• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.780-783
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• 2003

Pacemaker lead-related infective endocarditis is an uncommon, but serious complication. We report a case of a 45-year-old man who had symptom of intermittent high fever and rupture of sinus Valsalva that developed after a redo aortic valve replacement and transvenous permanent pacemaker implantation. Positive blood cultures of streptococcus viridans and transesophageal echocardiography showing a large mobile vegetation on pacemaker lead and tricuspid valve lead to the diagnosis of pacemaker lead-related infective endocarditis. Initial antibiotic therapy followed by surgical extraction of the pacemaker lead and wide debridement of infective tissues including multiple vegetations was required. Postoperative antibiotic therapy was continued for 4 weeks. The postoperative course has been uneventful. The patient is totally asymptomatic and is doing well up to now.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.248-251
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• 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
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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.35 no.7
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• pp.556-559
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• 2002

The presense of pectus excavatum in Marfan's syndrome may complicate cardiac operation by making midline sternotomy technically more difficult and limiting the operative exposure of the heart. We operated on a 33 year old male patient with Marfan's syndrome and severe pectus excavatum who had severe mitral regurgitation and moderate aortic regurgitation with 52mm aortic root dilation. The operative field was adequately exposed through a midline sternal incision with two sternal retactors. The patient underwent Bentall operation and mitral valve replacement. The repair of pectus excavatum was performed after completion of CPB and the administration of protamin. Permanent internal stabilization achieved by overlapping of the ends of lower ribs and reinforced with sternal closure wire.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.926-933
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• 1993

We experienced 20 patients with Takayasu`s disease who required 22 surgical procedures for critical arterial stenoses, aneurym of descending thoracic aorta, and aortic regurgitation from 1986 to 1993.Five patients had type I arteritis, seven patients had type II , seven patients had type III, and one patients had type IV.15 patients were female and 5 patients were male.Patients` ages ranged from 17 to 47 years and mean age was 29.1 years. The surgical procedures were as follows;autotransplantations of kidney[3], aortic valve replacements[2], ascending aorta-bilateral internal carotid artery bypasses[2], unilateral renal artery bypasses[2], bilateral renal artery bypasses[3], replacement of descending thoracic aorta[1], ascending aorta-abdominal aorta bypass[1], ascending aorta-right internal carotid artery bypass[1], ascending aorta-right internal carotid artery and left subclavian artery bypass[1], left common carotid artery-left-subclavian artery bypass[1], pulmonary artery angioplasty[1], left femoro-bilateral axillary bypass[1] and others[2]. There was no hospital death.Mean duration of follow-up was 42.7 months[ranged from 3 to 96 months].There was one late death and late mortality rate is 5.9%.Two patients was underwent second vascular procedures, one after 5 years and the other after 5 months.The other patients have done well after surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.630-633
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• 2001

Central anticholinergic syndrome is defined as an absolute or relative reduction in cholinergic activity in the central nervous system and has a wide variety of manifestations. It is associated with almost any drug given during anesthesia, except neuromuscular relaxants, and treated with the cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine. The diagnosis of central anticholinergic syndrome is often made when symptoms resolve promptly after the administration of physostigmine. We present a case of a central anticholinergic syndrome diagnosed by treatment with physostigmine, in a patient who received closure of patent foramen ovale associated with stroke.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.408-412
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• 2016

A 50-year-old female patient with visual disturbances was referred for further evaluation of a heart murmur. Fundoscopy revealed a Roth spot in both eyes. A physical examination showed peripheral signs of infective endocarditis, including Osler nodes, Janeway lesions, and splinter hemorrhages. Our preoperative diagnosis was subacute bacterial endocarditis with severe aortic regurgitation. The patient underwent aortic valve replacement and was treated with intravenous antibiotics for 6 weeks postoperatively. The patient made a remarkable recovery and was discharged without complications. We report this case of subacute endocarditis with all 4 classic peripheral signs in a patient who presented with visual disturbance.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2009

