• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.7
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• pp.576-580
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• 1994

For 26 months since August 1991, 10 consecutive patients with congenital left ventricular outflow tract obstruction underwent corrective surgery in Pusan Paik Hospital. Their ages ranged from 2 to 18 years. There were 6 male and 4 female patients. According to stenotic site, obstruction were classified into supravalvular [n = 5], subvalvular [n = 4], valvular stenosis [n = 1]. We have performed patch enlargement of ascending aorta [n = 2], supravalvular membrane resection and patch enlargement of ascending aorta [n = 3], subvalvular membrane resection [n = 2], subvalvular membrane resection and left ventricular myectomy [n = 2] and aortic annuloplasty with Dacron patch and aortic valve replacement [n = 1]. Preoperative mean value of systolic pressure gradient were 85.0 $\pm$29.2mmHg[supravalvular], 70.0mmHg[valvular], 72.5 $\pm$ 22.5mmHg[subvalvular], and 78.5 $\pm$ 24.3mmHg[total]. Postoperative mean value of systolic pressure gradient were 31.0 $\pm$ 8.9mmHg[supravalvular], 0mmHg[valvular], 15.0 $\pm$ 10.8mmHg[subvalvular], and 21.5 $\pm$ 13.9mmHg[total]. Postoperative systolic pressure gradient was decreased significantly[p = 0.001]. Postoperative course and short-term follow up results were good except one case of transient heart failure.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.407-413
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• 1985

Ruptured aneurysms of the sinus Valsalva are relatively rare, and the incidence seems to be higher in oriental than in western countries. Five patients underwent operative treatment in Catholic Medical Center in recent 2.5 year period. Three patients were male and two patients were female, ages ranged from 20 to 54 years. Bacterial endocarditis was suspected or proved in 3 patients. In 3 patients in our series had a ruptured congenital aneurysms and in 2 patients acquired aneurysms by bacterial endocarditis. Associated cardiac lesions were common; such as aortic insufficiency in 3 patients, atrial septal defect in 2 patients, mitral stenoinsufficiency in 1 patient and tricuspid insufficiency in 1 patient. All aneurysmal ruptures of the sinus Valsalva arose from right coronary sinus and in 4 patients ruptured into right ventricle and in 1 patient into right atrium. Surgical techniques consisted of direct closure 4 in patients and closure with Dacron patch in 1 patient. And we preferred double approach, that is, through both the aorta and the involved cardiac chamber in cases in whom aortic insufficiency was present. So additional aortic valve replacement performed in 2 patients due to severe aortic insufficiency and aortic valvuloplasty performed in 1 patient. One patient who underwent direct closure of ruptured sinus Valsalva and double valve replacement died due to low cardiac output syndrome just after the operation. Operative results were relatively good in remainders.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 1987

Twenty six patients were operated a total correction of tetralogy of Fallot between Jan., 1984 and July, 1985 at the Dept. of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Chonnam University Medical School, and a comparison between the survived group [n = 18] and the dead group [n = B was performed to detect factors influencing laboratory data, cineangiographic findings, operative findings and methods, and pump time. Following results were obtained, 1. There was no significant difference between two groups in the preoperative P.O2 and hematocrit level. 2. The size of the interventricular defect was not related to the operative mortality. 3. There was a significant difference in mortality rate between combined type of stenosis of pulmonary artery, valve and infundibulum and other types of right ventricular outflow tract stenosis. 4. There was a significant difference in mortality rate between the transannular patch reconstruction and other types of operative procedure. 5. There was no significant difference between two groups in total bypass time and aortic time. 6. There was no significant difference between two groups in left ventricular end diastolic volume and right ventricular end diastolic volume. 7. The operative mortality was related to the ratio of the diameter of the pulmonary valve annulus or each pulmonary artery to the ascending or descending aorta in cineangiographic findings, but there was no statistical significance of which probably is due to the lack of the total number of patients.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.287-293
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• 2022

Radiographic left atrial dimension (RLAD) is a useful measurement to assess left atrial enlargement in dogs. There are studies on the use of RLAD on various breeds of dogs, but no study on a specific breed with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). This study was conducted to compare RLAD measurements in Maltese dogs with MMVD ACVIM stage B1 and B2, and also to investigate the correlation of RLAD with the LA:Ao ratio. A total of 29 Maltese dogs were the subjects of this study. Each dog was diagnosed with MMVD ACVIM stage B1 or B2 based on physical examination, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography. The vertebral heart size (VHS), RLAD, LVIDDn, and LA:Ao ratio were measured and compared to evaluate the differences. There were significant differences in the RLAD, LVIDDn, and LA:Ao ratio between dogs with MMVD ACVIM stage B1 and those with stage B2. There was a significant correlation between the LA:Ao ratio and both the RLAD and VHS measurements, but the correlation coefficient was higher for RLAD. The RLAD scores exhibited a significant difference between dogs with ACVIM Stage B1 and with those with B2, and these scores had a higher correlation with the LA:Ao ratio measured by echocardiography than with VHS.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.443-450
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• 2016

