• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.265-270
• /
• 1991

Since advent of the prosthetic cardiac valve replacement, much efforts for accurate assessing value function in-vivo have been attempted. To evaluate the postoperative functional and morphological status of the replaced cardiac valve prosthesis, 33 patients with valve replacement were studied by transthoracic and transesophageal 2-dimensional echocardiac imaging as well as by color Doppler flow velocity imaging. Twenty four patients had mitral valve replacement. 6 patients had aortic valve replacement and 3 patients had both mitral and aortic valve replacement. There were 34 mechanical and 2 biological prosthesis. Comparing to transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal approach showed transvalvular regurgitant jet flow amid the prosthetic mitral valve ring during. systole and much clear visualization of cardiac chamber behind prosthesis which could give shadowing effect to ultrasound beam. According to the quantitative grading by the length and area of mitral regurgitant flow, 24 out of 27 mitral valves revealed mild degree regurgitation considered as physiological after prosthetic bileaflet valve replacement and the other 3 valves including 2 biological prosthesis had moderate degree regurgitation which was regarded as pathologic one. 2 cases of left atrial thromboses and 1 case of paravalvular leakage which were not visible by transthoracic approach were identified by transesophageal echocardiography in patients with mitral valve replacement and patients with aortic valve replacement respectively. We conclude that in patients with prosthetic mitral valve replacement, transesophageal 2-dimensional imaging with color Doppler can suggest reliable information beyond that available from the transthoracic access even though it gives patient some discomfort to proceed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.458-469
• /
• 1983

Between October, 1978, and December, 1982, Glutaraldehyde-stablized pericardial xenografts [Ionescu-Shiley valve] were used for heart valve replacement in 409 patients.[251 mitral, 49 aortic, 11 tricuspid, and 98 multiple valve replacement]. There were 31 early deaths [7.6%], and 371 operative survival were observed for a total of 507.6 years over a period of 1 to 44 months. [mean 17 months]. Actuarial analysis of late results indicates an excepted survival rate at 4 years of 86.25.4% for patients with mitral, 79.37.1% for patients with aortic valve replacement. Actuarial survival rates for total patients at 4 years was 77.88.2%. The rate of systemic embolism has been 1.6% per patient-year for mitral and 1.8% per patient-year for aortic group in the presence of anticoagulation treatment. Among the 6 embolic episodes, 2 patients were died. The incidence of hemorrhagic complication was 1.3% per patient-year for anticoagulated patients. There were 6 confirmed valve failures, five in mitral and one in aortic position. Re-replacement of destructed valve was performed in one patient and others were treated medically. Among the 6 episodes, 3 occurred in children [Below 15 years], it account almost 9 times higher than adult. Our clinical data compare very favorable with those obtained with other available prostheses and tissue valves, but it should be considered to give short-term anticoagulation therapy to hemodynamically stable patients and aortic valve patients, and other prosthetic valve must be considered to use in children.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.413-416
• /
• 2022

A 32-year-old woman diagnosed with Turner syndrome presented to the hospital for an evaluation of cardiovascular complications. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography showed progression of aortic root and ascending aorta dilatation, as well as a bicuspid aortic valve. There was no evidence of aortic regurgitation. We planned valve-sparing aortic root replacement and ascending aorta replacement with a high risk of aortic rupture. Intraoperatively, we incidentally found a juxtacommissural origin of the right coronary artery (RCA). We performed aortic valve reimplantation using a graft designed with a key-shaped hole to wrap the juxtacommissural-origin RCA by modifying the Florida sleeve technique. Coronary blood flow was patent on postoperative CT angiography, and there was no evidence of aortic regurgitation on postoperative echocardiography. The patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 7 without any complications.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.655-658
• /
• 1987

Aortic annulus size was measured by two-dimensional echocardiography [2DE] in 29 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement or double valve replacement in order to predict prosthetic aortic valve size. Fifteen patients had aortic stenoinsufficiency, eleven had aortic insufficiency, and three had aortic stenosis. 2DE measurements of aortic annulus diameter, as determined from the parasternal long-axis view, demonstrated a high correlation with actual prosthetic valve size implanted at surgery [r=0.85, p<0.05]. 2DE exactly predicted actual prosthetic valve size in 8 of 29 patients [27.6%], was within 1mm of prosthetic valve size in 11 of 29 patients [37.9%], was within 2mm of prosthetic valve size in 8 of 29 patients, and was within 3mm of prosthetic valve size in 2 patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.54 no.6
• /
• pp.551-553
• /
• 2021

