• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.618-626
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• 1986

Univentricular heart is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly in which the atrial chambers are connected to only one ventricular chamber and it consists of a diverse group of cardiac malformation characterized by both AV valves or a common AV valve opening into the same ventricle, or the presence of only a solitary AV valve. In spite of recent development in cardiac surgery, corrective operations for univentricular heart still have high mortality and complication rate. Twenty eight patients underwent corrective operation for univentricular heart at Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital from February 1979 to July 1986. Of the 28 patients, 7 patients were operated on by ventricular septation and 21 patients by modified Fontan operation. Of the 28 patients, 19 patients were male and 9 patients female and ages ranged from 5 months to 18 years old with the average age of 7.3 years. There were 2 mortalities in 7 patients operated on by septation with the mortality rate of 28.6% and 5 complications, 3 complete AV block, 1 low cardiac output and 1 arrhythmia. All survived patients are being followed up without specific problem till now. There were 10 mortalities in 21 patients operated on by modified Fontan operation with the mortality rate of 47.6% and 10 complications, 2 low cardiac output, 2 respiratory failure necessitating tracheostomy, 2 persistent cyanosis, 2 arrhythmia, 1 missing of left AV valve in situs inversus patient due to misdiagnosis and one rupture of closed right AV valve. Incremental risk factors for operative mortality are young age less than 5 years old, anomalous pulmonary and systemic venous drainage and atrial septation procedure. In 11 survived patients, 9 patients show good follow-up results but one patient complains of persistent cyanosis and another one patient is suffered from CHF. In our series, results of corrective operation for univentricular heart shows continuing improvement but still high mortality and complication rate. So there must be continuing improvement in surgical result by selection of patient, by adequate decision making for timing and method of operation and by improving operative methods.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.446-455
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• 1985

A total and consecutive 156 patients have undergone cardiac valve surgery including 13 closed mitral commissurotomy, 13 open mitral commissurotomy, one mitral annuloplasty, 75 mitral valve replacement, one aortic annuloplasty, 24 aortic valve replacement, 3 tricuspid valve replacement, 25 double valve replacement and one triple valve replacement. 155 prosthetic valves were replaced in a period between September 1976 and August 1985. There were 68 males and 88 females with age range from 8 to 69 yrs [mean 36.5 yr]. Out of replaced valves, 61 was tissue valve including 54 Carpentier-Edwards, and 4 was mechanical valves including 74 St. Jude Medical, and the position replaced was 101 valves for mitral, 46 for aortic and 8 for tricuspid. Single valve replacement in 102 cases, double valve replacement in 25 cases [17 for AVR+MVR, and 8 for MVR+TVR], and only one case was noted in the triple valve replacement. Early mortality within 30 days after operation was noted in 11 cases [7%]; 7 after MVR, 2 after DVR, and each one after open mitral commissurotomy and mitral annuloplasty. Cause of death was valve thrombus, cerebral air embolism, low output syndrome, uncontrollable arrhythmia, parapneumonic sepsis, acute cardiac tamponade and left atrial rupture. 7 late deaths were noted during the follow-up period from 1 to 104 months [average 48 month]; three due to valve and left atrial thrombus formation, two due to CVA from overdose of warfarin, and each one due to congestive heart failure and chronic constrictive pericarditis, Anticoagulants after prosthetic valve replacement were maintained with warfarin, dipyridamole and aspirin to the level of around 50% of normal prothrombin time in 79 cases, and Ticlopidine with aspirin in 47 cases to compare the result of each group. There were 11 major thromboembolic episodes including 3 deaths in the warfarin group. Two cases of CVA due to overdose of warfarin was noted in the warfarin group. In the ticlopidine group, there was only one left atrial thrombus confirmed at the time of autopsy. Among the survived 138 cases, nearly all cases[136 cases] were included in NYHA functional class I and II during the follow-up period. In conclusion, surgical treatment of the cardiac valve disease in 156 clinical cases revealed excellent result with acceptable operative risk and late mortality. Prevention of thrombus formation with anti-platelet aggregator Ticlopidine has better result than warfarin group presently with no specific side effect such as bleeding or gastrointestinal trouble.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.335-341
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• 2004

Traumatic cardiac injury is very rare but mortality is very high when the diagnosis and management are delayed. We reviewed our case retrospectively. Material and Method: From March 1995 to July 2003, 17 patients were diagnosed as having traumatic cardiac rupture. Five patients were stabbed, seven patients were motor vehicle accidents, four patients had fallen down, and the cause was unknown in one patient. Emergency operations were done and six patients were operated under CPB. Result: Four patients died during or after operation. The mean ICU stay period was 3.86$\pm$3.35 days and the mean hospital stay was 18.27$\pm$14.99 days. No mortality was observed in those whose vital signs were stable in the operating room. Conclusion: Preoperative vital status was very important and thoracic traumatic patient should be suspected as having cardiac injury.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.194-198
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• 2010

