period was 7 years [range, 1 year to 13.5 years] and the actuarial survival rate at 13 years were 95 % in group I and 42 % in group II. Preoperative high left ventricular pressure and high pulmonary arterial pressure affected the surviving [p<0.01]. There occurred various type of arrhythmia like junctional rhythm, first degree atrioventricular [AV] block, sick sinus syndrome and complete AV block, and we inserted 2 permanent pacemakers for these patients. The incidence of arrhythmia were 28.2 % [11/39] in group I and 55.6 % [5/9] in group II, and the actuarial freedom from arrhythmia at 13 years after operation was 66 % [71 % in group I, 44 % in group II]. Increased aortic cross clamping time had affected the development of arrhythmia [p<0.05] which meant the complexity of the operation. The total incidence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction [LVOTO] was 31.3 % [15/48], but only 3 patients [6.25 %] showed the significant gradient requiring reoperation. The pulmonary venous pathway obstruction [PVO] were found in 3 patients, all in group I, and among them only one required the reoperation. The estimated freedom from PVO was 89 % at 13 years [87 % in group I, 100 % in group II], but we couldn`t find any significant systemic venous obstruction in our series. There occurred 27.1 % [13/48] mild degree tricuspid valve regurgitation without necessary surgical correction. We experienced 14.6 % [7/48] reoperation rate: 3 residual VSD, 3 LVOTO, 1 PVO, 3 atrial baffle leakage. For this high incidence of complication rate after Senning operation and high mortality in TGA with VSD, We do not use this kind of surgical modality any more and do the Jatene operation for all the TGA patients since several years ago.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1318-1326
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• 1992

Backgroud. To determine the influence of age at operation upon surgical outcome in patients with isolated secundum atrial septal defect, retrospective clinical analysis was done. Material and method. From June, 1976 to December, 1991, 146 patients, 63 male and 83 female patients ranging in age from 13 months to 56 years, were operated on for isolated secundum atrial septal defect. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to their age at operation: Group I [<20 years old], 91 patients[62.3%]; Group II [21 to 40 years old], 44 patients[30.1%]; GroupIII[>41 years old], 11 patients[7.6%]. Significant differences in clinical features, hemodynamic function, early and late results between age groups were speculated. Results. One hundred thirty-one patients[89.6%] were symptomatic at the time of operation, the most common symptoms being dyspnea on exertion, recurrent respiratory infection, palpitation and chest pain. Patients in NYHA class III or IV were 3.3% in group I, 25% in groupIII, and 54.5% in group Ill. Hemodynamic data was available for 138 patients [94.5%]. Significant pulmonary hypertension [MPA systolic pressure $^3$ 40mmHg] was noted in 22 patients [15.9%]. Patients with pulmonary vascular disease [Rp/Rs>1.25] were 2% in group I, 7.3% in group Il, and 9.1% in groupIII. But there were no significant differences between the age groups in the size of the shunt or the ratio of pulmonary to systemic flow. Atrial septal defects were closed with direct suture in 144 patients and patch repair was performed in 2 patients with high defect. Atrial arrhythmia [8.2%] was the most common postoperative complication. The mean [LSD] duration of follow-up in all patients was 16$\pm$22 months [range, 1~96 months]. Functional result was excellent regardless of the age groups. During follow-up period, late cardiovascular events were arrhythmia [7 cases], reoperation for recurrent ASD [2 cases], and premature late death due to bacterial endocarditis [1 case]. Incidence of preoperative and late atrial fibrillation was significantly higher in older age group. Conclusion. Age at operation is one of the most important predictor of early and late surgical outcome with its impact on the following factors : 1] hemodynamic alterations and ventricular dysfunction due to longstanding volume and pressure overload, 2] pulmonary vascular disease, and 3] atrial arrhythmia including atrial fibrillation as a result of atrial dilatation. Therefore, among patients with surgically repaired atrial septal defects, those operated on over the age of 20 require careful supervision on the long-term basis.