Background: Although unique aortic pathology related to bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) has been previously reported, clinical implications of BAV to aortopathy risk have yet to be investigated. We looked for potential differences in matrix protein expressions in the aortic wall in BAV patients. Methods: Aorta specimens were obtained from 31 patients: BAV group (n=27), tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) group (n=4). The BAV group was categorized into three subgroups: left coronary sinus-right coronary sinus (R+L group; n=13, 42%), right coronary sinus-non-coronary sinus (R+N group; n=8, 26%), and anteroposterior (AP group; n=6, 19%). We analyzed the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2. Results: Based on the mean value of the control group, BAV group showed decreased expression of eNOS in 72.7% of patients, increased MMP-9 in 82.3%, and decreased TIMP in 79.2%. There was a higher tendency for aortopathy in the BAV group: eNOS $(BAV:TAV)=53%{\pm}7%:57%{\pm}11%$, MMP-9 $(BAV:TAV)=48%{\pm}10%:38%{\pm}1%$. The AP group showed lower expression of eNOS than the fusion (R+L, R+N) group did; $48%{\pm}5%$ vs. $55%{\pm}7%$ (p=0.081). Conclusion: Not all patients with BAV had expression of aortopathy; however, for patients who had a suspicious form of bicuspid valve, aortic wall biopsy could be valuable to signify the presence of aortopathy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.220-224
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• 1989

In candidates for aortic valve replacement [AVR]it is our primary intention to implant the largest possible vale prosthesis of at least 23 mm in diameter in patients with severe valvular aortic stenosis. However, in many patients there is an additional subvalvular asymmetric septal hypertrophy which in some cases may cause an postextrasystolic increase of the LV-aortic gradient. Another component of the aortic stenosis syndrome is a narrow valvular ring, or a combination of both. After complete removal of the diseased valve and decalcification the narrow aortic ring [< 23 mm] can be widened firstly by transaortic subvalvular septal myectomy- [TSM] thus unfolding the left ventricular outflow tract[LVOT]and secondly by extending the oblique aortic incision into the aortic valve ring or further down into the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The sub-and supra-valvular defect will be closed by patch enlargement of the aortic root [PEAR] using autologous pericardium. These techniques allow a considerable enlargement of the valvular ring of about 4 to 10 mm in circumference. In a retrospective study using a computerized program, 847 patients with AVR [1980-1984]were reviewed to evaluate the intraoperative hemodynamic results mainly concerning relief of the transvalvular gradient. In 626 patients AVR was performed, 151 patients had double valve replacement [AVR+MVR], and 70 patients had AVR plus additional surgical procedures. Concentrating on the AVR-group [n=626] there were 103 patients with TSM, 24 patients with PEAR and 20 patients with TSM+PEAR which demonstrated that in a total, of 147 patients of this groups [23.5%] an additional procedure was necessary. The Statistical evaluation of the intraoperative pressure measurements before and after AVR in relation to the size of the implanted prostheses indicated the lowest preoperative mean gradient in patients with AVR alone, the highest in patients who afforded TSM plus PEAR. However, after AVR the mean gradients in all three groups were very low [mean 5 to 10 mmHg]. These data indicate that in patients with a narrow aortic ring and additional considerable ASH, TSM and PEAR are suitable techniques to enlarge the aortic root to enable the implantation of an adequate aortic valve prosthesis. Long-term controls have shown that autologous pericardium is a qualified graft material for the ascending aorta.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.373-378
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• 1999

