• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.44-50
• /
• 2011

Background: Cardiovascular complications are major causes of morbidity and mortality following non-cardiac thoracic operations. Recent studies have demonstrated that elevation of N-Terminal Pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels can predict cardiac complications following non-cardiac major surgery as well as cardiac surgery. However, there is little information on the correlation between lung resection surgery and NT-proBNP levels. We evaluated the role of NT-proBNP as a potential marker for the risk stratification of cardiac complications following lung resection surgery. Material and Methods: Prospectively collected data of 98 patients, who underwent elective lung resection from August 2007 to February 2008, were analyzed. Postoperative adverse cardiac events were categorized as myocardial injury, ECG evidence of ischemia or arrhythmia, heart failure, or cardiac death. Results: Postoperative cardiac complications were documented in 9 patients (9/98, 9.2%): Atrial fibrillation in 3, ECG-evidenced ischemia in 2 and heart failure in 4. Preoperative median NT-proBNP levels was significantly higher in patients who developed postoperative cardiac complications than in the rest (200.2 ng/L versus 45.0 ng/L, p=0.009). NT-proBNP levels predicted adverse cardiac events with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.76 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.545~0.988, p=0.01]. A preoperative NT-proBNP value of 160 ng/L was found to be the best cut-off value for detecting postoperative cardiac complication with a positive predictive value of 0.857 and a negative predictive value of 0.978. Other factors related to cardiac complications by univariate analysis were a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, a higher NYHA functional class and a history of hypertension. In multivariate analysis, however, high preoperative NT-proBNP level (>160 ng/L) only remained significant. Conclusion: An elevated preoperative NT-proBNP level is identified as an independent predictor of cardiac complications following lung resection surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.8 s.253
• /
• pp.529-537
• /
• 2005

Background: Historically the Fontan operation in patients with single ventricle and heterotaxy syndrome has been associated with high mortality because of systemic or pulmonary anomalous venous drainage, incompetent common atrioventricular valve, right ventricle type univentricular heart, and arrhythmia. Material and Method: A retrospective review of 62 patients $(age:\;54.79\pm33.97\;months)$ with heterotaxy syndrome who underwent a extracadiac Fontan operation between 1996 and 2005 was performed. Twenty one patients had left atrial isomerism, and 41 had right isomerism. The Fontan procedure was staged in all but 2 patients, and a fenestration was less placed in left isomerism. Result: Left isomerism was associated more with interrupted inferior vena cava and pulmonary arteriovenous fistula, and right isomerism was associated more with anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, common atrioventricular valve and morphologic right ventricle. There were 3 hospital deaths$(4.8\%)$ and 3 late deaths $(5.2\%)$ with a follow-up duration of $48.8\pm31.0$ months. Eight-year survivals were $90.5\pm6.4\%$ in left isomerism and $88.6\pm5.4\%$ in right isomerism (p=0.94). At 8 years, freedom from reoperation was $73.9\pm11.3\%$ in left isomerism, and $82.3\pm6.7\%$ in right isomerism (p=0.87). Atrioventricular valve regurgitation progressed after Fontan operation in heterotaxy syndrome, and reoperation for pulmonary arteriovenous fistula and permanent pacemaker implantation for sinus node dysfunction were required more in left isomerism. Conclusion: The extracardiac Fontan operation can now be performed in patients with heterotaxy syndrome with excellent survival. However, morbidity in terms of postoperative atrioventricular valve regurgitation, arrhythmia, and pulmonary arteriovenous fistula remains significant.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.373-378
• /
• 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
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.233-241
• /
• 1998