Although it is attractive, a limitation of aortic valve (AV) replacement (AVR) through a mini-thoracotomy approach (mini-AVR) is the limited exposure of the AV. Here, we present a simple exposure technique named "suspending commissural sutures" for a more efficient mini-AVR. The technique involves making 3 half-depth stitches with 1-0 silk at each of the commissures, which are anchored to each corresponding pericardial surface. These stitches are tightened up so that the aortic root is axially expanded and is pulled upward. The technique of suspending commissural stitches seems to offer reasonable exposure of the AV in mini-AVR, and shows excellent early surgical outcomes.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.359-361
• /
• 2023

Coronary ostium obstruction due to dislodgement of the prosthetic valve is a rare and life-threatening complication, and particular caution is required for sutureless aortic valve replacement (AVR) with concomitant valvular surgery. In general, coronary artery bypass surgery is performed when coronary ostium obstruction occurs after AVR, but other options may need to be considered in some cases. Herein, we present a case of coronary artery occlusion in an 82-year-old female patient who had undergone AVR and mitral valve replacement for aortic valve stenosis and mitral valve stenosis at the age of 77 years. A hybrid procedure involving redo AVR and percutaneous coronary intervention after left main coronary ostium endarterectomy was performed. To summarize, we present a case of hybrid AVR in a patient with coronary artery obstruction after AVR that was successfully managed using this method.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.272-276
• /
• 2015

Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) is an autosomal dominant connective tissue disorder that is characterized by aggressive arterial and aortic disease, often involving the formation of aortic aneurysms. We describe the cases of two children with LDS who were diagnosed with aortic root aneurysms and successfully treated by valve-sparing aortic root replacement (VSRR) with a Valsalva graft. VSRR is a safe and suitable operation for children that avoids prosthetic valve replacement.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.457-462
• /
• 1993

We retrospectively studied 34 patients who underwent operations of ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic valve replacement from August 1979 to July 1992 at the Yonsei Cardiovascular Center. Eight patients underwent supracoroanry non-composite graft replacement and separate aortic valve replacement[group I]. Twenty six patients underwent valved composite graft replacement with reimplantation of coronary arteries[group II]. Two cases in group II died within 1 month after the operation. Among the 32 survivors 28 patients have been followed up for an average of 59 months ranging from 1 months to 159 months. During the follow up periods, a pseudoaneurysm around the ascending aorta and a newly developed dissecting aneurysm in remaining aorta were noted in group II. There were 6 late deaths: 2 cases in group I and 4 cases in group II. Three cases among the 6 late deaths have stigmata of Marfan`s syndrome[1 cases in group I and 2 case in group II]. There was no statistically significant difference in actuarial survival rates between group I and group II[p > 0.05]. This study suggests that non-composite supracoronary graft interposition with separate aortic valve replacement is a safe surgical technique in patients who have normal aortic annulus and normal position of coronary ostia. However in degenerative disease such as cystic medial necrosis, composite graft replacement is recommended because this procedure eliminates entire abnormal tissue.But it seems to be important that the suture technique and strict follow-up in patients with diseased aortic wall.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.663-666
• /
• 1985

Whatever a surgeon choose aortic prosthesis in aortic stenosis, it will always provoke some degree of obstruction to flow due to its smaller effective orifice area to tissue annulus. Occasionally, we meet small aortic annulus to his or her body surface area in aortic valve replacement. The small annulus remains a problem in that both tissue and mechanical prosthesis have significant pressure gradients between LV and aorta in resting or exercising states. In these circumstances, diverse surgical procedures, such as tilting disc prosthesis, supraannular position of aortic prosthesis, and enlargement of aortic root [including aortoventriculoplasty, translocation of aortic valve, & double outlet of LV by valved conduit], were applied. We experienced one case of aortic stenosis with small aortic annulus. Systolic pressure gradients between LV & aorta were 90 mmHg. Diameter of annulus was 19 mm. So we performed patch enlargement of aortic root by Manouguian and AVR with St. Jude medical valve 23 mm.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.31 no.12
• /
• pp.1234-1237
• /
• 1998

Patients with aortic root disease, frequently seen in Marfan syndrome have progressive dilatation of the aortic sinuses and dilatation and distortion of the aortic annulus, leading to aortic incompetence. They are currently treated with composite graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve and reimplantation of the coronary arteries. Recently, we experienced an aortic root replacement with aortic valve preservation in a patient with annuloaortic ectasia. The ascending aorta and sinus was excised except the aortic annulus and aortic valve. The aortic valve was reimplanted inside of a collagen-impregnated tubular Dacron graft. The coronary arteries were also reimplanted. The patient was followed up for six months and reevaluated with the echocardiography. Postoperative Doppler echocardiography revealed normal aortic valve function. With this technique, it is possible to preserve the native aortic valve if the aortic leaflets are anatomically normal.