Intramural hematoma of the aorta (IMH) is the precursor or a variant of a classic aortic dissection where hemorrhage occurs within the aorta wall in the absence of an initial intimal tear. IMH has a high rate of mortality and morbidity. The optimal therapy for IMH is uncertain, yet the involvement of the ascending aorta is usually considered as an indication for surgery due to the associated risk of rupture or cardiac tamponade. We report here on a case of a 71-year-old man who presented with syncope. Because of misdiagnosis, he underwent computed tomography (CT) after 5 hrs from arriving to the ER. Computed tomography of the aorta revealed intramural hematoma of the ascending aorta with cardiac tamponade. He also had vascular complications such as acute renal failure and visceral ischemia. We performed emergency graft replacement of the total arch and ascending aorta. He was discharged without complication on postoperative day 14.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 1980

We have experienced 2 cases of the hunshot wound sof the chest involving cardiac injuries at department of the thoracic surgery, Capital Armed Forces General Hospital during I year from April I 1979 to Jan. 1980. In one case of two patients , he was a 22 years old man who was transported to this emergency room 4 hour 10 minutes after having gunshot wound of the left chest by helicopter. Physical examination showed small inlet in left 3rd ICS and left parasternal border, large outlet in left 8th ICS and left scapular line, no breath sound on left side and distant heart sound. chest roentgenography demonstrated marked pleural effusion in left side and mediastinum shifted to right. As soon as chest X-ray was taken, the bleeding through penetrating wound became profuse and cardiac arrest ensued. Closed chest cardiac massage was started and vigorous transfusion continued, but no effective cardiac activity could not be obtained. The patient was pronounced dead due to exsanguinating hemorrhage from wuwpected cardiac wounds. In this critically injured patient with evidence of intrathoracic hemorrhage and suspected cardiac penetration, only emergency thoracic exploration and immediate surgical control of bleeding points might offer the maximum possibility of survival. The other case was a 23 years old man who was transferred to the emergency room 4 hours 50 minutes after having kmultiple communicated fractures of sternum and linear fracture of right mandible by a missile. Examination revealed about 30% skin loss of the anterior chest wall, weak pulse of 96 beats/min., distant heart sound and decreased breath sounds bilaterally. finding on the chest X-ray films showed multiple sternal fractures, marked pericardial effusion indicating hemopericardium. So, the patient was moved immediately to the operation room where, after endotracheal tube inserted, a median sternotomy was performced. A hemorrhagic congestion of the right upper lobe and marked bulging pericardium were disclosed. The pericardium was opened anterior to right phrenic nerve and exsanguinating hemorrhage ensued from the 0.5cm lacerated wound in the auricle of right atrium. The rupture site of right atrium was occluded with non-crushing vascular clamps and then was over sewn with interrupted sutures. It was thought to be highly possible that he was alive long enough to have cardiorrhaphy because of cardiac tamponade, which prevented exsanguinating hemorrhage. He was taken closed reduction for linear fracture of right mandible 2 weeks after repair of ruptured right auricle in dental clinic. This patient's post-operative course was not eventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1102-1110
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• 1996

Between Oct. 1985 and July 1995, 230 patients underwent mitral valve replacement. There were 77 men and 153 women whose mean age was 35.7 years, range 9 to 62 The concomitant operations were 40 aortic valve replacements(17.4%), 25 tricuspid annuloplasties(10.4%), 8 aortic valve replacements & tricuspid annuloplasties(3.5%), 2 tricuspid valve replacements(0.9%) and others, We used 139 mechanical (76 51. Jude medical, 33 CarboMedics, 30 Sorin) and 91 tissue 386 Carpentier-Edwards, 5 lonescu-Shiley) valves. The early postoperative complications occurred in 28 cases. There were 8 low cardiac output syndrome, 5 pleural effusion, 3 significant arrhythmia, 2 cardiac rupture and others. There were 6 early hospital deaths (2.6%) due to low cardiac output syndrome(2), arrhythmia(2) and ventricul r rupture(2). The cuAmulative notal follow-up period was 764. 4 patient-years with a mean of 4).9 months. The long term follow-up information was available for 212 patients(94.6%). There were 21 cases of valve-related complications. Prosthetic valve failure(10), anti-coagulation related bleeding (5), prosthetic valve endocarditis (4), and thromboembolism (2) occurred at rates of 1.3, 0.7, 0.5, and 0.3%Ipt-yr respectively. Late death occurred In 5 cases (0.7%/pt-yr) associated with prosthetic valve endocarditis (2), heart failure (2) and anti-coagulation related bleeding (1). There was no difference in the rate of freedom from prosthetic valve failure between the mechanical and tissue valve group at 6 years (100%), but there was significant difference at 9 years between the tissue (34.4%) and mechanical valve (100%) group (p=0.032). Actuarial survival rates were 98. 8% in tissue valve. 9).7% in mechanical valve group and 96.6% in total patients at 9 years.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.250-253
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• 1982