To define the risk factors affecting the early major morbidity and mortality after multiple- valve operations, the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative informations were retrospectively collected on 124 consecutive patients undergoing a multiple-valve operation between October 1985 and July 1996 at the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Pusan Paik Hospital. The study population consists of 53 men and 71 women whose mean age was 37.9$\pm$11.5(mean$\pm$SD) years. Using the New York Heart Association(NYHA) classification, 41 patients(33.1%) were in functional class II, 60(48.4%) in class III, and 20(16.1%) in class IV preoperatively. Seven patients(5.6%) had undergone previous cardiac operations. Atrial fibrillations were present in 76 patients(61.3%), a history of cerebral embolism in 5(4.0%), and left atrial thrombus in 13(10.5%). The overall early mortality rate and postoperative morbidity was 8.1% and 21.8% respectively. Among the 124 cases of multiple-valve operation, there were 57(46.0%) of combined mitral valve replacement(MVR) and aortic valve replacement(AVR), 48(38.7%) of combined MVR and tricuspid annuloplasty(TVA), 12(9.7%) of combined MVR, AVR and TVA, 3(2.4%) of combined MVR and aortic valvuloplasty, 2(1.6%) of combined MVR and tricuspid valve replacement, and others. The patients were classified according to the postoperative outcomes; Group A(27 cases) included the patients who had early death or major morbidity such as low cardiac output syndrome, mediastinitis, cardiac rupture, ventricular arrhythmia, sepsis, and others; Group B(97 cases) included the patients who had the good postoperative outcomes. The patients were also classified into group of early death and survivor. In comparison of group A and group B, there were significant differences in aortic cross-clamping time(ACT, group A:153.4$\pm$42.4 minutes, group B:134.0$\pm$43.7 minutes, p=0.042), total bypass time(TBT, group A:187.4$\pm$65.5 minutes, group B:158.1$\pm$50.6 minutes, p=0.038), and NYHA functional class(I:33.3%, II:9.7%, III:20%, IV:50%, p=0.004). In comparison of early death(n=10) and survivor(n=114), there were significant differences in age(early death:45.2$\pm$8.7 years, survivor:37.2$\pm$11.6 years, p=0.036), sex(female:12.7%, male:1.9%, p=0.043), ACT(early death:167.1$\pm$38.4 minutes, survivor:135.7$\pm$43.7 minutes, p=0.030), and NYHA functional class(I:0%, II:4.9%, III:1.7%, IV:35%, p=0.001). In conclusion, the early major morbidity and mortality were influenced by the preoperative clinical status and therefore the earlier surgical intervention should be recommended whenever possible. Also, improved methods of myocardial protection and operative techniques may reduce the risk in patients with multiple-valve operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.38 no.10 s.255
• /
• pp.680-684
• /
• 2005

Background: With the increasing age of the population, coronary artery bypass grafting in the elderly patients is becoming common. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has been proven to be less morbidity and to facilitate early recovery. The elderly patients may have benefits by avoiding the adverse effects of the cardiopulmonary bypass. The purpose of this study is to evaluate our results of OPCAB in elderly patients. Material and Method: A retrospective chart review was carried out for 12 patients aged over 80 years who underwent isolated OPCAB from January 2001 and March 2004. Data were collected risk factors for disease, extent of coronary disease, and in-hospital outcomes. Postoperative graft patiency was evaluated in 9 patients by multi-slice computed tomography. Result: Eleven patients had triple vessel disease or left main disease. Four patients were suffered from preoperative CVA, and 4 patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Two patients had myocardial infarction (MI), among them 1 patient was suffered from pulmonary edema after preoperative MI. There was no perioperative death, perioperative MI, and no ventricular arrhythmia. Also there was no perioperative stroke and renal failure. But there was one deep sternal infection who recovered by treating of muscle flap. Atrial fibrillation was newly developed in 1 patient, but was well controlled by medication. Mean intubation time was $15.9\pm4.4(8\~20hrs)$ hrs and mean ICU stay was $2.9\pm0.8(2\~4 days)$ days. Mean hospital day was $21.6\pm14.3(13\~56 days)$ days. Postoperative mean CK-MS was $11.3\pm14.1\;ng/mL$. Early postoperative graft patency rate was $100\%(24/24)$. Follow-up was completed in all patients. In this time, there was no patients with angina or death. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that OPCAB reduces morbidity and favors hospital outcomes. Therefore, OPCAB is safe, reasonable and might be preferable operative strategy in elderly patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.12
• /
• pp.1528-1533
• /
• 2002

Purpose : Isolated noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium(INVM) is one of the unclassified cardiomyopathies that is characterized by numerous, excessively prominent trabeculations, and deep intertrabecular recesses. We performed this study to evaluate the clinical features of INVM in children. Methods : The medical records of 10 patients with INVM were reviewed. We analyzed the clinical manifestations, hemodynamics, pattern of inheritance, and long-term prognosis of INVM in children. Results : Age at diagnosis was $45{\pm}53months$(1 day-14 years) with follow-up lasting as long as 78 months. Most INVM was asymptomatic on diagnosis. Associated cardiac anomalies were noted in six patients(ventricualr or atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus with mitral valve prolapse, or mitral valve cleft). Depressed or flat changes of T wave in lead II, III and aVF were observed on electrocardiography. Various arrhythmia including WPW syndrome with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, third-degree atrioventricular block, and familial sick sinus node dysfuction were observed. The degree of trabeculation in INVM was significantly prominent from level of mitral valve to apex compared to age-matched control. Familial recurrences were noted in two patients. The systolic function of the left ventricle was decreased in 20% of patients during the follow-up period, but systemic embolism or ventricular tachycardia was not observed. Conclusion : INVM is not a rare disorder. The cardiac function may be deteriorated in children as well as adults during long-term follow up. Thus early diagnosis and long-term follow-up must be done. So, the nation-wide multicenter clinical study would be mandatory to evaluate the incidence, long-term prognosis, and establishment of objective diagnostic criteria of INVM.