Background: Minimally invasive technique for various cardiac surgeries has become widely accepted since it has been proven to have distinct advantages for the patients. We describe here the results of our experiences of minimal incision in cardiac surgery. Material and Method: From February 1997 to November 1998, we successfully performed 31 cases of minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Male and female ratio was 17:14, and the patients age ranged from 1 to 75 years. A left parasternal incision was used in 9 patients with single vessel coronary heart disease. A direct coronary bypass grafting was done under the condition of the beating heart without cardiopulmonary bypass support(MIDCAB). Among these, one was a case of a reoperation 1 week after the first operation due to a kinked mammary artery graft. A right parasternal incision was used in one case of a redo mitral valve replacement. Mini-sternotomy was used in the remaining 21 patients. The procedures were mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty in 6 patients, mitral valve replacement 5, double valve replacement 2, aortic valve replacement 1, removal of left atrial myxoma 1, closure of atrial septal defect 2, repair of ventricular septal defect 2, and primary closure of r ght ventricular stab wound 1. The initial 5 cases underwent a T-shaped mini-sternotomy, however, we adopted an arrow-shaped ministernotomy in the remaining cases because it provided better exposure of the aortic root and stability of the sternum after a sternal wiring. Result: The operation time, the cardiopulmonary bypass time, the aorta cross-clamping time, the mechanical ventilation time, the amount of chest tube drainage until POD#1, the chest tube indwelling time, and the duration of intensive care unit staying were in an acceptable range. There were two surgical mortalities. One was due to a rupture of the aorta cannulation site after double valve replacement on POD#1 in the mini-sternotomy case, and the other was due to a sudden ventricular arrhythmia after MIDCAB on POD#2 in the parasternal incision case. Postoperative complications were observed in 2 cases in which a cerebral embolism developed on POD#2 after a mini-sternotomy in mitral valve replacement and wound hematoma developed after a right parasternal incision in a single coronary bypass grafting. Neither mortality nor complication was directly related to the incision technique itself. Conclusion: Minimally invasive surgery using parasternal or mini-sternotomy incision can be used in cardiac surgeries since it is as safe as the standard full sternotomy incisions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.356-364
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• 2002

Background: This study was undertaken to investigate the outcome of composite graft aortic root replacement using coronary button reimplantation technique for the treatment of aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving the aortic root. Material and Method: Between April 1995 and September 2001, 54 patients having aortic root replacement with a composite valve graft using direct coronary button reimplantation were reviewed retrospectively. Left ventricular dysfunction was present in 14 patients(25.9%), aortic regurgitation in 48(89%), and Marfan's syndrome in 17(31.5%). The indications for operation were annuloaortic ectasia in 29 patients(53.7%), aortic dissection in 11(20.4%), aneurysms of the ascending aorta involving aortic root in 12(22.2%), and aortitis in 2(3.7%). Six patients(11.1%) had previous cardiac or ascending aortic operations. Concomitant procedures were arch replacement in 21 patients(38.9%), coronary artery bypass graft in 7(13%), mitral valve repair or replacement in 4(7.4%), and others in 6. The mean time of circulatory arrest, total bypass, and aortic crossclamp were 18 $\pm$ 9 minutes, 177 $\pm$ 42 minutes, and 127 $\pm$ 31 minutes, respectively. Result: There was 1 early death(1.9%). Mean follow-up was 24.6$\pm$ 19.5 months. There were two late deaths(3.8%) including one death due to the traumatic cerebral hemorrhage. The Kaplan-Meier survival rate was 98.0 $\pm$ 2.0% and 93.1 $\pm$ 5.1% at 1 and 6 years, respectively. Two patients required reoperation owing to a false aneurysm at the root anastomosis site and a malfunction of prosthetic aortic valve(3.8%). Staged operation for dissection of the remaining thoracoabdominal aorta was performed in 1 patient. The freedom rate from reoperation was 97.8 $\pm$ 2.0% and 65.3 $\pm$ 26.7% at 1 and 6 years, respectively.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.12 s.257
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• pp.856-859
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• 2005

A male neonate was referred to our hospital with facial cyanosis and tachypnea at 19 days of age. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed type B interrupted aortic arch, posterior malalignment ventricular septal defect and valvular aortic stenosis. A new surgical repair was done with biventricular repair and neo-aortic arch reconstruction. Left ventricular outflow track (LVOT) was consisted of aortic valve and pulmonic valve. Right ventricular outflow (RVOT) track was reconstructed with extracardiac conduit. Postoperative two-dimensional echocardiography showed no stenosis and turbulency flow on LVOT and RVOT.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.306-309
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• 2020

A 59-year-old man presented for possible durable ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation. He had previously been diagnosed with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, a ventricular septal defect, an atrial septal defect, pulmonary valve stenosis, and aortic valve regurgitation. In the previous 22 years, he had undergone palliative cardiac surgery 3 times. VAD implantation as a bridge to transplantation was planned. Owing to severe adhesions, mesocardia, a left ascending aorta, and moderate aortic regurgitation, we performed VAD implantation and aortic valve closure via a dual left thoracotomy and partial sternotomy.