Background: The long-term administration of oral anticoagulant to the patients with a mechanical heart valve prosthesis is mandatory. However, the appropriate intensity of oral anticoagulant therapy to prevent thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications is still controversial. We tried to apply low intensity anticoagulant therapy for which the International Normalized Ratios ranged between 1.5 and 2.5, and we analyzed the anticoagulation-related long term outcomes. Material and Method: From January 1992 to December 2002, 144 patients who underwent a single cardiac valve replacement were included in the study, and their ages ranged from 15 to 72 years (mean age: $47.4{\pm}15.1$): there were 49 aortic valve replacements (AVR) and 95 mitral valve replacements (AVR). The patients were followed up monthly or bi-monthly at the outpatient clinic with clinical examinations and measuring the prothrombin time to adjust the International Normalized Ratios (INRs) within the low-intensity target range between 1.5 and 2.5. Result: The follow-up period was 835.3 patient-years (mean: $5.9{\pm}3.5$) and the INRs of 7,706 measurements were available for evaluation. The mean INRs of the aortic and the mitral valve replacement groups were significantly different (p<0.01). All the patients' INRs were within the target range in 61.9% of the measurements. The mean INRs $(2.16{\pm}0.23)$ of the patients with atrial fibrillation, which was found in 30.3% of the patients, were definitely higher than those $(2.03{\pm}0.27)$ measured in the patients with regular rhythm (p<0.01). Thromboembolic episodes occurred in 9 patients with an incidence of 1.08%/patient-year. Major bleeding occurred in 2 patients (MVR) with an incidence of 0.24%/patient-year. The patients who displayed better compliance showed a lower incidence of complications (p=0.000). Conclusion: The anticoagulation therapy with a low-intensity target range after MVR or AVR seems to be effective and feasible, and increasing the patients’ compliance should be done for achieving more effective anticoagulation therapy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.576-580
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• 1998

This study is to clarify the results of atrial septal defect(ASD) repair and mitral valve surgery through right anterolateral thoracotomy since 1989, and those of more generalized application of minimal invasive cardiac surgery since August 1997. We retrospectively analyzed the results of open heart surgery(OHS) through other than full sternotomy carried out until October 1997. There were 28 cases of OHS done through right anterolateral thoracotomy(17 cases of ASD, 4 cases of mitral valve repair, 6 cases of mitral valve replacement, and 1 redo mitral and tricuspid valve repalcement) which has demonstrated no surgical mortality or morbidity except only 1 case of reoperation for bleeding. During the period between August and October 1997, we performed near routine application of upper sternotomy or transverse sternotomy in aortic valve cases and routine application of minimal incision in cases with ASD and there was no evidence of early and late complications associated with this approach. We conclude that OHS with the use of minimal incisions is very safe, cosmetically excellent, and superior in terms of the amount of bleeding. The indication for minimal incision, therefore, should be extended afterwards.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.2 s.247
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• pp.110-115
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• 2005

Background: The aims of this paper were to review the mid term clinical results and to analyze the preoperative risk factors of isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR). Material and Method: Between January 1992 and February 2003, 80 patients underwent isolated AVR. 58 were male and 22 were female patients, raging from 12 to 75 years of age (mean :$46.8{\pm}13.0$ years). 74 patients except one early death and 5 follow-up loss were contacted by OPD or by telephone. The mean duration of follow-up was $44.2{\pm}29.7$ months and the total cumulative period was 272.8 patient-year. Result: The complications in hospital occurred in 35 cases : 12 wound problems (11 superficial, 1 deep), 11 arrhythmias (9 temporary, 2 persistent), 3 low cardiac output, and so forth. The late deaths were 4 cases : the heart-related deaths were 2 cases ($0.7\%$ patient-year). Conclusion: The risk factors that influenced the early mortality and morbidity were older age (> 60 years)(p=0.04), poor preoperative NYHA functional class (> 3) (p=0.048), high preoperative serum creatinin level (> 1.2 mg/100 ml)(p=0.031), long operation time (aortic clamping time>90 min)(p=0.042). The same factors influenced the late mortality and morbidity. Freedom from valve-related complication was $86.4{\pm}5.3\%,$ actuarial survival rate were $96.8{\pm}2.3\%$ at 3 years and $90.8{\pm}4.6\%$ at 10 years.