A persistent left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium associated with atresia of the coronary sinus-ostium, ASD, and PDA is a rare congenital anomaly. The patient was a 4 year-old female whose complaints were frequent URI and exertional dyspnea. The congenital heart anomaly was suspected at 2 months of her age. Chest films showed cardiomegaly [C-T ratio, 75%]. EKG, Echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography were performed. Open heart surgery was done under impression of LV-RA shunt, bilateral superior vena cavae, and ASD. At the time of operation, huge LA and RA, inferior vena caval defect of a secundum type ASD [1.5 x 3cm in diameter], absence of innominate vein, atresia of the coronary sinus-ostium, and persistent LSVC draining into LA were noted. Direct suture closure of ASD and ligation of LSVC were done. The patient`s postoperative course was somewhat eventful: systolic murmur at apex remained. Four months after the operation, congestive heart failure attacked a few times. PDA that was overlooked at the time of open heart surgery was detected through postoperative cardiac catheterization in.4 months later. Emergent operation for closure of PDA was performed on the day of recatheterization. After that, patient`s heart failure was easily controlled without any notable problem.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.86-89
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• 2011

Traumatic ventricular septal defect (VSD) resulting from blunt chest injury is a very rare event. The mechanisms of traumatic VSD have been of little concern to dateuntil now, but two dominant theories have been described. In one, the rupture occurs due to acute compression of the heart; in the other, it is due to myocardial infarction of the septum. The clinical symptoms and timing of presentation are variable, so appropriate diagnosis can be difficult or delayed. Closure of traumatic VSD has been based on a combination of heart failure symptoms, hemodynamics, and defect size. Here, we present a case of a 4-year-old boy who presented with a traumatic VSD following a car accident. He showed normal cardiac structure at the time of injury, but after 8 days, his repeated echocardiography revealed a VSD. He was successfully treated by surgical closure of the VSD, and has been doing well up to the present. This report suggests that the clinician should pay great close attention to the patients injured by blunt chest trauma, keeping in mind the possibility of cardiac injury.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.526-531
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• 1993

Sixty-one consecutive patients with coronary artery bypass graft for myocardial revascularization were retrospectively reviewed to analyze various pattern of postoperative complication and death during hospital stay from Nov. 1988 to Oct. 1992. Fortytwo of the patients were male and nineteen female. The mean age was 56 and 51 years in male and female. Preoperative diagnosises were unstable angina in 14 of patients, stable angina in 28, postmyocardial infarction state in 15, and state of failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in 4. 141 stenosed coronary arteries were bypassed with use of 20 pedicled internal mammary artery and 124 reversed saphenous vein grafts. Postoperative complications and perioperative death were as follows: 1. Of 61 patients undergoing operation, peri and postoperative over all complication occured in 15 patients [ 25% ]; newly developed myocardial infarction in 4, intractable cardiac arrhythmia including atrial fibrillation and frequent ventricular premature contraction in 3, bleeding from gastrointestinal tract in 2, persistent vegetative state as a sequele of brain hypoxia in 1, wound necrosis in 1, left hemidiaphragmatic palsy in 3 and poor blood flow through graft in 2. 2. Operative mortality was 8%[5 patients]. 3 out of these died in operating room; 1 patient by bleeding from rupture of calcified aortic wall, 1 by air embolism through left atrial vent catheter, 1 by low cardiac output syndrome. 2 patients died during hospital stay; 1 by acute respiratory distress syndrome with multiuple organ failure, 1 by brain death after delayed diagnosis of pericardial tamponade.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1482-1486
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• 1992

Ruptured aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva are relatively rare, and the incidence seems to be higher in oriental than in western countries. Eight patients underwent operative treatment at Chonnam University Hospital from June, 1986 to May, 1992. Six of the patients were male and two female. Age ranged from eight to fifty six years. Associated cardiac lesions were common including AR and VSD in four patients respectively. Diagnosis was made by 2D-Echo and cine-angiogram. In six patients aneurysms of the sinus of valsalva ruptured from the right coronary sinus to the right ventricle and in two from right coronary sinus to the right atrium Direct closure of aneurysmal rupture and patch closure of VSD in four cases, resection of the aneurysm and direct closure in one case, direct closure of the fistula and AVR in two cases, direct closure in one case were performed. One patient combined with VSD, pulmonary hypertention and bacterial endocarditis underwent operation, but he died of sudden cardiac arrest the day after the operation. Operative results were relatively good in the other patients.